The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)  industry is one of the largest ownership groups of real estate. More specifically, the REIT industry owns, operates and finances over 4 trillion dollars worth of real estate, with public REITs (those traded on a stock exchange) owning about 2.5 trillion in assets. The balance of the REIT ownership is in private REITs.

The REIT industry provides the opportunity for everyday Americans to invest in real estate through direct securities investments, 401K plans, pension plans and other investment and retirement funds.

For those studying real estate, the REIT industry provides numerous job opportunities for rewarding careers, both professionally and financially which we will discuss in our introduction to the case competition.