REIT's, specifically "O" 'Realty Income Group'

I'm watching the legislation that will prevent large real estate companies from buying up single family homes. It has bi-partisan support. BlackRock and Vanguard are both known for buying up real estate in vast quantities. I've seen evidence in three neglected rental properties in a local neighborhood bringing down values. I personally would wait to see. Until now, the large companies have had great advantage in tax laws and financial requirements to buy these homes. If Congress gets busy, they will have to divest of these companies.

what's your purpose for the REIT? Are you retired or near retirement and need dividend payouts? Are you invested in a retirement / risk parity portfolio? If no to any of this, then again why, other than it being new and shiny to you?

Check out this risk parity episode on REITs - Episode 19: What About REITs As An Investment In A Risk Parity-Style Portfolio? (Part 1 of 2) | Risk Parity Radio

O is a good REIT if you want real estate exposure but here it is compared to XLRE (S&P Real Estate fund) and VOO (S&P). Sure year to date O has done well this year, maybe it will continue, my crystal ball always has been blurry. But zoom out and it's hard to beat the market consistently.

If you're in a risk parity and looking for real estate as a diversified asset, then O can work or other major real estate stocks/funds. You can also look at casualty insurance like KBWP fund, which all kind of fit in a mid-cap value style but still have some positive correlation to stocks (approx 0.3 - 0.6 last i looked).