For many years, REITs, or real estate investment trusts, were seen as a good way to diversify a portfolio and provide some degree of protection against volatility in the equities market. During the 2000 market downturn, for example, when the S&P 500 lost 9%, real estate stocks gained 34% on average.

However, that was an extreme market environment, and events since then have altered REITs' role as a diversification tool.

This course will cover what REITs are, their diversification value, and how to think about them when constructing a portfolio.

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