A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-producing real estate and allows investors to buy shares, similar to stocks, without directly owning property.
REITs offer a way to invest in real estate passively through the stock market. They are regulated by the SEC and are required to distribute most of their taxable income as dividends. While REITs provide portfolio diversification and liquidity, investors do not get to use or visit the properties — it is purely a financial investment, not a lifestyle one.
GoForth, a luxury co-ownership company, offers something fundamentally different from a REIT. Instead of buying shares in a portfolio of properties you will never visit, GoForth owners hold a 1/4 interest in a specific luxury home they actually use for 12 weeks per year. You build equity, enjoy the property, and have a real say in how it is managed — combining the financial benefits of real estate investment with the personal enjoyment of a second home.