2 REIT Stocks You Can Buy Right Now Before They Surge Even Higher

The average real estate investment trust (REIT) is roughly 5% below its 52-week high, using Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEMKT: VNQ) as a proxy. That's a vast improvement from where it was not too long ago, down over 20%, but investors shouldn't think the investment opportunity in REITs has passed. If you go back more than a year, you start to see that net lease REITs like NNN (NYSE: NNN) and tiny peer Alpine Income Property Trust (NYSE: PINE) still have more ground to make up.

The past year was filled with interest rate increases. But the trend didn't start over the past 12 months -- it goes back a little further than that. For example, if you look at the past three years, you'll see that the average REIT is still down a bit more than 20% from its highs over the span. In other words, there's more opportunity here than may at first meet the eye if you step back and consider the broader picture.