Dividend-paying stocks can be wonderful investments. The best ones offer a compelling passive income stream and stock price appreciation potential as they grow their earnings and payouts. That income and growth combo can add up to a strong total return over time. 

Regency Centers (NASDAQ: REG), Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT), and Kimco Realty (NYSE: KIM) stand out to a few Fool.com contributors for their income and upside potential. This trio of real estate investment trusts (REITs) currently offers dividends yielding more than 3% (double the S 500's dividend yield). Here's why they think investors should buy shares hand over fist right now.

Marc Rapport (Regency Centers): Regency Centers is one of the largest owners of grocery-anchored shopping centers in America. It has built a nice record of annualized average total return of about 9.6% since this real estate investment trust went public in 1993.

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Source Fool.com