If you are a dividend investor and you have some cash (let's say $1,000) you want to put to work, you might want to take a look at real estate investment trusts (REITs). There are some good reasons to consider them (explained below) and some good reasons to consider buying now.

REITs like W. P. Carey (NYSE: WPC) and Broadstone Net Lease (NYSE: BNL) have attractive yields today, and both are likely to be attractive long-term investments worthy of that $1,000 buy-in. Here's why.

REITs have to compete for investment dollars with other income options, including super-safe choices like bank CDs. When interest rates go up, as they have been for a year or so, investors can earn more by parking cash in safe places. That reduces demand for stocks like REITs, which are specifically designed to pass income on to investors. REITs inherently involve market risk, so if you can get a safe CD yielding as much as a REIT, you might opt for the CD.

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Source Fool.com