Real estate is an investment vehicle that has minted many millionaires and billionaires throughout history. That's especially true for real estate that is leased out to businesses (i.e., commercial real estate).

But commercial real estate was largely a playground reserved for the ultra-wealthy. That is, until the law that made real estate investment trusts (REITs) in 1960s. Now, investors who have as little as a few dollars in their brokerage account can become landlords with a click of the buy button.

Few if any REITs are as well known to investors as Realty Income (NYSE: O). Here's why the stock is among the largest holdings (REITs and non-REITs alike) in my mostly dividend stock portfolio.

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Source Fool.com