Hundreds of companies pay dividends. Many of them are excellent options for those seeking a steadily rising income stream.

However, some of the smartest dividend stocks to buy right now are real estate investment trusts (REITs). They have been under a lot of pressure in recent years because of the impact higher interest rates have on real estate values. Their stock prices have fallen, boosting their dividend yields. That enables investors to generate more income on every dollar they invest. In addition to that income, REITs offer lots of upside potential when rates start falling, which many expect will happen in the coming months. Agree Realty (NYSE: ADC), Extra Space Storage (NYSE: EXR), and Rexford Industrial Realty (NYSE: REXR) are three great REITs to buy right now. They can turn a $250 investment into an above-average and growing income stream.

Agree Realty is a retail REIT focused on free-standing properties net leased or ground leased to high-quality retailers relatively immune to economic downturns and the pressures of e-commerce. Those lease structures provide it with very stable rental income to pay dividends.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com