There are ways to make money in real estate without actually owning property. If you invest in a mortgage REIT, you could profit from the mortgages and mortgage-backed securities that finance real estate. Most REITs, or real estate investment trusts, are what’s known as equity REITs, which invest in commercial property and use it to generate income. Mortgage REITs, meanwhile, provide real estate financing by originating mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities with the goal of generating interest income.