If you invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs), or are thinking about starting, one of the smartest things you can do is to take the time to learn how these companies work. With that in mind, here are 10 important terms all REIT investors should know before they start the search for their first REIT. Not all of these terms are REIT-specific, but they are highly relevant to the industry and to people who invest in it.