Beginners will initially find REITs complicated, though. Not all REITs are made equal, with only some traded on a public scale. There are also different types, and the one you choose will define how big a risk is involved. If you want to give REITs a try but have no idea where to start, consider publicly-traded REITs first. You will need a brokerage account to do so, but setting one up only takes a few minutes.