As interest rates hover at historic low levels, investors are being starved of income from traditional fixed income sources. Investors are taking on more risk and are moving to real estate investment trusts (REITs) for their reliable income. Savvy investors are looking beyond Australian shores to seek opportunities not readily available in Australia.

While the US remains the largest listed real estate market, the opportunity is increasingly becoming global. Today, nearly 40 countries offer REITs, according to Nareit, the worldwide group representing REITs and publicly traded real estate companies.