If you sell them sooner than maturity, you could lose some of your principal, since the value will fluctuate as interest rates rise and fall. Risk: Investors should stick with publicly traded REITs, which are traded on major exchanges, and stay away from private or non-public REITs that have lesser protections and higher expenses. Robinhood offers free stock trades. Once it matures, you get your original principal back plus any accrued interest. As with other dividend stocks, look for REITs that have a history of steadily raising their dividend over time, rather than selecting the REIT that has the highest current yield. We are committed to researching, testing, and recommending the best products. If inflation rises, purchasing power can be diminished.