Build Wealth Like Donald Trump: 2 Ways to Get Started Today

Donald Trump built his wealth through estate investments and development. His father loaned him money to get started before he inherited a portion of his father’s real estate business, which he then expanded through strategic deals, developments, and branding.

Trump also ventured into entertainment, including his popular show The Apprentice and his social media app Truth Social, which is trying to go public via a SPAC merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. DWAC.

Donald Trump has seen his net worth soar since getting started in real estate, sitting at an estimated $3.1 billion today.

Getting started in real estate has become more challenging, particularly in today’s market with rates at such elevated levels. However, there are several other routes to getting started in real estate, such as investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate crowdfunding. 

REITs

REITs offer investors the benefits of owning real estate without the hassles of purchasing a property or being a landlord. They also carry the benefit of being liquid, since you can sell a stock any time the market is open, compared with a property that could take months or years to sell.

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One of the hottest REITs on investors' minds in 2024 is Realty Income Corporation O. Realty Income is the 7th largest global REIT, with over 13,250 commercial properties in its portfolio and a world-class tenant base that includes Walgreens WBA, FedEx FDX, Walmart WMT, and Dollar General DG.

Realty Income is most known for its dividend. It currently pays a monthly dividend of $0.2565, equating to about $3.08 per share annually, giving it a juicy yield of about 5.2%. And that's not all. The company has also raised its annual dividend every year since 1994, putting it on pace for 2024 to mark the 30th consecutive year in which it has raised its annual payout.

This means you can count on Realty Income for both dividend income and growth, not to mention the potential appreciation of its stock.

Crowdfunding

You can also get started in real estate with as little as $100 by using a real estate crowdfunding platform. Real estate crowdfunding platforms allow you to connect with other investors and pool your money to purchase property for passive real estate income. 

Start generating passive income through real estate

Check out these featured investments from Benzinga's Real Estate Offerings Screener.

Learn more about real estate crowdfunding here and check out properties available for investment right now here.

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