While I certainly agree with reading and listening to the very wise counsel of PinewoodsBear, I will take the liberty of suggesting that an excellent place to also visit is the Motley Fool REIT Board.
http://boards.fool.com/real-estate-inv-trusts-reits-100061.aspx To learn about REIT's I would suggest taking a look as I have learned a lot there about the subject at hand.
Read the comments and suggestions of PinewoodsBear, read the REIT Board here on InvestorVillage and also the Motley Fool Board and you will have at your disposal an excellent method of learning a lot about REIT's.
Orchid