New Delhi, March 16 -- For generations, there has been one constant feature in the average Indian investor's portfolio: a piece of physical real estate. Whether it is a residential flat or a commercial shop, the psychological comfort of owning tangible property runs deep. However, not many of us realise that this comfort can come at a stiff, often silent price: the trap of illiquidity.

We live in times when markets are affected by several factors, some of which are totally beyond our control and when dynamics move in milliseconds. So, holding assets that take months to liquidate can prove to be a structural disadvantage. As the nature of financial investments matures, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are emerging as a strong alterna...