Guide · 6 min read
Tokenized real estate vs REITs
Both let you invest in property without buying a building. But how you own it, how fast you can exit, and how you get paid are very different. Here's the honest comparison — with a lens on Nigeria and the West-African diaspora.
| Feature | Tokenized real estate | Traditional REIT |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Direct fractional interest in a specific title deed | Shares in a pooled fund holding many buildings |
| Minimum | From $100 per token | Usually 1 share (varies by exchange) |
| Yield cadence | Monthly USD payouts from rent | Quarterly distributions |
| Liquidity | 24/7 secondary order book | Stock-market hours only |
| Transparency | Per-property financials, live occupancy | Fund-level reporting |
| Access from Africa | Local rails: NGN, GHS, KES, cards, USDC | Brokerage account required, FX friction |
| Fees | Transparent listing + trading fees | Management + performance fees |
Why the diaspora is choosing tokenization
REITs solve a US or UK investor's problem: exposure to real estate inside an existing brokerage. They don't solve the Nigerian-abroad problem — sending money home, verifying a title, collecting rent in USD, exiting without a lawyer.
Tokenized real estate on ISTRUCTURE targets exactly that gap: verified West African property, monthly USD yield, and a live order book so you're never locked in.
When a REIT still makes sense
- You want broad exposure to US/EU commercial real estate.
- You already have a brokerage account and prefer tax reporting through it.
- You don't want to pick individual buildings.
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