Angling for Some Ample REIT Yields

It's getting harder to find a decent dividend yield among real estate investment trusts these days, but it's not impossible.

REITs, long considered an alternative to bond investing because of their healthy dividends, are now yielding an average of 80 basis points below the 10-year Treasury note -- a record low.

Blue-chip REIT names have even wider spreads. Simon Property Group (SPG Quote), the country's largest mall owner, yields 3.5%, compared with the 10-year Treasury note yield of 4.89% Monday. Luxury-apartment developer AvalonBay(AVB Quote) has just a 2.8% yield. ...