REIT Stands Out From Crowd

This column was originally published on RealMoney on Jan. 22 at 1:59 p.m. EST. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers. For more information about subscribing to RealMoney, please click here.

It takes all kinds of positions to make a well-balanced portfolio, and although it's much more exciting to present high-risk/high-reward ideas in my columns, insiders are good at bringing me investment ideas across the spectrum of risk.

On the lower end of that scale is Franklin Street Properties (FSP Quote). Franklin is not your run-of-the-mill real estate investment trust. I like how it stands out from the crowd, and the prospects for this security's total return over the coming year.

Franklin manages a portfolio of primarily suburban office buildings. But it also acts as an investment banker by syndicating new properties to accredited investors. This REIT therefore generates banking fees, along with rental income and gains from property sales. ...