If you’ve been clenching your jaw every time Jerome Powell speaks or waking up at 3 a.m. wondering if your portfolio is actually working for you, let me introduce you to a better way to sleep: SWAN investing. That’s “Sleep Well At Night,” and it’s not just a fantasy. It's a strategy—especially if you're armed with the right REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). Even better? Some pay you monthly. Like clockwork. Like rent checks from a tenant that never ghosts you.
In this blog, we’ll dive deep into 5 REITs that pay dividends monthly—the kind of reliable, income-generating machines that make passive income more than just a buzzword on a crypto YouTube channel. These aren’t pump-and-dump plays or “trust me bro” tips. These are publicly traded, time-tested REITs that deliver cash flow consistency, inflation protection, and portfolio stability—all wrapped up in tax-advantaged real estate exposure.
Let’s unpack why REITs are the ultimate tool in your SWAN arsenal—and then meet the 5 monthly dividend payers you’ll want to keep on your radar.
Why REITs Are the Investor’s Sleep Aid
REITs are companies that own, operate, or finance income-producing real estate. They’re legally required to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends. That’s not generosity. That’s the law.
Now combine that structure with monthly payouts and what you get is a potent cocktail of consistent cash flow and real estate-backed stability. It's the SWAN trifecta:
-
Reliable Income: You get a real paycheck without real tenants or toilets.
-
Inflation Hedge: Real estate rents tend to rise with inflation, which helps protect purchasing power.
-
Liquidity: Unlike physical real estate, REITs trade on the stock market—no escrow periods or shady closing fees.
Some REITs go the extra mile by offering monthly dividends, aligning with how people actually live. You pay your bills monthly. You should get paid that way too.
Here are five REITs that not only pay monthly, but have proven they can weather storms, raise dividends, and keep you cool when markets panic.
1. Realty Income (O)
Ticker: O
Dividend Yield: ~5.8%
Monthly Dividend Since: 1994
Market Cap: ~$40 billion
Sector: Retail, Industrial, Diversified
Let’s start with the monthly dividend GOAT—Realty Income, proudly nicknamed “The Monthly Dividend Company.” If REITs were a band, Realty Income would be The Beatles. With over 6,000 properties across the U.S. and Europe, it leases to recession-proof tenants like Walgreens, 7-Eleven, and FedEx.
Realty Income is a dividend aristocrat, with over 30 consecutive years of dividend increases. That means they didn’t just survive 2000, 2008, or 2020—they grew.
Why SWAN investors love it:
-
Conservative payout ratio (~75% of AFFO)
-
Investment-grade tenants
-
Long-term leases with rent escalators
It's boring in the best way possible. And boring is beautiful when markets get moody.
2. STAG Industrial (STAG)
Ticker: STAG
Dividend Yield: ~4.1%
Monthly Dividend Since: 2013
Market Cap: ~$6 billion
Sector: Industrial
STAG focuses exclusively on single-tenant industrial real estate—think warehouses, distribution centers, and logistics hubs. In the age of Amazon and same-day delivery, STAG is quietly sitting in the background, collecting checks on the infrastructure that makes the internet economy go round.
What makes STAG stand out is its disciplined approach. They only buy properties that meet strict return thresholds, and they've consistently increased their portfolio and revenue without blowing up their balance sheet.
Why SWAN investors love it:
-
E-commerce tailwinds
-
Low tenant turnover
-
Monthly income with growth potential
STAG isn’t flashy, but it delivers consistent results. In a way, it’s the blue-collar REIT that shows up every day and does its job—even when the market throws a tantrum.
3. EPR Properties (EPR)
Ticker: EPR
Dividend Yield: ~7.6%
Monthly Dividend Since: 2013
Market Cap: ~$3.5 billion
Sector: Experiential real estate (entertainment, attractions, education)
Want a little more spice? EPR Properties is your thrill-seeking REIT. This one focuses on experiential real estate—movie theaters, water parks, ski resorts, golf entertainment venues, and private schools.
Yes, the pandemic hit them hard. People weren’t exactly lining up to ski or sit in a theater in 2020. But EPR made it through, resumed its dividend, and now benefits from a full-blown experiential economy rebound.
Why SWAN investors cautiously love it:
-
High yield for the risk-tolerant
-
Unique portfolio with high consumer demand
-
Bounce-back potential in a post-pandemic world
EPR is your high-risk, high-reward REIT. It adds flavor to a portfolio—but probably shouldn’t be your entire meal.
4. Agree Realty (ADC)
Ticker: ADC
Dividend Yield: ~4.6%
Monthly Dividend Since: 2021
Market Cap: ~$6 billion
Sector: Net lease retail
ADC is like Realty Income’s younger cousin—still clean-cut, still into net lease real estate, but slightly more tech-savvy. Agree Realty focuses on retail tenants with essential or service-based business models—think Tractor Supply, Walmart, and AutoZone.
What makes ADC impressive is its proactive approach to risk. They constantly rotate out of weak tenants and reinvest in stronger ones. They're also one of the few REITs with an internal development team, allowing them to build properties from scratch and lease them to blue-chip tenants.
Why SWAN investors love it:
-
Consistent monthly income
-
High occupancy (~99%)
-
Focus on investment-grade tenants
ADC is what happens when you take a high-performing REIT model and modernize it. It’s conservative, but not dated.
5. LTC Properties (LTC)
Ticker: LTC
Dividend Yield: ~6.5%
Monthly Dividend Since: 2005
Market Cap: ~$1.5 billion
Sector: Senior housing and healthcare
LTC Properties invests in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, a sector with long-term demographic tailwinds. Boomers aren’t getting any younger—and someone has to own the buildings where they’ll receive care.
Yes, the sector has faced regulatory and staffing challenges. But LTC has survived multiple downturns and continues to pay a juicy monthly dividend while repositioning its portfolio for the future.
Why SWAN investors love it:
-
Aging population = long-term demand
-
High yield
-
Recession-resistant services
This isn’t a growth REIT. It’s a cash flow machine that quietly benefits from demographic inevitability. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the sector risks (Medicare, labor shortages, etc.).
How To Build Your Monthly SWAN Income Machine
These five REITs can be used as the backbone of a SWAN portfolio. While each offers a slightly different angle—retail, industrial, entertainment, healthcare—they share a few things in common:
-
Monthly income consistency
-
Asset-backed stability
-
Disciplined capital allocation
Here’s a sample allocation strategy:
This mix gives you sector diversification, a balanced yield (averaging ~5.5–6%), and monthly paychecks without betting the farm on a single sector or company.
Tax Implications: The REIT Reality Check
Before you build your portfolio and start popping champagne every time a monthly deposit hits, let’s talk taxes.
REIT dividends are generally not “qualified dividends”. That means they’re taxed at ordinary income rates, not the lower long-term capital gains rate.
Here’s how to deal:
-
Hold REITs in tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs or Roth IRAs.
-
Use tax software or a CPA that understands REIT 1099-DIV forms.
-
Don’t forget about return of capital (ROC): Some REITs return capital which isn’t taxed right away but reduces your cost basis.
The good news? You’re still getting paid. And smart tax planning can turn that income stream into an efficient part of your long-term retirement strategy.
The SWAN Mindset: It’s About More Than Dividends
A SWAN investor doesn’t chase fads. They don’t YOLO into meme stocks or confuse “cheap” with “undervalued.” They focus on:
-
Durability
-
Predictability
-
Risk management
REITs—especially monthly dividend payers—align beautifully with that mindset. They offer stability, a hedge against inflation, and income that compounds. Add dividend reinvestment (DRIP), and you can accelerate your path to financial freedom while sleeping soundly through market mayhem.
Imagine this: you wake up, coffee in hand, and check your brokerage account. There it is. Another monthly dividend. You didn’t work for it. You didn’t trade for it. You didn’t panic or chase.
You just invested. Intelligently. Patiently. The SWAN way.
Final Thoughts: Monthly REITs For Real-Life Peace of Mind
The stock market will do what it always does—bounce around, crash occasionally, and then rise again. But you don’t need to ride that roller coaster without a seatbelt.
REITs that pay monthly dividends act like shock absorbers in your portfolio. They pay you to wait, to be rational, to avoid panic selling. Whether it’s Realty Income’s never-miss payout, STAG’s industrial backbone, or EPR’s bounce-back story, there’s something here for every SWAN-minded investor.
So yes, it’s possible to build a portfolio that pays you every month, grows with time, and helps you sleep like someone who didn’t just load up on high-beta tech stocks.
That’s the REIT way. That’s the SWAN way.