3 Cheap REITs That Are Too Good to Ignore The largest U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) that’s focused on real estate investment trusts, or REITs, is the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA: VNQ ), with $38.2 billion in total net assets. Down 14% year-t0-date through Aug. 8, there are plenty of cheap REITs to buy among its 170 real estate stocks. But which ones should you focus your attention on? If you believe we are in — or will soon be in — a recession, you’ll want to own REITs that lease their real estate assets to businesses that tend to do well in economic slowdowns. However, economists will point to the fact that the U.S. economy added 528,000 jobs in July, putting the unemployment rate at 3.5%. That’s on par with the 50-year low set in 2019. For me, rather than trying to market-time your REIT buys, I would consider buying some of the better names that are trading below their historical averages. Here are three cheap REITs that are too good to ignore and make sense for the long haul. MPW Medical Properties Trust $16.07 SPG Simon Property Group $107.41 STOR Store Capital $28.15 Cheap REITs: Medical Properties Trust (MPW) Source: venusvi | Shutterstock.com Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW ) is the second-largest owner of hospital beds in the U.S., with approximately 447 properties and 46,000 beds.