But I am going to make the case that putting $100,000 into real estate investment trusts, or REITs (VNQ), today could be a life-changing investment for long-term-oriented investors. Their valuations are at their lowest in 10 years right now, and I expect their returns over the next decade to be exceptional. Historically, REITs have been some of the most rewarding investments in the entire capital market, outperforming even the S&P 500 (SP500) and Growth stocks (SPYG).