Mortgage REITs (mREITS) provide financing for income-producing real estate by purchasing or originating mortgages and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and earning income from the interest on these investments. mREITs help provide essential liquidity for the real estate market. mREITs invest in residential and commercial mortgages, as well as residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). mREITs typically focus on either the residential or commercial mortgage markets, although some invest in both RMBS and CMBS. An individual may buy shares in a mREIT, which is listed on major stock exchanges, just like they do for any other public stock. Shares can also be purchased in a mutual fund or (ETF). Investors have historically found value in mREITs primarily because of their history of relatively high dividends.