REITs keep you liquid and may be more cost efficient. Entering in a REIT also costs lower, and an individual can invest in a fund for less than 1,000 USD. It's kind of like buying into a stock too, in a sense that you can sell your REIT shares at your leisure.
On one hand, direct real estate investment gives you more power over your finances as there is no fund manager - you are the one in charge and you decide who can rent and live in your property. Some say that investment returns are also bigger should you go for direct real estate. However, it should be noted that you're putting in a bigger amount (roughly upwards 100,000 USD - which few people may be ready to shell out) just to get started on direct property investment versus about USD 1,000 into REIT.
At the end of the day, it's up to the investor to decide what sort of risk you're comfortable with.
