"One long-term opportunity is in the hotel sector," says real estate industry expert Peter Slatin, editor of the Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report. Here, he finds a trio of opportunities among hotel REITs.

"We think it's misleading to suggest that REITs and other real estate companies are due for a big bounceback this year. They have already picked up some, but the economy, including deepening inflation and weakening jobs markets certainly suggest that those gains are fragile and that further gains will not come easily, if at all.

"In other words, the best posture at this moment is to sit tight and watch. Nevertheless, there are a few opportunities out there for strong income and for growth potential.

"The hotel sector has been hit hard this year. Share prices for Diamondrock (NYSE: DRH) and Strategic Hotels and Resorts (NYSE: BEE) suggest that investors have been running away from a bogeyman that isn't really there.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My favorite more speculative pick for 2008 is ING Global Real Estate (IGLAX)," says Peter Slatin, editor of the Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report.

"Institutional and private money managers have been moving their real estate securities money into global -- i.e., non-U.S. real estate stocks.

"This is a difficult and dangerous game for individual investors without the wherewithal to look at conditions on the ground or talk to partners there, but there is a growing number of funds that have the human and capital resources and infrastructure to do the hard work.

"And it's paying off. Dutch banking giant ING's Global Real Estate fund has returned a very respectable 7.2% year-to-date which, against a U.S. REIT index that's in negative double digits, looks pretty great. Add in a 4% yield and an international market that is likely to continue its moderate growth, and it's a winner.

"But this is a long-term play: although the entry point is $1,000, the fund has a hefty front-end load of 5.75% -- with a five-year return of more than 25%."

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"My favorite conservative stock for 2008 is Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM)," says Peter Slatin, editor of the Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report.

"Here's a company that has it all: energy, timber and, mostly through its 50% ownership of Brookfield Properties (NYSE: BPO), top-quality commercial real estate in highly desirable markets such as London and New York.

"It also holds assets in emerging markets like Brazil, where it just acquired a major retail portfolio; and stable, well-performing Canada, including Calgary.

"Along with its office buildings in that energy and mineral boom town, BAM, which is traded on the New York and Toronto exchanges, also has a hefty stake in the region's vast oil sands.

"The company, with a market cap of more than $22 billion, is currently trading toward the higher end of its 52-week range, and its extremely professional management and well-balanced exposure to some key markets and industries will continue to make it a rock-steady performer in a very shaky world."

The Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report, edited by industry expert Peter Slatin, is a professional-level newsletter geared to the more sophisticated real estate investor.

Along with his own insights and advice on investment opportunities in the sector, one feature of the service is its monthly interviews with REIT-sector equity analysts. Below, I share some highlights from Slatin's interview with Jordan Sadler of KeyBanc Capital, who discusses some of his current favorite ideas among REITs.

FORBES/SLATIN: KeyBanc is focused on the U.S. What are you seeing here?

SADLER: My view, initiated last October, was a cautious outlook overall. The recent M&A squeezed shares. We continue to feel that way. REITs are trading at a level where it's hard to justify incremental investment across the space, although you can be tactical with names that are more attractive.

FORBES/SLATIN: In your universe of tactical moves, what stands out?

SADLER: Our top pick was Digital Realty Trust (NYSE: DLR), and it continues to be. It has fundamental drivers that are significantly differentiated from most of their REIT brethren. That, in theory, should be able to generate excess profit until competition gets hip, which seems to be slowly happening. For their type of building, there is limited supply, and a ton of demand, from financial services, Internet and enterprise companies and channel users.

In his Forbes/Slatin Real Estate Report, editor Peter Slatin recently interviewed Amit Kapoor of Gabelli Asset Management, whose specialty is the hotel/hospitality segment of the broader real estate sector. Here are highlights from the interview, in which Kapoor looks at Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH), a premium property operator.

Forbes/Slatin: "As several recent reports have indicated, hotel stocks are continuing their strong performance while the current wave of privatization and consolidation also shows no sign of abating. What are the basic reasons behind your bullishness on the sector?

Amit Kapoor: Overall, momentum and fundamentals in the hotel market are very strong. The supply is limited and it will be at least two years before significant supply comes on line and starts affecting revPAR growth.

Forbes/Slatin: You've just released a very positive report on Orient-Express. What do you like in particular?