How do you feel about Lion-Philips S-REIT ETF or REIT ETF as general? Would you recommend it for people starting out?

Personally, I don't think it's a bad option to invest in the REIT ETFs.

No doubt you have to pay a % of management fees (0.50% - 0.60%), but it gives you the opportunity to diversify into a basket of REITs, hence reducing your overall risk.

Yes, you can create your own basket either based on your own research or constituents of the underlying index that the ETF is tracking. However, you should take note that a substantial capital may be required to have a well-diversified REIT portfolio otherwise you might be paying a significant execution fee. And if you prefer not to analyse and monitor the individual REITs on a frequent basis, getting the Market Return - 0.50% might not be a bad choice after all.

There is also a tendency for investors to speculate on the price movement of individual REIT or biased towards certain REITs which may or may not lead to superior performance. Having a REIT ETF at the core of your investment portfolio for market return and exercise your discretion to invest in a few other individual REITs counter might not be a bad choice.

Skip all the reit ETFs and buy into the individual reits on your own. No point paying more fees for lower yield.

The reits in the ETFs are indicated in the fund documents and you can just buy into them.