How to take investor dollars?

[Charles Mercer]

Howdy! 

My business partner and I have bought and sold multiple properties via tax trust. We realize our biggest shortcoming is cash on hand. Thus, we have reached out to a few friends of mine who are interested in investing with us. 

I spoke with a tax friend of mine who mentioned we should look at starting a REIT to acquire these properties we are going after (mainly just bare land that we plan on flipping). Is that the best route? Or should we just take the investment and put it into the LLC we already have together and purchase the properties through that avenue?

Just trying to make it as clean as possible with new money and money we are putting in ourselves. Thanks for any help BP community!