Why REITs have high P/E ratio?

[Mark Hu]

I am looking at two REITs in SO CA, and I've noticed their price/earnings ratio is rather high. One is BRE, the ratio is 42.94, and the other is essex, their ratio is 69.33. I understand that a more typical ratio would be 10-17.
I don't think REITs have rapid earnings growth potential, and after the recession I doubt this is a bubble. So why are these price/earnings ratios so high? Is this typical of REITs?