<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000067625</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MONMOUTH REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mnrta</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000752642</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UMH PROPERTIES, INC.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3499 ROUTE 9 N, SUITE 3-C</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>JUNIPER BUSINESS PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREEHOLD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07728</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Affiliate</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2012284.5077</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 710.3069 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment.

In addition, UMH owns $5,000,000 principal amount of the 2005 Debentures, representing 436,681 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock on a converted basis.  The total number of securities of the Issuer beneficially owned at this time inculdes these 436,681 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, issuable upon conversion of the 2005 Debentures.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan M. Jordan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
