- A REIT is a mutual fund for real estate properties.
- It is a great investment option for those who want to invest in real estate but cannot afford to purchase property.
- To purchase shares in a REIT, visit a SEC-registered broker or financial adviser.
A real estate investment trust (REIT, pronounced "reet") is a security that invests in real estate directly and sells much like a stock on exchanges. It invests through properties or mortgages and receives special tax considerations. As incentives to investors, REITs offer high yields and a liquid method of investing in real estate.
Boiled down, REITs are corporations that own and manage portfolios of real estate properties and mortgages, and anyone can buy shares in a publicly traded REIT. REITs are essentially mutual funds that invest in real estate.
For most Americans, investing in real estate is not financially feasible. Commercial real estate, in particular, is very expensive and requires a large investment. But a REIT pools resources of several small investors and allows them to invest in large-scale commercial real estate as a group. A REIT provides advantages in the form of liquidity and diversity; unlike with true real estate, shares can be sold easily. With a portfolio of properties rather than a single piece of property, shareholders face much less financial risk.
REITs were first developed in 1960 to democratize the real estate market, and they followed the model of investing in other industries: the purchase of equity. At least 90% of a REIT's taxable income must be distributed annually to shareholders, in the form of dividends. REITs are permitted to deduct dividends paid to shareholders from their corporate taxable incomes to maintain pass-through entity status, so most REITs owe no corporate tax. As a result, it passes the responsibility of paying these taxes on to its shareholders.
To qualify as a REIT (as overseen by the IRS), a company must have at least 75% of its assets tied to real estate investments. A corporation must also be structured as a business trust and be managed by a board of directors or trustees. Shares must be fully transferrable, and each REIT must have at least 100 shareholders.
REIT qualification is also dependent on the makeup of the company. No more than 50% of its shares can be held by five or fewer individuals during the last half of each taxable year. At least 95% of a REIT's gross income must come from financial investments, and at least 75% of its gross income must come from rents or mortgage interest.
Types of REITs
The three REIT types are equity REITs (EREITs), mortgage REITs (MREITs) and hybrid REITs. EREITs purchase, own and manage real estate properties that produce income. This can include apartments, malls and office buildings. These are a good choice for long-term investing because dividends are earned from rental income and capital gains from property sales. EREITs make up 90% of the REITs in the United States.
MREITs don't invest in properties. Rather, they loan money for mortgages to real estate owners or purchase mortgage-backed securities. The revenue for MREITs is created by the interest earned on mortgage loans. If interest rates are low or expected to drop, MREITs are considered solid investments. MREITs are more volatile in a market with changing interest rates, as their dividends come from interest payments. As a result, MREITs make up only 10% of the REITs in the United States.
Hybrid REITs are a combination of equity and mortgage REITs, and earn money through a combination of rents and interest. They combine the investment strategies of both, and provide a more diversified portfolio.
As of 2012, there were 166 REITs registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Most of them trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The combined equity market capitalization of these REITs is a whopping $579 billion. There are a number of REITs that are not publicly traded and some that are not registered with the SEC. According to the IRS, there are roughly 1,100 U.S. REITs that have filed tax returns.
Is a REIT a good investment?
In short, yes. Because of the high yields and liquidity, a real estate investment trust is great for those who want to invest in real estate but do not have the capital to personally buy property. There is also less financial risk involved with owning shares in a real estate investment trust, since this is a mixed portfolio of various real estate properties, as opposed to stock in one particular property.
How do you make money on a REIT?
There are two ways to make money with a real estate investment trust. First, shareholders can be paid dividends. Dividends are a portion of the taxable income for a company or portfolio. For REITs, that portion is at least 90%. This sum is then divided among shareholders.
The other way to make money is through trading. By buying and selling shares of REITs, shareholders can determine when the price of their shares have peaked, to decide when to trade. For example, if a share is purchased for $100 then sold 10 years later for $250, the shareholder will have made $150. It is important to track the prices of the owned shares to ensure profit.
How do you invest in REITs?
To invest in a real estate investment trust, buyers will need to find a trusted broker or financial adviser. Depending on their holding company, these financial experts will have access to a variety of both publicly held and nontraded REITs. They will be able to customize your investment portfolio to meet your needs. While it is important to seek advice from a broker or financial adviser with great credibility, it is also essential to go into an appointment with an understanding of REITs and questions about how they can supplement their investments.
Note that any person who sells REITs must be registered with the SEC, as not doing so is considered fraud. To check if a person is registered with the SEC, use the SEC EDGAR system.