Equity real estate investment trusts reits?
A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a security that trades like a stock on the major exchanges and owns—and in most cases operates—income-producing real estate or related assets. Many REITs are registered with the SEC and are publicly traded on a stock exchange. These are known as publicly traded REITs.
Investing in REITs can add some diversification to your portfolio and give you access to passive income, liquidity and excellent long-term returns. However, taxes can be more expensive with REITs compared to other investment options, and there are still risks involved with the real estate market.
| # | Name | C. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prologis 1PLD | 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | American Tower 2AMT | 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Equinix 3EQIX | 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Simon Property Group 4SPG | 🇺🇸 |
REIT stands for "Real Estate Investment Trust". A REIT is organized as a partnership, corporation, trust, or association that invests directly in real estate through the purchase of properties or by buying up mortgages. REITs issue shares that trade stock exchange and are bought and sold like ordinary stocks.
Equity REITs own and operate properties and generate revenue primarily through rental income. Mortgage REITs invest in mortgages, mortgage-backed securities, and related assets and generate revenue through interest income.
A potential drawback of purchasing non-traded REITs are the high up-front fees. Investors can expect to pay fees, which include commission and fees, between 9 and 10% of the entire investment.
Here are some of the main disadvantages of investing in a REIT. Market volatility: Value can fluctuate based on economic and market conditions. Interest rate risk: Changes in interest rates can affect the value of a REIT.
We expect to see more institutional investors using REITs in 2023. Though we will continue to feel the aftershocks and tremors of the pandemic next year, we feel confident that REITs are on solid ground.
While some stocks distribute dividends on a quarterly or annual basis, certain REITs pay quarterly or monthly. That can be an advantage for investors, whether the money is used for enhancing income or for reinvestment, especially since more frequent payments compound faster.
According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), non-traded REITs typically require a minimum investment of $1,000 to $2,500.
Can you pull money out of a REIT?
REITs are highly liquid; if you need to pull your money out, you simply sell your shares on a stock exchange.
This is the biggest and most important mistake that REIT investors keep on making. They see REITs as "income vehicles" and therefore, they will select their investments based on their dividend yield. In their mind, the higher the better. But in reality, the dividend is just a capital allocation decision.
Since most non-traded REITs are illiquid, there are often restrictions to redeeming and selling shares. While a REIT is still open to public investors, investors may be able to sell their shares back to the REIT. However, this sale usually comes at a discount; leaving only about 70% to 95% of the original value.
REITs closely follow the overall real estate market and are subject to much of the same risks, including fluctuations in property value, leasing occupancy, and geographic demand. Real estate is typically very sensitive to changes in interest rates, which can affect property values and occupancy demand.
| Symbol | Fund name | 1-year return |
|---|---|---|
| BREUX | Baron Real Estate R6 | 24.69% |
| BREIX | Baron Real Estate Institutional | 24.09% |
| GREIX | Goldman Sachs Real Estate Securities | 18.17% |
| CREYX | Columbia Real Estate Equity Ins3 | 17.45% |
Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying REIT shares rather than rental properties is simplicity. REIT investing allows for sharing in value appreciation and rental income without being involved in the hassle of actually buying, managing and selling property. Diversification is another benefit.
REITs historically perform well during and after recessions | Pensions & Investments.
Publicly traded REITs offer investors a way to add real estate to an investment portfolio or retirement account and earn an attractive dividend. Publicly traded REITs are a safer play than their non-exchange counterparts, but there are still risks.
It's not necessarily a bad idea to own REITs in taxable brokerage accounts. But because of complex REIT taxation rules, they certainly make more sense in IRAs. This way, the REITs avoid taxation on the corporate level and you can defer or avoid taxes on the individual level, as well.
The lack of government regulation makes it difficult for investors to evaluate them since little to no information is available publicly. Also, they are not required to prepare audited financial statements.
Why are REITs struggling?
First, rising interest rates pushed up the costs of financing property purchases. Then, in March, some regional bank failures and false assumptions of an ensuing nationwide banking “crisis” triggered questions about the financial wherewithal of REIT tenants and possible follow-on effects on REITs themselves.
As this chart shows, REITs perform poorly during periods of rising long-term interest rates, such as we are in right now. They perform even more poorly relative to non-REIT equities. But in the 12 months after long-term interest rates reach their peak, REITs have historically soared, outperforming non-REIT equities.
If you invested in the REIT outside of your Roth IRA, the dividends would be taxed as income. In many ways, investing in REITs in your Roth IRA is the ideal way to invest in a REIT. Their dividends greatly compound over time and you won't have to pay taxes on them when you reach retirement age.
REITs have typically enjoyed strong absolute and relative total return performances after monetary policy tightening cycles end. The valuation divergence between REITs and private real estate will likely converge in 2024, making REITs an attractive option for investors.
After a lackluster performance for the majority of 2023, the Fed's latest decision to keep interest rates steady and an indication of three rate cuts in 2024 are likely to make real estate investment trusts (REITs) an attractive investment option for many.
