Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
Type of investment company that invests money in mortgages and various types of investment in real estate, in order to earn profits for shareholders. Shareholders receive income from the rents received from the properties and receive capital gains as properties are sold at a profit. REITs have been formed by a number of large financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies. The stocks of many of them are traded on security exchanges, thereby providing investors with a marketable interest in real estate investment portfolio. By law, REITs have to distribute 95 percent of their income to shareholders, and in turn they are exempt from corporate taxes on income or gains. In exchange for this special tax treatment, REITs are subject to numerous qualifications and limitations including:
- Qualified asset and income tests. REITs are required to have at least 75% of their value represented by qualified real estate assets and to earn at least 75% of their income from real estate investments.
- Shareholder qualifications. Generally, REITs are not permitted to be closely held and must have a minimum of 100 shareholders.
Popular Real Estate Terms
Are you planning on buying a house? If you are, you’re going to love the Buyer's Market definition. But if you are a home seller, you will wish that term never comes up again in your ...
When an owner of real estate dies interstate, having no enforceable will, the property descends, by operation of law, to the owner's inheritors. ...
Commonly, a covenant refers to a legal treaty or agreement between various parties. Explicitly, a stipulation comes into existence and is signed to confine particular financial transactions ...
Used when determining the worth of an annuity that reinvests the amount of recaptured investment at a risk-free interest rate. ...
An estate constrained from some heirs and dedicated to others on the basis of a certain condition. ...
Combination of insurance policies on property with each providing an additional increment of coverage exceeding the limits of the preceding policy. For example, policy A adds $70,000, then ...
Supplementary narrow pathway, such as to a building. ...
Real estate market where supply significantly exceeds demand enabling potential buyers to obtain lower prices and good deals. ...
Glass containing wire support to make it stronger. There is less chance of glass being broken into pieces and hurting people. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.