Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Real Estate Investment Trust

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust. REIT is a real estate investment trust , generally,it is a company that owns and typically operates income-producing real estate or real estate-related assets. Individuals can invest in REITs either by purchasing their shares directly on an open exchange or by investing in a mutual fund that specializes in public real estate. An additional benefit to investing in REITs is the fact that many are accompanied by dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs). Among other things, REITs invest in shopping malls, office buildings, apartments, warehouses and hotels. Some REITs will invest specifically in one area of real estate - shopping malls, for example - or in one specific region, state or country. Investing in REITs is a liquid, dividend-paying means of participating in the real estate market.
REITs receive special tax considerations and typically offer investors high yields, as well as a highly liquid method of investing in real estate.
Equity REITs: Equity REITs invest in and own properties (thus responsible for the equity or value of their real estate assets). Their revenues come principally from their properties' rents.
Mortgage REITs: Mortgage REITs deal in investment and ownership of property mortgages. These REITs loan money for mortgages to owners of real estate, or purchase existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. Their revenues are generated primarily by the interest that they earn on the mortgage loans.
Hybrid REITs: Hybrid REITs combine the investment strategies of equity REITs and mortgage REITs by investing in both properties and mortgages.
In the Budget 14-15 the Finance Minister has laid emphasis on the creation of Investment funds InvITs & Real Estate Investment Funds. The FM has proposed TAX Incentives on creation of these funds.capital markets regulator Sebi cleared final guidelines for creation and listing of business trusts for real estate and infrastructure sectors.

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