REITs, a Global Phenom
The world embraces an American original.
Once tax and regulatory details are ironed out, Britain and Germany will become the newest markets for real estate investment trusts. By late this year or in 2007, they'll join Australia, France, Hong Kong and Japan among major countries that have recently authorized REITs. The first Israeli REIT opened in January. Indian developers want the government to create REITs there.
REITs trade like stocks and pass through dividends from apartments, shopping centers, offices and other properties. U.S. REITs have returned an average of 20% annually for the past five years and 16% for the past ten, easily outpacing the broad stock indexes and also paying a higher yield than bonds and bank savings. Overseas real estate markets are also healthy. Typically, foreign REITs are patterned after the U.S. kind, which must pay 90% of the trust's income as a dividend. The best way to sample these new REITs is via global and real estate mutual funds -- whose horizons just got a little broader.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Gain on Tech, Auto Tariff Talk
The Trump administration said late Friday that it will temporarily halt tariffs on some Chinese tech imports.
By Karee Venema
-
Sam's Club Plans Aggressive Expansion: Discover Its New Locations
Sam's Club expansion plans will open up to 15 new stores each year. Learn where they plan to open in 2025.
By Sean Jackson
-
Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Clients
wealth management These banks welcome customers who keep high balances in deposit and investment accounts, showering them with fee breaks and access to financial-planning services.
By Lisa Gerstner
-
Stock Market Holidays in 2025: NYSE, NASDAQ and Wall Street Holidays
Markets When are the stock market holidays? Here, we look at which days the NYSE, Nasdaq and bond markets are off in 2025.
By Kyle Woodley
-
Stock Market Trading Hours: What Time Is the Stock Market Open Today?
Markets When does the market open? While the stock market does have regular hours, trading doesn't necessarily stop when the major exchanges close.
By Michael DeSenne
-
Bogleheads Stay the Course
Bears and market volatility don’t scare these die-hard Vanguard investors.
By Kim Clark
-
The Current I-Bond Rate Until May Is Mildly Attractive. Here's Why.
Investing for Income The current I-bond rate is active until November 2024 and presents an attractive value, if not as attractive as in the recent past.
By David Muhlbaum
-
What Are I-Bonds? Inflation Made Them Popular. What Now?
savings bonds Inflation has made Series I savings bonds, known as I-bonds, enormously popular with risk-averse investors. So how do they work?
By Lisa Gerstner
-
This New Sustainable ETF’s Pitch? Give Back Profits.
investing Newday’s ETF partners with UNICEF and other groups.
By Ellen Kennedy
-
As the Market Falls, New Retirees Need a Plan
retirement If you’re in the early stages of your retirement, you’re likely in a rough spot watching your portfolio shrink. We have some strategies to make the best of things.
By David Rodeck