REITs own approximately $3.5 trillion in gross real estate assets, with more than $2 trillion of that total from public listed and non-listed REITs and the remainder from privately held REITs. The economic and investment reach of those assets are felt by millions of Americans all across the country.
Since their creation in 1960, REITs have grown in size, impact and market acceptance. The creation of headline real estate sectors - populated mainly by REITs - in leading industry classification standards underscores the growing importance of REIT-based real estate investment in the equities marketplace.
REITs have historically produced a track record of strong performance. The industry’s track record has resulted in a broader acceptance among institutional investors, financial advisors and retail investors.
Data as of October 2020 unless otherwise noted.