The Market Commentary blog on reit.com presents analysis of the macro- and micro-economic fundamentals impacting the REIT and commercial real estate industry. The Nareit economics team offers their commentary on the state of the market, the outlook for commercial real estate and breaking macroeconomic news. The opinions set forth here are solely those of its author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Nareit or its membership.
Blog
2026 Mid-Year Update: REITs Rebound, Poised for Future Gains and Growth
REITs delivered strong investment performance through mid-year 2026, outperforming the broad equity market by a sizable margin. This performance reversed their 2025 trend and showed that REITs can do well in an elevated and rising interest rate environment.
Blog
North American Real Estate Continues to Outperform Through Mid-Year
The FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Extended Index was flat in June, while gaining 8.9% in 2026, as the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index returned 1.0% for the month and has gained 10.2% year-to-date.
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REITs Outperform Broader Markets Through First Half of 2026
The FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index rose 1.5% in June, extending its year-to-date total return to 14.9%.
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Tax Treatment of REIT Common Share Dividends Paid in 2025
In 2025, U.S. listed REITs distributed approximately $71 billion in dividends, as reflected in Nareit’s REIT Industry Tracker.
Blog
Recognizing Change, Capturing Opportunity: LaSalle’s Case for REIT Completion Strategies
Institutional investors are increasingly implementing portfolio completion strategies, which use REITs to “complete” their portfolios, ensuring they reflect the current real estate universe.
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FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index Reaches $1.5 Trillion Market Capitalization in 2026
During the last 30 years, REIT market capitalization has seen steady growth, with only a small dip during the global financial crisis.
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Data Centers Replace Health Care for Most Overweight Americas Position, APAC and EMEA Gains in Diversified Sector
The global active manager tracker follows the quarterly investment holdings by the 25 largest actively managed funds invested globally.
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Strength and Persistence in Occupancy Rates Propel REIT Operational Gains
An occupancy rate highlights property market fundamentals; it is a measure of the interaction of supply and demand. In the first quarter of 2026, Nareit’s REIT Industry Tracker broadened its coverage of occupancy rates from four to 10 property sectors.
Blog
Global Real Estate Gains Solidified Through Early June as North America Leads
The FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Extended Index posted a total return of 9.3% year-to-date through June 10, while the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index returned 9.4% over the same period.
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REITs Continue to Deliver Solid Operational Performance Amid Economic Confusion
Assessing the state of today’s U.S. economy can be confusing.
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Private Appraised Real Estate Valuations Remain Disconnected from Market Realities & Historical Cap Rate Spreads
A recent Nareit commentary highlighted that private real estate appraisers and portfolio managers seem to be valuing property like it’s 2021.
Blog
REITs Maintain Year-to-Date Performance Lead Over Broader Markets
The FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index remained essentially unchanged in May, posting a narrow total return of 0.1%. Despite the flat monthly performance, REITs continue to lead on a year-to-date basis.