Definition of "Equity trusts"

Jennifer Dreggors real estate agent

Written by

Jennifer Dreggorselite badge icon

Berkshire Hathaway Executives

Same as term REIT: 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Shareholder qualifications. Generally, REITs are not permitted to be closely held and must have a minimum of 100 shareholders.
There are three types of REITs. An equity trust invests their assets in acquiring ownership in real estate. Their income is mainly derived from rental on the property. A mortgage trust invests in acquiring short-term or long-term mortgages. Their income is derived from interest from their investment portfolio. A combination trust combines the features of both the equity trust and the mortgage trust. Their income comes from rentals, interest, and loan placement fees. Disadvantages of REITs are potential losses from the market decline and high risk.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Person protecting himself from risk or negative consequences, such as by taking out homeowner's insurance. Material used to block or restrain something from entering a house, ...

Real estate property incentive offered for reasons other than individual merit. A discriminatory inducement is an effort to get an individual to buy or sell, rent, or lease real estate ...

Sewer system built into the streets of a neighborhood that is capable of accommodating the excess water flow of a heavy storm without backing up or flooding. ...

Statue designed to protect lenders if a seller secretly sells substantially all of the business property. The objective of the law is to safeguard against defrauding creditors. ...

Refinancing seems easy to understand but is it really? Here’s a lengthy refinancing definition so you can make up your mind once and for all regarding the exquisiteness of the ...

One of a series of inclined structural supports supporting a roof. ...

property suitable for residential living, such as a house, duplex, apartment, mobile home, or condominium. ...

Average of what savings institutions in the 11th district of the Federal Home Loan Bank System ( California, Arizona, and Nevada) are paying in interest to depositors and other sources of ...

The third-party definition refers to an individual or entity in a transaction but is not the buyer or the seller. Usually, a third party has some role in the transaction. They do not have ...

Popular Real Estate Questions