Equity Trusts
Definition of "Equity trusts"
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:
- 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.
- Shareholder qualifications. Generally, REITs are not permitted to be closely held and must have a minimum of 100 shareholders.
Popular Real Estate Terms
property having an easement right through another adjoining property. The property through which the easement passes is considered to have the servient tenement. ...
Real estate, home and life insurance use numerous ambiguous terms you should know because you can significantly benefit from them. Let’s discover what the word boot usually applies to ...
location where someone stays on a permanent basis. An example is a home to a family. ...
A judicially approved plan in which a persons obligations are paid over three years. It is an arrangement for the repayment of debts which permits a credit user in severe financial straits ...
Any financing agreement excluding a conventional mortgage from a third-person or entity lending institution. This type of financing is more prevalent when the price of real estate is too ...
Legal instrument permitting one to grant others general or specific powers for administering their finances. ...
Decline in the credit status of a prospective homebuyer. ...
Appraisal of a location before the purchase is made of it for potential environmental problems. ...
Discounted value of net cash receipts to be obtained from a property. The present value calculation includes consideration of annual cash inflows plus the disposal value. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.