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

Law involving noncriminal issues such as breach of contract, libel, slander, and accidents. ...

A sash window having two vertically moving sashes respectively offset by sash weights. Each sash closes a different part of the window. ...

Drain facility usually underground for waste and water disposal consisting on connected pipes. ...

The net operating income definition is the total profit generated by a business or real estate development after the necessary operating expenses are taken out. In order to determine the ...

Language commonly used in a fee simple title conveyance. The significance is whether the title is clear and can be passed on to the purchaser's estate including all heirs and those who may ...

Amount invested in property in cash. ...

The definition of acquisition cost in real estate is the total cost recorded by a company or individual pertinent to the purchasing of a property. This is the entire amount written down in ...

Percentage of rentals estimated not to be made because of actual and anticipated vacancies. ...

Court or government regulatory order to stop doing something, such as not showing minorities certain neighborhoods. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions