Invest in Real Estate Worldwide: US & Global REITs and ETFs

REITs — real estate investment trusts — were created in the United States in 1960, when President Eisenhower signed Public Law 86-779 into law. The goal was straightforward: let all investors buy into large-scale, income-producing real estate through liquid, publicly traded securities. Since then, 42 countries and regions have adopted the REIT model, representing roughly 85% of global GDP — up from just 9% in 1990.

A REIT owns and typically operates income-producing properties. By law, US REITs must distribute at least 90% of their taxable net income to shareholders as dividends. There are two main types:

• Equity REITs — own and operate properties such as warehouses, data centers, hospitals, shopping malls, and apartment buildings.
• Mortgage REITs (mREITs) — provide real estate financing by purchasing or originating mortgages and mortgage-backed securities, earning income from interest.

There are approximately 225 publicly traded REITs in the United States alone, spanning a wide range of property sectors. The five largest US REITs by market capitalization are:

• Prologis (PLD) — operates industrial logistics space across 19 countries, leasing facilities to e-commerce, retail, and manufacturing clients.
• Equinix (EQIX) — runs a global network of over 270 data centers across more than 70 metropolitan areas.
• American Tower (AMT) — owns and operates wireless communications infrastructure in 22 countries.
• Welltower (WELL) — invests in healthcare infrastructure and senior housing, including assisted living and dementia care facilities.
• Digital Realty (DLR) — a data center REIT with more than 300 facilities across six geographic regions.

Other major names include Simon Property Group (SPG), the largest owner and operator of premium retail real estate in the US, and Realty Income (O), known for its net-lease retail portfolio. You can also explore highest dividend-yielding REIT stocks for a closer look at income-focused real estate securities.

Beyond direct REIT ownership, real estate ETFs provide a way to hold broad baskets of property stocks in a single fund. The Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index, covering large, mid, and small-cap real estate companies. The Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (SCHH) offers similar US REIT exposure. For a broader list of property funds, see real estate ETFs.

Globally, the listed real estate market continues to expand. Australia has the largest REIT market outside the United States, with more than 12% of global listed property trusts found on the ASX. Asia has been a major driver of growth, notably with the adoption of REITs in India in 2014 and China in 2021. The FTSE EPRA/Nareit Global Real Estate Index Series, created in 2001 by FTSE Group, Nareit, and EPRA, serves as the main benchmark for global listed real estate.

In 2014, equity REITs were recognized as a distinct asset class in the Global Industry Classification Standard by S&P Dow Jones Indices and MSCI — a milestone that cemented their place alongside traditional equities and fixed income. For broader context on US-listed companies, see the full market overview.

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The table below lists notable REITs, property funds, and real estate ETFs covering both US and worldwide markets, with live pricing and market data.