Real estate is technically known as land and any other  tangible improvement that might rest upon it or be installed in it.

The improvement might be a building that’s been erected there, or a roadway. checkout 7 ways to make money with WordPress site within 48 hours

It can be something that’s been inserted into the ground, such as a septic system. Land with any of these structures is said to be “improved.” It’s “unimproved” when it lacks them

Real estate portfolios invest primarily in real estate investment trusts (REITs) of various types.

A REIT is a company that owns, develops and manages real estate properties that produce income.

There are several different types of REITs, including apartment, factory outlet, health care, hotel, industrial, mortgage, office and shopping center REITs.

By law, REITs have to disburse at least 90 percent of their taxable income every year to shareholders by paying them dividends.

he U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulates REITs in the U.S.

In addition to individual REITs, investors can purchase shares of exchange-traded funds or mutual funds that hold one or more REITs in their portfolios.

Some portfolios in this category also invest in real estate operating companies

Here are some of the best Real Estate Funds ETFs

• iShares Core US REIT ETF
• SPDR® Dow Jones REIT ETF
• Real Estate Select Sector SPDR®
• iShares Global REIT ETF
• First Trust S&P REIT ETF
• iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF
• Vanguard Real Estate ETF

iShares Core US REIT ETF

The investment seeks to track the investment results of the FTSE NAREIT Equity REITs Index composed of U.S. real estate equities.

The fund generally will invest at least 90% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and may invest up to 10% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents.

The index measures the performance of U.S. listed equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”),

excluding infrastructure REITs, mortgage REITs, and timber REITs.

SPDR® Dow Jones REIT ETF

The investment seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index.

The fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 80%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index.

The index is designed to provide a measure of real estate securities that serve as proxies for direct real estate investing,

In part by excluding securities whose value is not always closely tied to the value of the underlying real estate.

Real Estate Select Sector SPDR®

The investment seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of publicly traded equity securities of companies in the Real Estate Select Sector Index (the “index”).

Under normal market conditions, the fund generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index.

The index includes securities of companies from the following industries:

real estate management and development and REITs, excluding mortgage REITs. The fund is non-diversified. you may also like to know the strategic ways to get a job without college Degree

iShares Global REIT ETF

The investment seeks to track the investment results of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Global REITs Index.

The index is designed to track the performance of publicly-listed real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (or their local equivalents) in both developed and emerging markets.

The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially

identical to the component securities of the underlying index and may invest up to 20% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents

First Trust S&P REIT ETF

The investment seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield (before the fund’s fees and expenses) of an equity index called the S&P United States REIT Index.

The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) that comprise the index.

The index seeks to measure the performance of publicly-traded traded REITs domiciled in the United States that meet certain eligibility requirements.

iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETF

The investment seeks to track the investment results of the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index, which consists of REITs.

The fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the underlying index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the underlying index.

The objective of the underlying index is to represent relatively large and liquid REITs that may benefit from future consolidation and securitization of the U.S. real estate industry.

The fund is non-diversified.

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

The investment seeks to track the investment results of the Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index, which consists of REITs.

The fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the underlying index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the underlying index.

The objective of the underlying index is to represent relatively large and liquid REITs that may benefit from future consolidation and securitization of the U.S. real estate industry.

The fund is non-diversified.

What is REITs?

A REIT is a corporation, trust, or association that invests directly in real estate through properties or mortgages.

They trade on a stock exchange and are bought and sold like stocks.

Mortgage REITs invest in residential and commercial mortgages.

These REITs loan money for mortgages, or purchase existing mortgages or mortgage-backed securities (MBS).

Revenues are generated primarily by the interest earned on mortgage loans.

Hybrid REITs are a combination of equity and mortgage REITs.

REITs pay dividends. They are required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to pay out most of their taxable profits to shareholders via dividends.

REIT companies don’t pay corporate income tax.

How Real Estate Works

Real estate involves numerous facets, because it doesn’t simply exist. It can segue from unimproved to improved. It can be purchased or sold.

It might be owned by a government, a corporate entity, or by a private party. But certain components can have a direct impact on the economy:

consistent improvement of land, and the individual and entities that facilitate those transfers of ownership.

Reasons Why Real Estate is a Superior Investment

Do you have enough for retirement? Financial planners usually use the “25 Times Rule” to determine how much a portfolio should be worth for someone to safely retire.

If you need $50,000 a year to live on when you retire, then, using the “25 Times Rule” you should have $1,250,000 in stocks, bonds and mutual funds in order to retire.

Then, at retirement, financial planners begin liquidating these assets using a “4-Percent Rule”, which simply means they liquidate 4 percent of the portfolio each year until it is down to zero after 25 years.

Compared to investors who rely on the stock market to accumulate assets for their retirement, real estate investments take a different approach.

If you accumulate $2,800,000 in income-producing real estate it will pay $50,000 a year in income and continue to appreciate in value over the years,

not only covering you indefinitely but also leaving you something to pass on to your children.

Real Estate has many advantages over investing in stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

Real estate offers predictable cash flow; it appreciates in value, thus keeping up with inflation;

it provides a higher return because of positive leverage, and it offers equity growth through debt reduction. During retirement,

real estate is a self-sustaining asset while stocks are a self-liquidating asset. Which would you prefer, a self-sustaining asset or a self-liquidating asset? checkout E cornel business school

The following are the reasons to invest in Real Estate 

Real estate appreciates in value

Since 1968, appreciation levels for real estate have been 6 percent per year, including during the downturn in the economy beginning in 2007, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Real estate provides equity buildup

Most real estate is purchased with a small down payment with the balance of the money being provided through debt financing from a lender.

Over time, the principal amount of the mortgage is paid down,slowly at first, and then more rapidly toward the end of the amortization period.

This principal reduction builds equity

Real estate gains are deferrable

Our tax code, under a 1031 exchange, permits the gain on the sale of an investment property to be transferred from the property being sold to a new property being purchased, hence deferring the payment of any tax on the sale of the property.

Real estate is depreciable

Depreciation is a non-cash expense permitted by tax code that depreciates the value of your investment property over time. However,

the value of your investment property actually appreciates.

The depreciation deduction allows a real estate investor to generate a larger positive cash flow while reporting a lower income for tax purposes.

This creates a higher return than you may initially realize.

Real estate has a predictable cash flow

Cash flow is the net spendable income derived from the investment after all operating expenses and mortgage payments have been made.

A good real estate investment should provide you with 6% or greater cash flow.