7 Reasons To Invest In Australian Real Estate Investment Trust (2024)

When it comes to real estate investment trusts (REITs), there are many options out there for property developers and investors. You can invest in REITs focusing on the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific, or South Africa.

However, if you’re looking for a strong return and stability, Australian real estate investment trusts (A-REITS) should be at the top of your list.

Here are the top 7 reasons why A-REIT should be your go-to investment in real estate.

7 Reasons To Invest In Australian Real Estate Investment Trust (1)

What is A-REIT?

A-REIT is a type of investment trust that focuses on Australian real estate. They are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and are required to have a minimum asset value of $250 million.

A-REITs must also have at least 25% of their assets in real estate and at least 75% of their income must come from property-related activities.

Top reasons to invest in Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts

In contrast to government bonds and other assets, REITs offer appealing dividend returns that drive many investors to purchase them.

There are other additional, equally compelling reasons to incorporate REITs into a well-balanced portfolio, though. These include that REITs often have higher total returns.

Investing in REITs has been shown to minimize risk and boost returns on a portfolio of stocks and bonds, which is a crucial reason. REITs are a tool for diversification.

7 Reasons To Invest In Australian Real Estate Investment Trust (2)

1. Double-digit total returns

One of the main reasons to invest in A-REIT is because they have a history of delivering strong total returns. In fact, over the past 20 years, A-REITS have delivered an average annual return of 11.0%.

It is well above the Australian share market (ASX 200) returns and global REITs.

There are a few key reasons why A-REITs (Australian real estate investment trusts) have been so successful in delivering double-digit returns:

  1. They tend to be diversified, which means they spread their risk across various asset types and geographies. It reduces the overall volatility of their portfolios and makes it more likely that they will hit their target return over the long term.
  2. A-REITs also tend to have low leverages, reducing overall portfolio risk.
  3. The management teams of these trusts are typically very experienced and focused on creating value for shareholders.

They understand the property market well and know how to identify opportunities to create value and generate growth.Total returns on a stock investment are dividends plus price appreciation (or depreciation) throughout ownership.

2. Portfolio diversification

Another reason to consider investing in A-REITS is for diversification purposes.

By investing in A-REIT, you’ll be exposed to a variety of different property types, including office space, retail centres, warehouses, industrial property and residential properties.

Diversification includes a specific investment in a portfolio to boost projected returns while lowering risk. This type of diversification can help reduce your overall risk when compared to investing in just one type of asset.

Investing in Australian property trusts is essential because it helps protect your investment from any particular sector going through a downturn.

For example, if the office sector were to experience a slump, your investment in real estate would still be safe because of the other sectors that make up the A-REIT.

A-REIT also offers investors exposure to a variety of geographical locations. For example, you could invest in an A-REIT with properties all over Australia. It means you would not be as exposed to any particular location.

REITs are a tried-and-true strategy for portfolio management diversification, as shown in numerous studies by numerous illustrious financial advising firms utilizing varied approaches and data sources.

Diversification benefit is possible since real estate and, consequently, REITs are one of the three asset classes for investments, along with stocks (also known as equities) and bonds.

Real estate investments encourage diversified portfolios since they have distinct drivers and cycles distinct from those of other equities and bonds.

Fact:

A $1,000 portfolio with an allocation to equity REITs will generate higher returns and have lower risk than a $1,000 portfolio with just stocks, bonds, and equity REIT shares.

3. REITs offer a high yield

A-REITs typically have a higher distribution yield than other types of REITs. You will receive more income from your investment. In addition, the distributions from A-REITs are usually taxed at a lower rate than other types of investments such as shares. So, this way, you will get a tax deduction on your investment.

REITs pay out a more significant portion of their income to shareholders. As a result, real estate investors can expect to receive a higher return on their investment.

If a Real Estate Investment Trust has well-located assets that are competitively managed and a balance sheet that is prudently leveraged, REITs are a desirable investment for those seeking current income stream.

When a REIT has these characteristics, it can often maintain—and ideally increase—the dividend it pays to shareholders.

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4. Stability

Unlike other REITs that are subject to the stock market's volatility, A-REITS are not. They must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders each year. It makes them an excellent option for property investors looking for a stable investment.

5. Strong growth potential

A-REITs have the potential to provide investors with solid capital growth. They can reinvest a portion of their income into the business, leading to higher rental income and lower vacancy rates; as a result, investors can see their growth over time.

6. Liquidity

Using publicly-traded Real estate investment trusts in Australia, property investors can increase their real estate profits without taking on the liquidity risk associated with direct real estate ownership.

It is because publicly-traded A-REITs on Australian stock exchanges can be instantly purchased or sold through a financial advisor or internet trading services, much like other equities.

In comparison, selling a direct real estate investment may take months or even years. Investors can thereby participate in real estate-based assets in a liquid manner through publicly-traded REITs.

7. Invest to prevent inflation

Leases govern how Equity REITs rent their real estate assets to tenants. It generally shields the margins of the REITs from the consequences of inflation.

Most leases allow landlords to charge renters for certain expenses (utilities, taxes, insurance, landscaping, etc.) once incurred. In triple-net leases, the landlord is not responsible for covering these operating expenses; tenants are.

Landlords of apartment buildings often have one-year leases and are permitted to mark up their rental income (also known as "marking-to-market") to keep up with rising costs.

In times of inflation, A-REIT income can keep up with growing prices, albeit with some lag, thanks to their capacity to pass along increases in operational costs.

As a result, REITs produce inflation-adjusted earnings, which makes their stocks desirable investment options when inflation is high.

Conclusion

There are many reasons to invest in Australian real estate investment trusts. They offer diversification, exposure to different geographical locations, and a high distribution yield.

In addition, they tend to be less volatile than other types of investments. So, if you're looking for a safe and stable investment, then A-REITs is for you.

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FAQs

How do REITs work in Australia?

REITs are a kind of investment vehicle that own and operate income-producing real estate. In Australia, REITs are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). REITs must be widely held, unlisted trusts or companies and must derive at least 75% of their gross income from property income (such as rent) and undertaking development activities. At least 90% of their taxable income must also be distributed to shareholders each year in the form of dividends. Australian REITs can be either shop or office focused, or they may have a portfolio that includes a mix of properties across different sectors.

Do REITs pay tax in Australia?

Yes, REITs pay tax in Australia. In fact, they are required to pay corporate tax at a rate of 30%. Additionally, they are also required to pay the GST (Good and Services Tax) on income generated from Australian real estate holdings.

What are the risks of REITs?

There are definitely risks involved with investing in REITs. For one, a REIT may not be able to pay its dividends if it doesn't have enough cash flow. Additionally, a REIT's stock price could drop if there's a recession and people stop buying commercial property. Finally, the overall health of the commercial real estate market could decline, which would have an adverse effect on REITs.

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7 Reasons To Invest In Australian Real Estate Investment Trust (2024)

FAQs

7 Reasons To Invest In Australian Real Estate Investment Trust? ›

Benefits of investing in A-REITs

Investing in an A-REIT could give you instant access to a large property portfolio for a small upfront investment. Depending on the A-REIT you choose, it may also offer diversification across property sectors, geographical locations and asset types.

Why invest in REITs Australia? ›

Benefits of investing in A-REITs

Investing in an A-REIT could give you instant access to a large property portfolio for a small upfront investment. Depending on the A-REIT you choose, it may also offer diversification across property sectors, geographical locations and asset types.

Why invest in real estate in Australia? ›

Australia is a diverse country with a growing population. Over half of all Australians live within the capital cities, driving demand and house price growth. With such a stable and robust market, investing in Australia's real estate market is an excellent way to diversify your property portfolio.

What are the benefits of investing in Australia? ›

Australia is attractive to investors

Australia offers investors: consistent economic growth. a highly skilled workforce. proximity to dynamic and fast-growing markets.

Why buy a real estate investment trust? ›

REITs offer a number of attractive attributes such as growth, income, and diversification. REITs have historically delivered strong results and provide attractive income relative to other asset classes. They offer diversification relative to traditional investments like stocks and bonds.

Is it worth investing in REITs Australia? ›

REITs and Tax

As a result, if you invest in REITs, you need to be wary of the tax consequences. Unless your marginal tax rate is low, the drag on returns outside super is so large that it may be better not to have additional REITs at all. Even in super, there's a cost. In fact potentially more so than outside super.

Is REIT a good investment in Australia? ›

Since REITs are required to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, investors can expect a consistent income stream from their REIT investments. The dividend yield of Australian REITs is approximately 4.1%, making them an attractive income-generating investment.

Why do foreigners invest in Australia? ›

Why invest in Australia? Australia offers many advantages compared with other countries seeking foreign investment including: consistent economic growth. highly skilled workforce.

Is real estate in Australia worth it? ›

The potential tax benefits and wealth generation make real estate an attractive investment option for many Australians, but it is not without any drawbacks. If done right, investing in property can be an effective way to build wealth and secure your financial future.

Is Australian real estate overpriced? ›

In Sydney, houses were overvalued by almost 33 per cent, meaning the median house price would need to fall by about $458,000 based on CoreLogic figures to be considered “fair value”. In Brisbane and Canberra they were overvalued by 33.5 per cent and 31.1 per cent respectively.

Is Australia a good place to invest in? ›

Australia has one of the strongest economies in the world and it typically performs better than other countries during economic downturns. This makes it an attractive place for investors because they know that their investments will be safe even if there is a global economic crisis or recession.

What is the most secure investment in Australia? ›

Defensive investment options include products like bonds and term deposits. Growth investments have higher expected returns, but the risk of losing money can also be greater, especially over the short term. Growth investments include Australian equity, as well as international shares or overseas shares.

Is Australia a safe country to invest in? ›

Investors regard Australia an excellent place to invest because of its population growth, highly skilled workforce, strategic location, strong record of economic growth and a stable governance and regulatory environment.

What are the pros and cons of a real estate trust? ›

What Are the Advantages & Disadvantages of Putting a House in a Trust?
  • Protection Against Future Incapacity. ...
  • It May Save Money on Estate Taxes. ...
  • It Can Avoid Probate. ...
  • Asset Protection. ...
  • Trusts Can Cost More to Maintain. ...
  • Your Other Assets Are Still Subject to Probate. ...
  • Trusts Are Complex.
Jan 16, 2023

What are the advantages of a REIT? ›

Advantages and Disadvantages of REITs

REITs are easy to buy and sell, as most trade on public exchanges. REITs offer attractive risk-adjusted returns and stable cash flow. Including real estate in a portfolio provides diversification and dividend-based income.

What are the pros and cons of REITs? ›

Real estate investment trusts reduce the barrier to entry for investors in the real estate market and provide liquidity, regular income and other perks. However, you'll be exposed to risks that aren't inherent in the stock market and dividends are subject to ordinary income tax.

How are REITs taxed in Australia? ›

Property trusts, such as Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), do not pay corporate income tax on passive rental income but distribute this to investors who pay tax at their own individual tax rate.

How often do REITs pay dividends in Australia? ›

Like shares, A-REITs can generate two kinds of return: capital growth and income, in the form of regular distributions. Because they typically earn regular rental income from medium or long-term tenants, A-REITs may also offer the potential for a consistent income stream, with distributions paid monthly or quarterly.

Why REIT is better than owning property? ›

Because the REIT manages the property, investors are not burdened with the everyday stress of vacancies, tenants, management or repairs. REITs also pay out dividends to investors, providing a reliable passive income stream.

How are REIT dividends taxed in Australia? ›

Dividend income: Most REITs pay out a significant portion of their earnings as dividends. In Australia, dividend income is generally taxed at the investor's marginal tax rate, but there are some tax credits and offsets available that can reduce the payable tax.

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