Diploma Thesis from the year 2005 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,3, Otto Beisheim School of Management Vallendar (WHU - Dresdner Bank Chair of Finance), language: English, abstract: A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a property stock that is taxed, not at the corporate but at the investor level, which can lead to tax advantages. The concept of REITs originated in the United States in 1960, allowing smaller investors access to large income-producing real estate, which facilitated the creation of a liquid asset class that has become a core part of institutional portfolio management. REITs have proven attractive to investors because: x Their returns have beaten most major equity benchmarks over three decades, with lower volatility x They have predictable cash flows and high dividend yields x They have a low correlation with other asset classes, aiding portfolio diversification As US-REITs proved successful, other countries have introduced similar property investment vehicles. The Netherlands started in 1969, followed by Australia (1985), Canada (1994), Belgium (1995), Japan (2000) Singapore (2002), Hong Kong (2003) and most recently France (2003). In Germany real estate has been the most popular investment theme of the past three years, despite its significant underperformance compared to European peers during the past 10 years, with open-end funds receiving almost all money inflows. The listed sector, however, is insignificant, both in terms of size and liquidity, and is in desperate need of a catalyst. The introduction of a G-REIT structure could potentially be the long-awaited saviour that could transfer the importance of German real estate into the listed sector. Given the significance of real estate in their respective markets, the German and UK governments are currently considering the introduction of REITs. Depending on the progress of the consultative and parliamentary process, REITs are expected to be enacted by legislation during 2006 in both countries. The REIT discussion in Germany has reached a serious stage, with all the mostinvolved parties seemingly agreed about the usefulness of a REIT structure. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the case for REITs in Germany, to analyse the progress of REITs in countries that have installed these structures, to consider the on-going debate in Germany and what these developments may eventually mean for the German real estate market.

Investing in one of the most promising real estate markets in Europe offers enormous opportunities. And as with every real estate market, in Germany too, the local framework conditions must be understood and their particularities must be adequately taken into account. The authors are renowned senior executives, real estate advisors and academics, who share here their extensive experience and real life insights from countless real estate investments, covering all aspects of a successful investment process in Germany. Includes: markets, the regulatory framework and investment guidelines. Contents: - Essentials for successful real estate investments in Germany - Macro-economic structure and dynamics of the German real estate market - Real estate investment, trends and strategies - Diverse submarkets: residential, offices, retail, hotel and nursing homes - Real estate legal, tax and audit frameworks - German REITS and ESG in real estate investments - Real estate M&A, financing, due diligence and valuations

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are a bridge between two worlds, the capital markets at one end and the real estate sector on the other, leading to a unique risk/return profile. They bear benefits neither of which can realize standing alone, resembling a hybrid between real estate and equity. REITs invest directly in property and pass on almost all earnings to their shareholders as dividends. By distributing most of their profits, REITs get special tax treatment and avoid corporate income tax. Because of that REITs have proven very attractive to investors: Their returns have beaten most major equity benchmarks over three decades, with lower volatility, while offering predictable cash flows and high dividend yields. Further, they have a low correlation with other asset classes, aiding portfolio diversification. In Germany real estate has been the most popular investment theme of the past three years, despite its significant underperformance compared to European peers, with open-end funds receiving almost all money inflows. The listed sector, however, is insignificant, both in terms of size and liquidity, and is in desperate need of a catalyst. The introduction of a G-REIT structure could potentially be the long-awaited saviour that could transfer the importance of German real estate into the listed sector. The REIT discussion in Germany has reached a serious stage, as almost all of the involved parties seemingly agreed about the usefulness of a REIT structure. The purpose of this book is to highlight the case for REITs in Germany, to analyse the progress of REITs in countries that have already installed a REIT regime and to look at what the introduction of a G-REIT would ultimatelymean for the German real estate market.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2008 in the subject Business economics - Accounting and Taxes, grade: 1.3, Wiesbaden University of Applied Sciences, language: English, abstract: Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit den besonderen Vorschriften des US-Steuerrechts für REITs. Außerdem werden das deutsch-amerikanische DBA und Provisionen des dt. Steuerrechts für Anleger des US-REITs betrachtet. - This thesis treats the provisions of the US tax lax concerning REITs and the provisions of the DTA and the US and the german tax law regarding the shareholders of those REITs.

Real estate is the biggest real asset class in an economy, and Germany is the biggest economy in Europe. This implies opportunities as well as specific risks for investors and policy makers. As the German real estate markets have by and large been spared severe disruptions in the course of the economic crisis, many questions arise for investors and academics alike. What are the key institutional characteristics of the German real estate markets that make it different? What are the short and long-term drivers of demand and supply? Which regional and functional market segments are most likely to outperform in the next few years? What are the most important pitfalls for investors in Germany? This book gives answers to these and many more questions. The editors have invited a broad range of extensively knowledgeable practitioners and academics from across the relevant real estate spectrum, i.e. economic, legal, tax, planning and financing issues, to express their views. There is no better English publication that gives such a profound and simultaneously entertaining overview of Germany’s real estate markets.

Real estate is the biggest real asset class in an economy, and Germany is the biggest economy in Europe. This implies opportunities as well as specific risks for investors and policy makers. As the German real estate markets have by and large been spared severe disruptions in the course of the economic crisis, many questions arise for investors and academics alike. What are the key institutional characteristics of the German real estate markets that make it different? What are the short and long-term drivers of demand and supply? Which regional and functional market segments are most likely to outperform in the next few years? What are the most important pitfalls for investors in Germany? This book gives answers to these and many more questions. The editors have invited a broad range of extensively knowledgeable practitioners and academics from across the relevant real estate spectrum, i.e. economic, legal, tax, planning and financing issues, to express their views. There is no better English publication that gives such a profound and simultaneously entertaining overview of Germany’s real estate markets.

Shortly before of the beginning of the global financial crisis of 2008 REITs were introduced in several European countries based on their success in mature markets like the US, Australia and some Asian countries. While the history of REITs in Europe has been relatively brief, REITs are well on the way to become an industry standard as a real estate investment financial vehicle not only in Europe but throughout the developed world. This book provides both academics and decision makers an introduction to the economics of REITs beyond tax transparency, an overview of the mature REITs markets, and a closer reflection of the development of different REIT-structures in Europe including the history, regulation and markets of each country.