Only 2% of Australian adults, or 490000 people, currently own Real Estate Investment Trusts.
Gen X are the biggest REIT investors with 4% ownership, double other generations.
Australia’s REIT market cap hit $144.68 billion in August 2022, down from late 2021.
Australians love investing in property, but when it comes to real estate investment trusts (REITs) it’s a very different story. Just 2% of Australian adults, or an estimated 490,000 people, own REITs, according to the latest research from Finder. So, what exactly are REITs and who is investing in them? Let’s break it down.
What is a real estate investment trust (REIT)?
A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns income-generating real estate.
Similar to how mutual funds generate dividends, REITs allow investors to earn an income without the hassle of owning and operating property first-hand.
Most REITs are publicly traded like stocks, which makes them more liquid than physical real estate assets.
Key REIT statistics
2% of Australian adults, or an estimated 490,000 people, currently own REITs.
Men are more likely to invest in REITs than women, with 3% of men holding REITs compared to 2% of women.
Australian REITs have a market capitalisation of $144.68 billion as of August 2022.
Gender investing gap
Men (3.4%) are more likely to invest in REITs than women (1.5%).
The gap widens when you look at the number of people who own REITs either personally or via a company structure or family trust – 9% of men own REITs under these terms versus 4% of women, according to ASX research from 2020.
The same study found that men are also more likely to have knowledge of REITs. 24% of men are familiar with REITs even if they haven’t invested, compared to just 14% of women.
REIT investors by gender
REIT investors by gender
Response
Men
Women
% who own REITs personally
3
2
% who own REITs either personally or via company or family trust
9
4
REIT ownership by generation
Gen X are the biggest holders of REITs, with 4% saying they currently own them compared to just 2% of baby boomers, gen Y and gen Z.
REIT investors by age group
REIT investors by age group
Generation
Gen Z
Gen Y
Gen X
Baby boomers
% who own REITs
1.7
2
4
2
Australia’s REIT market capitalisation
Australian REITs market cap is worth $144.68 billion as of August 2022, according to ASX data.
While the market cap has grown since 2017, it’s still down from December 2021 when the market cap hit a 5-year peak at $179.10 billion.
Market capitalisation of REIT market from 2017-2022
Market capitalisation of REIT market from 2017-2022
REITs
Market Cap
January 2017
128.6
February 2017
137.4
May 2017
137
June 2017
130
July 2017
129
August 2017
130
September 2017
130.9
October 2017
133
November 2017
140
December 2017
138.6
January 2018
134.1
February 2018
129.3
May 2018
130.2
June 2018
130.55
July 2018
128.89
August 2018
131.36
September 2018
129.78
October 2018
126.77
November 2018
126.78
December 2018
124.03
January 2019
130.65
February 2019
135.83
May 2019
140.37
June 2019
145.84
July 2019
150.6
August 2019
152.25
September 2019
148.67
October 2019
151.86
November 2019
155.71
December 2019
147.88
January 2020
156.75
February 2020
149.23
May 2020
119.19
June 2020
118.23
July 2020
119.35
August 2020
128.54
September 2020
127.42
October 2020
127.12
November 2020
143.58
December 2020
143.25
January 2021
137.71
February 2021
133.76
May 2021
149.24
June 2021
155.09
July 2021
155.89
August 2021
165
September 2021
163.57
October 2021
165.64
November 2021
172.28
December 2021
179.1
January 2022
162.59
February 2022
164.38
March 2022
166.76
April 2022
168.12
May 2022
153.96
June 2022
136.36
July 2022
150.76
August 2022
144.68
The top 10 largest REITs in Australia by market cap
Goodman Group, Scentre Group Limited and Dexus are the largest REITs on the ASX by market cap.
Top 10 REITs by market cap
REIT fund
Market Cap (billions)
Goodman Group
$31.25B
Scentre Group Limited
$13.81B
Dexus
$8.24B
Vicinity Centres
$8.17B
Stockland
$7.95B
Mirvac Group
$7.73B
The GPT Group
$7.72B
Charter Hall Group
$5.76B
Lendlease Group
$5.71B
Charter Hall Long WALE REIT
$2.98B
Sources
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Moira Daniels
as part of our
fact-checking process.
Madeleine Atkinson is a Communications Manager at Finder. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of Sydney. You can contact her at madeleine.atkinson@finder.com.
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