Best REIT ETFs to buy in 2023

Real Estate is a traditionally stable and lucrative industry that peaks investor interest. This page provides our pick of the best Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) ETFs to invest in this year.
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Updated: Oct 11, 2022
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REIT ETFs are low-cost and low-risk alternatives to investing directly in physical property assets. These funds provide consistent and high dividends that appeal to long-term investors as a retirement income stream. This beginners’ guide has selected the best of the current market for you to place the right investment.

What are the top REIT ETFs to buy?

Our analysts have selected five of the best REIT ETFs for this year as displayed in the table below. Continue scrolling further to learn more about each in turn.

#ETF symbolETF nameWhere to Trade
1REMiShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF
Buy REM

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2PFFRInfraCap REIT Preferred ETF
Buy PFFR

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3SCHHSchwab US REIT ETF
Buy SCHH

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

4RWRSPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF
Buy RWR

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

5SPRESP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF
Buy SPRE

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

List chosen by our team of analysts, updated 21 July 2022

1. iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (BATS: REM)

REM seeks to track the performance and yield of an index composed of US REITs that hold US commercial and residential mortgages. Therefore, investing in REM gives you direct exposure into this niche sector. 

It also gives you targeted access to a subset of domestic real estate stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs), which invest in real estate directly and trade like stocks. Long term investment in this fund enables a potential steady passive income stream as a result.

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2. InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA: PFFR)

PFFR is a fund that corresponds with the performance of the Indxx REIT Preferred Stock Index. It is the only ETF that offers preferred securities issued by REITs and thereby attracts a guaranteed niche pool of investors. 

The fund comprises approximately 67% property REITs and 33% mortgage REITs. This balance allows for a generally more predictable revenue stream and appeals to long-term investors seeking a more stable investment in REITs. 

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3. Schwab US REIT ETF (NYSEARCA: SCHH)

SCHH is a fund that seeks to align with the performance of the Dow Jones Equity All REIT Capped Index. Its 141 holdings are in a range of REITs (i.e. specialized, residential, industrial, retail, healthcare).

A large number of holdings means lower specific-holding risk for new investors. Furthermore, it must be noted for investors wishing to focus on specific types of REITs that SCHH specifically excludes mortgage and hybrid REITs.

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

4. SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (NYSEARCA: RWR)

RWR is a fund that aims to correspond with the Dow Jones US Select REIT Index. The fund specifically offers investors exposure to publicly traded REIT securities in the US. Providing investors with a diverse range of REITs (i.e. industrial, residential, retail, healthcare, self storage).

RWR is a more stable option as it also requires that its holdings comply with the REIT Act of 1960. The legal basis for filtration should be reassuring to new investors looking to add RWR to their portfolio as a complementary or core performer.  

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

5. SP Funds S&P Global REIT Sharia ETF (NYSEARCA: SPRE)

SPRE is an islamic sharia-law compliant fund that aims to reflect the performance of the S&P Global All Equity REIT Shariah Capped Index. Its 32 holdings constitute a collective investment scheme in real estate that brings together the prime features of real estate and trust fund.

The fund offers the benefit of diversification to your portfolio, though it must be noted that it is designed for investors that can grasp the fundamentals of sharia law. Its high dividend and higher income characteristics draw substantial investor interest.

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Where to buy the best REIT ETFs

Registering with an online broker is key for investing in an ETF. They are like individual stocks, you can sell or buy ETFs as you wish. The table below features our preference of the best brokers that offer ETFs REIT.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 10
Best offer
User Score
10
Up to $240 bonus!
Deposit with ACA, Wire, Pay with my bank
Invest for dividends and get payout on stocks on Ex-Dividend day
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2
Min. Deposit
$ 0
Best offer
User Score
10
Get insights from millions of investors, creators, and analysts
Build your portfolio of stocks, ETFs, and crypto–all in one place
No minimum deposit
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Wire, Check, Debit Card, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
Cryptocurrency execution and custody services are provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software licensing agreement between Apex Crypto LLC and Public Crypto LLC. Crypto trading on Public platforms is served by Public Crypto LLC and offered through APEX Crypto. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading.
3
Min. Deposit
$ 100
Best offer
User Score
7.5
Trade out-of-hours on over 70+ US stocks
Get exposure to a wide range of popular UK, US and international stocks
Enjoy flexible access to more than 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal
Full Regulations:
ASIC, FCA, FINMA, is a licensed bank (IG Bank in Switzerland)
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

What is a REIT ETF?

It’s an exchange traded fund that holds shares in the real estate sector. REIT ETFs provide investors more affordable exposure to the industry as compared to other options. These funds traditionally focus on real estate investment trusts (securitised portfolios of real estate properties).

REIT ETFs can prove ideal for long-term investors as they provide a passive income stream in addition to mainstream stock liquidity. This is because investing in these funds allows you to receive dividends. Although you are likely to gain less of a return than you would from a direct investment in property, there is lower risk associated with REIT ETFs.

Are REIT ETFs a good investment?

Yes, as REIT ETFs often outperform the market. These funds have historically delivered competitive total returns based on capital appreciation in the long run. Therefore, REIT ETFs are intended for long-term investors – you must have patience to hold out for a return in your investment. 

These funds also offer ideal diversification for a long-term portfolio. Due to the low-risk nature of holdings, REIT ETFs can hedge against overall risk and increase returns. Additionally, high and steady dividends provide a stable passive income stream that can prove a safety net for retirement.

The best part is that REITs are low-risk – when the price of other investments go down, the price of these ETFs tends to go up. This is because unlike other stocks, they are correlated with the returns of other equities and fixed-income investments. Do your own due diligence, use the links below to best place your investment in REIT ETFs.

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Srijani Chatterjee
Financial Writer
Srijani is the quintessential Third Culture Kid having grown up in India, Singapore, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Scotland, and England. She still loves to travel and speaks… read more.