What is a REIT?
鈥淩EIT鈥 stands for real estate investment trust. An REIT is a tax designation for a corporate entity that invests in real estate.聽 The designation is used for the purpose of eliminating or reducing corporate taxes. In return for special tax treatment, REITs must distribute 90% of their taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends and invest at least 75% of their assets in real estate. REITs generally invest in many types of real estate, including apartments, office buildings, shopping centers, storage facilities, hotels and other commercial properties.
A non-traded REIT is not available on any securities exchange, and is a relatively illiquid investment. Non-traded REITs are frequently promoted to elderly and other risk-adverse investors as very conservative investments. They are often sold to investors with the promise of providing consistently high dividend income.
Non-traded REITs are complex investments. It is difficult to identify the quality and financial condition of the real estate underlying the REIT. Non-traded REITs are also difficult to sell, and investors generally must hold them until they mature or are sold off to another REIT.
Since 2000, non-traded REITs have raised nearly $60 billion from investors. Some of the largest non-traded REITs are managed by Behringer Harvard, Inland Western, Inland America, Wells Real Estate Trust, Lightstone, CNL Income Properties, Hines Real Estate Trust, W.P. Carey, Apple, Cole Credit Property Trust, Piedmont Office Realty Trust and American Real Estate Trust.
Problems Associated With Non-Traded REITs
In March 2009, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) opened an official investigation into non-traded REITs, with an examination of documentation and data from various brokers who sell the investments. FINRA is examining the compensation paid to brokers who sold non-traded REITs. Specifically, regulators want to know if investors are being properly informed about the products, including the underlying financial condition of the REIT, and if brokers made any misrepresentations about fees, dividends and liquidity.
Because non-traded REITs have liquidity restrictions, many of these REITs have specific suitability guidelines for investors. Typically, these guidelines require a minimum income of $70,000 and minimum net worth of $250,000. Non-traded REITs are not suitable for purchase by investors who do not meet these guidelines, and may not be suitable for investors for other reasons as well. FINRA is examining whether brokers sold non-traded REITs to investors knowing it was an unsuitable investment.
Investors have lost substantial amounts of money from non-traded REITs by being fooled into believing that they were purchasing a low risk investment with the guarantee of consistently high dividends. 聽聽For example, when the U.S. housing market crashed, investors suffered significant losses: 7-8% dividends were reduced to a mere 2%. These investors may be able to bring legal claims against their brokers and brokerage firms for unsuitability and/or misrepresentation.
Non-Traded REIT Risks for Individual Investors
In addition to liquidity restrictions and the potential for diminished returns, investing in non-traded REITs presents several additional risks for individual investors. Some examples of additional risks that can lead to losses鈥攁nd potentially support claims for investment fraud鈥攊nclude:
- High Volatility 鈥 Since non-traded REITs are not bought and sold on the open market, they are subject to significant price volatility. If the value of a non-traded REIT plummets, it can be extremely difficult (if not impossible) for investors to recoup their losses.
- Early Redemption Restrictions and Costs 鈥 Non-traded REITs are frequently subject to restrictions on early redemptions (i.e. investors can only redeem a limited number of shares prior to liquidation). When early redemption is allowed, there will usually be significant costs involved.
- Excessive Fees and Costs 鈥 Non-traded REITs typically carry significant fees and 鈥渋ssuer costs,鈥 and brokers will often charge excessive commissions and fees as well. These fees and costs eat into investors鈥 profitability, and in some cases, they can prevent investors from netting any positive returns.
- Unspecified and Undiversified Portfolios 鈥 Non-traded REITs will often include both 鈥渟pecified鈥 and 鈥渦nspecified鈥 properties. With unspecified properties, investors have no way of knowing whether the REIT is capable of generating reliable income. Failure to diversify into different types of properties can also increase the risks involved with REIT investments.
- Misconceptions about Investing in Real Estate 鈥 Brokers often rely on investors鈥 interest in real estate to promote non-traded REIT investments. But, investing in an REIT is very different from investing in real estate directly. There are many more risks involved, and there is a much greater chance that investors will be deceived into making dangerous decisions.
- Non–Disclosure 鈥 Due to the significant risks involved in REIT investing, unscrupulous brokers will often withhold information about these risks from their clients. They will tout the upside potential without disclosing the facts investors need to know in order to make informed investment decisions.
- Conflicts of Interest 鈥 Why do brokers so often mislead investors into non-traded REITs? The answer is simple: They have a blatant conflict of interest. Brokers can earn substantial commissions for selling investors on non-traded REITs, and they can collect their fees regardless of how the REITs perform.
Red Flags for Non-Traded REIT Scams and Investment Fraud
If you lost money investing in a non-traded REIT, you may be able to recover your losses through FINRA arbitration. Here are some red flags for non-traded REIT scams and investment fraud:
- The REIT does not have adequate disclosure materials, or the materials you provided were poorly-written, confusing or misleading
- Your broker did not provide you with disclosure materials for the REIT before selling you on the investment
- After investing in the REIT, you received additional information about strategies, fees or costs that made the REIT a less-attractive investment opportunity
- The REIT or your broker made representations about possible (or perhaps guaranteed) returns without explaining the risks involved with the investment
- Your broker recommended investing in a non-traded REIT even though the investment overconcentrated your portfolio or didn鈥檛 fit your investment profile聽
Zamansky, LLC Will Investigate Your Case
Each FINRA attorney at AV短视频 understands the risks and problems associated with non-traded REITs. Our securities fraud law firm has extensive experience in this area of the law. We currently serve as co-lead counsel for the investors in the David Lerner/Apple REIT class action lawsuit, and have brought individual cases against brokerage firms for investors involved in other REITs. To read more about the David Lerner/Apple REIT case and others, please review our current investigations.
Each investment fraud lawyer at AV短视频 is well-versed in non-traded REITs. Our attorneys will analyze your case to determine if you may be able to recover losses associated with these types of investments.
If you have questions about REITs, or believe that you may have a claim, please contact our securities fraud law firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation.