Empirical Risk-Return Analysis of Real Estate Investments in the U.S., 1972-1999

This article reviews the empirical risk and return statistics from physical real estate and financial real estate investments made in the U.S. over the period 1972-1999. It includes income, capital appreciation, and total returns from business, residential, and farm real estate, as well as REIT equity and mortgages. These investments are compared to U.S. stocks, bonds, inflation, and other asset categories. The advantages and disadvantages of investing in the real estate are enumerated.