Real estate has been a great vehicle for increasing wealth. According to Forbes, real estate has been the primary wealth-creating vehicle for 19 of the country's 400 richest people, including President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, it has helped countless others amass and enhance their wealth.
However, real estate investing isn't just for the rich. Thanks to Congress, anyone can invest in wealth-creating commercial real estate through real estate investment trusts (REITs). The financial service industry has made it even easier to invest in a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate by developing several exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on the sector.
Here's a closer look at how these two investment vehicles can combine into an easy way to start investing in real estate.
Best REIT ETFs
Congress created REITs in 1960 to allow anyone to participate in the wealth-creating ability of cash-flowing commercial real estate. These entities own pools of rental properties or real estate-backed loans that generate rental or interest income. They must distribute at least 90% of their taxable net income to shareholders via dividend payments to remain in compliance with IRS regulations. REITs require less work and capital than buying a property outright. They're also less risky, highly liquid, and have historically delivered strong performances versus the S&P 500.
However, with almost 200 publicly traded REITs focused on a dozen property sectors, it can be challenging for beginning investors to know where to start. While you could invest in individual REITs, you risk picking the wrong ones that are at risk of a dividend cut.
That's where ETFs can help. These entities hold several REITs and other real estate stocks, giving investors broad exposure to the sector, which helps reduce risk. Some of the top real estate ETF options are:
Top REIT ETFs | Ticker Symbol | Performance (Total Returns) Over the Past 12 Months | Inception Date | Issuer | Assets Under Management (AUM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vanguard Real Estate ETF | 15.5% | 9/23/2004 | The Vanguard Group | $33.1 billion | |
iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF | 16.3% | 6/12/2000 | BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) | $3.2 billion | |
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF | 15.7% | 1/13/2011 | Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) | $7.7 billion | |
Real Estate Select SPDR Fund | 18.1% | 10/7/2015 | SSGA Funds Management, Inc. | $7.3 billion | |
iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF | 17.6% | 1/29/2001 | BlackRock | $1.9 billion |
3. Schwab US REIT ETF
This ETF provides simple access to REITs since it only holds those entities, unlike other ETFs that include non-REIT real estate stocks in their portfolio. It had more than 120 REITs in the fund as of mid-2025, led by the following five:
- American Tower: 8.0%
- Prologis: 7.2%.
- Welltower: 7.0%.
- Equinix: 4.4%.
- Digital Realty: 4.0%
Like many other REIT ETFs, the Schwab fund holds REITs based on their market cap instead of using an equal weighting system, so its top holdings are almost identical to most other top REIT ETFs. Meanwhile, its top 10 make up less than 50% of its portfolio.
Its expense ratio stands out. It's an ultra-low 0.07%, allowing investors to keep more of the returns from the underlying REITs. That includes their lucrative dividend income (3.1% dividend yield from this ETF over the trailing 12-month period).
4. Real Estate Select SPDR Fund
The Real Estate Select SPDR Fund allows investors to make a more direct investment in real estate. The ETF only holds REITs in the S&P 500 index, which limits its investment pool. As of mid-2025, the ETF held only 31 REITs, led by some familiar names:
- Prologis: 9.9%.
- American Tower: 8.9%.
- Welltower: 8.7%.
- Equinix: 7.9%.
- Digital Realty Trust: 4.8%.
As the five largest REITs, it's no surprise to see this group leading the way. And because this ETF concentrates only on REITs in the S&P 500, its top 10 holdings made up more than 60% of its portfolio. That makes it an ideal option for investors seeking to focus on the largest REITs.
The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.08%. Consequently, it's a solid option for investors seeking low-cost exposure to the biggest REITs. The fund pays attractive dividends, which drives the REIT ETF's roughly 3.4% dividend yield (on a trailing 12-month basis).
5. iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF
The iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF is another REIT ETF managed by BlackRock. It takes a slightly different approach to investing in REITs, focusing on large real estate companies that are dominant in their respective property categories. As a result, it has a concentrated portfolio of 30 REITs.
However, these 30 include some familiar names, led by:
- American Tower: 9.7%
- Welltower: 8.7%
- Equinix: 7.5%..
- Prologis: 7.0%.
- Digital Realty Trust: 5.1%
Overall, its top 10 holdings made up over 60% of its portfolio as of mid-2025.
Because the ETF takes a more active approach to investing in REITs, it charges a relatively higher expense ratio of 0.33%. It also offered a lower dividend yield (2.6% on a trailing 12-month basis). It's best for investors who want to focus on the dominant REITs without limiting themselves to only those in the S&P 500.
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These ETFs make it easy to invest in REITs
REITs have historically generated attractive total returns for investors by providing them with above-average dividend income and price appreciation. With so many great ones to choose from, it can be hard for investors to determine the best REITs for their portfolio. That's where REIT ETFs can help. They make it easy to invest in the sector by providing investors with broad exposure to the leading REITs. Although most REIT ETFs have similar top holdings, the best ones offer their own unique spin by giving investors several excellent options.
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About the Author
Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Matt DiLallo has positions in American Tower, Crown Castle, Equinix, Prologis, and Public Storage and has the following options: long January 2026 $170 calls on American Tower and short January 2026 $175 calls on American Tower. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Tower, Charles Schwab, Crown Castle, Equinix, Prologis, and Vanguard Real Estate ETF. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $180 calls on American Tower, long January 2026 $90 calls on Prologis, short January 2026 $185 calls on American Tower, and short June 2024 $65 puts on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
