The global listed property sector has been characterized by a variety of noteworthy developments in recent times, the proliferation of real estate investment trust-type structures in countries around the world key among them. Despite an uncertain economic environment, REITs have proven their ability to promote institutional real estate investments in global financial markets. This highly practical book features a comprehensive analysis of both the legal and tax underpinnings of REIT-friendly legislation in a variety of the world’s most significant jurisdictions. With regard to the legal framework, the structure and functioning of a REIT are carefully investigated and explained. In terms of tax issues, the book focuses on such key issues as: REIT formation, operation and liquidation; mergers, acquisitions and dispositions; and planning for public and private REIT offerings and re-securitizations. REITs are inherently complex, and their interplay with tax treaties further compounds the complexity. This highly accessible yet authoritative work is the perfect decision-making tool for any professional looking for perspective and guidance on the challenges and opportunities REITs engender.

The first edition of The Economist Guide to Investment Strategy explained the fundamentals of investment risk, how to put together "keep-it-simple" investment strategies, and the need to guard against our own behavior leading to dreadful investment mistakes. The global crisis that erupted in 2008 exposed the flaws in many more complicated investment strategies. The second edition starts with a new section on financial fraud and how investors can help to protect themselves against this "hearty perennial." It also includes a new section on risk profiling and discusses the role of risk tolerance questionnaires. In Chapter 3 data are provided pointing to underperformance of equities between 1978 and 2008. Against this background, there is a new Chapter 4—"Which should we do: buy-and-hold or time markets?" Chapter 5, which discusses the design of short-term and long-term strategies, includes a new section—"How safe is cash?"—and the discussion of bond ladders is extended to reflect issues of bond selection in the light of corporate credit risk and the financial difficulties of some US municipal authorities. Part 2 has been updated extensively to reflect developments in the past four years and the impact of the financial crisis on credit instruments, hedge funds, private equity, and real estate. The book concludes with a new chapter on investing in art and collectibles. It explores the argument that art prices "float aimlessly," discusses financial investment in art, and provides some reasons for expecting that a portfolio of art might perform well in the future.

With numerous cogent examples from real estate markets worldwide, Dr. Hines makes it clear that investing in foreign real estate is by no means the same as investing domestically. She shows how, why, and when special strategies must be devised to enter the world market; conveys essential information on global investment opportunities; outlines career opportunities and advancement strategies in international investment; and provides insights into international business in the context of global real estate investing. Her focus on industrial, commercial, and residential real estate reflects both the major investment interests of world-class investment professionals and the diversity of real estate market conditions. Her book is thus an essential resource for professional real estate investors, teachers, and their graduate-level students. Dr. Hines focuses on the general investment strategies that successful and profitable international real estate investors have devised over many years and now follow assiduously. Readers gain knowledge of direct investment in industrial, commercial, and residential real estate and through the purchase of securities, such as real estate investment trusts and mortgage backed issues. After discussing basic international real estate differences and general acquisition strategies, the book moves to functional strategies, such as valuation, land development, construction, financing, and tax strategies. Dr. Hines concludes with a coverage of housing and shopping centers, office buildings, and industrial property investment—all of which allow readers to observe the differences among functional areas and then tie them to the differences among investments in various types of properties. Her book covers Western, Eastern, and Central Europe; East, Southeast Central, and South Asia; Africa in general, and Morocco in Northwest Africa in particular; plus the Middle East and North and South America.

You're investing in real estate, relocating to a new state, or maybe moving to a new country. You go to the Internet, an endless source of information. But is it current? Is it accurate? Can you even find what you need? Here is an analytic guide to nearly 2000 real estate Web sites. Data for more than 220 regions, states, and countries are divided into six sections representing the major continents. The book runs the gamut with data resources for broad geographical regions right down to individual localities (including U.S. states). Indexes to Web site titles, key content, sponsors, and country of origin make this guide essential to everyone from real estate practitioners (developers, bankers, and investors, etc.) to students and researchers in the field.

The classic guide for the individual investor, The Economist Guide to Investment Strategy sets out the basic - and the not-so-basic - principles for putting your wealth to work. It looks at risk, pointing out the hazards for those who wish to explore a variety of investment approaches. It also teaches the importance of sophisticated self-knowledge in finance, distilling insights from behavioural analysis as well as the principles of traditional finance. It highlights how habitual patterns of decision-making can lead any of us into costly mistakes, and it stresses how markets are most dangerous when they appear to be most rewarding. This fourth edition includes new material on private investment and non-standard asset classes - art, wine, collectibles and the like - helping readers to navigate those areas in which prudence meets passion.

Anyone trying to understand finance has to contend with the evolving and dynamic nature of the topic. Changes in economic conditions, regulations, technology, competition, globalization, and other factors regularly impact the development of the field, but certain essential concepts remain key to a good understanding. This book provides insights about the most important concepts in finance.

Basic information and contacts for buying and selling real estate in the US

This book examines the international growth and diversification of real estate advisory services in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan since 1960. The book explains how successful firms develop competitive advantages in the global marketplace. An evaluation of forty prominent firms (ten from each country) provides a comparative reference for a detailed analysis of the growth and internationalization of four major real estate advisory service firms (one from each country). The firms have responded in many ways to changes in international real estate investment, and their fortunes have varied accordingly. The analysis provides factual evidence demonstrating growth strategies that enable a firm to become a successful real estate advisory service in today's global economy.