The proposed tax and regulatory framework for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), expected to become available in South Africa early in 2013 is considered a best-in-breed structure that will see the introduction of a shared set of regulations and attractive tax benefits for existing local property investment vehicles – Property Loan Stocks and Property Unit Trusts

Bringing South Africa in line with international publicly traded real estate investments and creating greater investor certainty, SA National Treasury has tabled a unified approach to property investment schemes which analysts believe is set to create one of the most flexible regimes internationally.

Most international/global REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) managers are upbeat about the prospects for this asset class over the next two years, despite the economic malaise in Europe and concerns about global economic growth. This was the overriding message to come out of the Nareit (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts) REITWeek Investor Forum in New York earlier this month

The views held by some market commentators in the UK and across the Atlantic could perhaps be construed as somewhat optimistic, but at the very least they suggest where some of the key sector and niche market opportunities lie

Mixed use real estate assets and prime farms feature in upcoming auction.

Emira Property Fund, a listed property unit trust, has poured R61,1m into Growthpoint Properties Australia (Goz), an Australia-based real estate investment trust, saying the investment was earnings enhancing for unitholders of both companies.

South African retail investment trusts offer better value than their UK and Australian counterparts, according to Angelique de Rauville.

Emira Property Fund is continuing to invest in the Australian listed property sector, announcing that its investment in Growthpoint Properties Australia had increased.

Redefine is on track to list its subsidiary, Redefine International, on the JSE on 7 September 2010, providing South African private and institutional investors with the opportunity to utilise Rands to invest in an international portfolio of properties

SA’s real estate investment trust (Reit) equities managed to return a stellar 41,9% as an asset class last month, thanks largely to the stronger rand and a rise in real estate equity prices.