A REIT, or real estate investment in trust, is an entity that owns, operates, or finances real estate that produces income. The REIT structure allows the corporation to avoid paying corporate taxes on earnings. A REIT makes it possible for investors to get dividends from investments in real estate without personally buying, managing, or financing any properties personally.
What does a Texas REIT do?
Most REITs lease space and collected on the properties, then distributing the dividends to its owners. Mortgage REITs earn interest from the financing of real estate. The internal revenue code requires that REIT distribute income by primarily owning income-generating real estate. Among other things, at least 75% of the REIT assets should be in cash, real estate, or U.S. Treasuries. Also, the real estate investment trust must get at least 75% of its income from rents, interest on mortgages that finance the real property, or the sale of real estate.
How do you form a REIT in Texas?
Usually, a REIT starts as a limited liability company or partnership, designating the amount of ownership. A corporation REIT must have at least 100 investors after its first year of operation. An offering prospectus must include information on the REIT managers, properties, and investment strategies. You will then need to amend your certificate of incorporation when you have 100 investors. Then your corporation will be recognized as a REIT as long as it continues to operate under the guidelines required for real estate investment trusts.
What can Dunnam & Dunnam do for a REIT?
We help clients tackle the issues involving REITs, which are complex matters that usually involve financing, constructions, development, leasing, and environmental issues. Our Waco business lawyers have extensive experience with real estate and the formation of REITs. We are capable lawyers experienced in REIT financing, real estate joint ventures, real estate leasing, land use, and development, like-kind exchanges, REIT workouts, and restructurings.
REIT Lawyers in Waco
Our business lawyers in Waco are highly experienced in real estate transactions involving commercial and residential matters. If you want to discuss your formation of a REIT or your investment in a REIT, please contact a Waco business lawyer about your REIT at 254-753-6437.
Vance Dunnam
Vance has 60 years of experience as a lawyer in Waco, Texas handling all types of cases in both the office and the courtroom.
Read More
Vance Dunnam, Jr.
Vance has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1977 and has practiced law in Waco, Texas since 1978.
Read More
Merrilee L. Harmon
Merrilee L. Harmon is a Family Law specialist, Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1985.
Read More
Andrea Michelle Mehta
Andrea's practice focuses primarily in Appellate Law, Civil Trial Law, Family Law, and General Law.
Read More
Jim Dunnam
Jim Dunnam is a Board Certified Specialist in both Civil Trial Law and Family Law.
Read More
Eleeza Johnson
Eleeza's practice areas include: Personal Injury Law, Civil Trial Law, Commercial Law, Family Law and Pharmaceutical Law.
Read More
Gerald R. Villarrial
Gerald R. Villarrial has practiced family law, criminal law and civil litigation for over 20 years.
Read More
Mason Dunnam
Mason Dunnam is the fourth generation of Dunnam attorneys at the firm since 1925
Read More
Carolina Truesdale
Carolina G. Truesdale graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law, Cum Laude.
Read More