Chartered Financial Analyst Level 2

Real Estate Development Exposure Analysis

REITs (Option A) are least likely to offer exposure to real estate development activity because:

• Primary Focus: Most REITs focus on acquiring and managing existing income-producing properties rather than development
• Regulatory Constraints: REITs face restrictions on holding undeveloped land and engaging in development activities
• Income Requirements: To maintain REIT status, companies must derive most of their income from real estate rentals, not development profits

Comparison with other options:

• Private real estate investments (Option B): Often include development projects as part of their investment strategy
• Real estate operating companies (Option C): Frequently engage in development activities as part of their core business operations

Therefore, REITs provide the least exposure to real estate development activity among the three options.