Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
12 Min
08 May 2025
Meet Sakshi, a 29-year-old from Jaipur who married into a high-flying business family. While her in-laws casually discussed IPOs and tax havens over Sunday brunch, Sakshi used to sit there thinking, “Yeh kaunsa crypto-crypto ho raha hai yaar?”
But then came the plot twist. She decided to change the game. During her coffee breaks, she started reading about
REITs—Real Estate Investment Trusts—and found a goldmine. She could invest in premier real estate with ₹50,000, get
6% to 8% returns each year, and most importantly—‘bina kirayedaar ke jhanjhat’.
Fast forward to 2025—Sakshi has built a ₹2,00,00,000 portfolio featuring commercial properties in Gurugram and eco-friendly green malls in Bangalore. Her picks now generate a steady ₹12,00,000 to 15,00,000 in passive income per year without lifting a finger.
‘
Now at Diwali parties, even taauji asks her, “Sakshi beta, Nifty chhodo, REITs ka kya scene hai?”
And she just smiles and says, “REITs hi toh naya lit hai, taauji.”
The same girl who once thought ELSS was a skincare brand is now the investment GPS for the entire family.
Let's get to the bottom of the issue and learn why REITs are the asset class of choice for India's most prominent high-net-worth individual.
REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) are like mutual funds but in real estate. Rather than investing crores of money in real estate, you will invest a smaller amount and earn a share of premium commercial real estate like malls, office space, or hotels.
These are traded on the stock market and regulated by SEBI, so there is none of the shady builder drama.
You earn rental income + property value appreciation.
Best REITs Leading the Indian Market in 2025
If REITs were Bollywood stars, these four would be the Khans of commercial real estate—gigantic, solid, and forever churning out box-office results:
For example, Sakshi began small in 2022—₹50,000 in Embassy Office Parks REIT.
By 2023, she also spotted an opportunity and invested another ₹5 lakhs in Mindspace REIT. She went all-in in 2024—₹20,00,000 in Brookfield REIT.
Total investment: ₹25,50,000.
Now, in the year 2025, her portfolio has reached ₹2,00,00,000 due to her sound choices and appreciation of real estate. She earns ₹12,00,000 to 15,00,000 in REIT dividends each year.
That is, she gets a passive monthly return of ₹1,00,000 to 1,25,000, with no work involved.
No tenants. No maintenance. No builder drama. Just solid, SEBI-regulated returns and peace of mind.
There was a time when flaunting money by owning 10 flats in Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa was good.
Lekin 2025 mein? That's old school, bro.
India's ultra-rich have pressed the refresh button. The game has changed from tangible property to paper property—and here's why:
Owning a REIT today is like holding shares in a ₹10,000 crore mall empire—without ever chasing rent or fixing pipelines.
But let's consider this—what if Sakshi had done the traditional thing and bought that Noida flat?
Naah. She did the math and made the smarter call. Here's a brief rundown of how her transition from traditional real estate to REITs was:
Criteria | Traditional Flat (Noida) | REIT Investment (2022 to 2025) |
Total Investment | ₹1,00,00,000 (plus ₹18,00,000 in extra costs) | ₹1,00,00,000 (across 3 top REITs) |
Extra Charges | Stamp duty, registration, interiors | ₹0 (except minimal brokerage) |
Monthly Income | ₹20,000 (rent, if the tenant is available) | ₹80,000 to ₹1,00,000 (dividend income) |
Tenant/Repair Hassles | Constant follow-ups and repairs | Zero involvement, 100% passive |
Portfolio Growth | Slow, depends on locality | ₹1,40,00,000 crore in 3 years (+40% appreciation) |
Diversification | 1 flat in 1 city | Stakes in 50+ commercial assets PAN India |
Liquidity | Low (hard to sell quickly) | High (buy/sell on the stock exchange) |
Sakshi made real estate a liability into liquid luxury, with no stress and paisa vasool returns.
REITs have officially entered the big leagues in 2025. Once considered “niche”, they’re now the hottest choice for India’s high-net-worth investors.
As of Feb 2025, India's four listed REITs' combined market cap has crossed ₹95,000 crore, indicating strong investor appetite. (IRA)
According to CRISIL, the Indian REIT segment is anticipated to grow at a 12–14% CAGR through 2028, with growing demand and returns.
Metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram are witnessing 85–90% commercial occupancy rates, which indicate strong realty performance. (FICCI)
India's ultra-high-net-worth individuals in 2025 are viewing REITs as real estate SIPs—small, frequent investments that become large in the long term, without the hassles of having physical property.
They’re even making REITs a part of succession planning, replacing land disputes with clean, paper-based portfolios.
Sakshi's Example:
She started with ₹50,000/month in Embassy REIT in 2022. By 2025, she has invested a total of ₹18,00,000, and her portfolio is now ₹24,00,000, which pays her ₹1,60,000/year passively.
"SIP wali strategy, millionaire wali calmness."
Rule number 1 for building wealth? "Kabhi bhi saari biryani ek handi mein mat daalo."
And that's the very reason why REITs are dominating India's super-rich portfolios in 2025.
By investing in one REIT, you are exposed to many properties and diversified industries (office, retail, and warehousing) and less exposed to the whims of the stock market.
To illustrate with an example of how this is done in the real world, here is how Sakshi diversified her REIT business smartly:
Investment Type | City | REIT | Amount Invested | Annual Income |
Grade-A Office Space | Gurugram | Embassy REIT | ₹10,00,000 | ₹70,000 |
Retail Mall Share | Bangalore | Nexus Select REIT | ₹8,00,000 | ₹64,000 |
Warehousing Unit | Pune | Brookfield REIT | ₹6,00,000 | ₹48,000 |
Total | - | - | ₹24,00,000 | ₹1,82,000 |
With this mix, Sakshi now earns from offices, malls, and even warehouses—“ek teer, teen nishane.”
Debt consolidation combines your several outstanding debts into a new loan with a single monthly payment and a reduced interest rate to help you lower your financial stress.
In 2025, India’s ultra-rich are thinking beyond just returns—they’re using REIT income to tackle their business loans. Smart move, stress-free life.
By putting passive income invested in REITs into loan prepayments, they're:
For example, let’s look at Sakshi’s case study on how to consolidate multiple loans, minimise interest, and become financially independent again.
Loan Type | Loan Amount | Interest Rate | Monthly EMI |
Business Loan | ₹8,00,000 | 13% | ₹18,500 |
Equipment Loan | ₹4,00,000 | 14% | ₹9,700 |
Working Capital Loan | ₹3,00,000 | 15% | ₹8,200 |
Total | ₹15,00,000 | ~14% avg. | ₹36,400 |
She used REIT income (₹1,82,000/year) to consolidate and repay aggressively.
New Loan Type | Loan Amount | Interest Rate | Monthly EMI |
Consolidated Loan (secured) | ₹12,00,000 | 11% | ₹23,000 |
Paid via REIT Income | ₹1,82,000/year (₹15,166/month) | - | Covers 65% of EMI |
Impact at a Glance
"Loan bhi clear, stress bhi free."
When crores are involved, even the tiniest financial red flags can cause ‘neend udd jaana’. That’s why India’s ultra-wealthy are leaning into REITs—because they come wrapped in SEBI’s safety net.
For investors such as Sakshi, this degree of transparency and regulation was the green light she was waiting for. With each SEBI audit and update, she became more confident—and so did her investments.
Year | Investment in REITs | Reason for Confidence | Major Decision |
2023 | ₹5,00,000 | Low-risk appetite, tested with a small amount | Watched quarterly reports, tracked payouts |
2024 | ₹10,00,000 | Impressed by SEBI compliance, no defaults | Doubled her investment |
2025 | ₹24,00,000 | Full faith in disclosures, audit trail | Made REITs the core of her portfolio |
Due to SEBI-sponsored transparency, Sakshi did not require a CA to tell her whether the REIT was credible—she could read the numbers herself.
“Agar SEBI dekh raha hai, toh hum bhi aaram se so sakte hain.”
Traditional real estate may earn you bragging rights, but try to sell an apartment overnight and you'll realise they call it an "illiquid asset" for a reason. Introducing REITs—where luxury assets become liquid on demand.
Sakshi believed real estate meant being stuck with a property for years. This changed when she realised she could invest in Grade-A commercial properties in prime cities.
Just log in to your Demat, and boom—buy or sell REIT units like any regular stock.
Investment Type | Liquidity | Asset Quality | Exit Timeline |
Traditional Property | Low (3 to 6 months to sell) | Varies (location dependent) | Long, uncertain |
REITs | High (Same-day trading on the exchange) | Premium (Grade-A, leased spaces) | Instantly, via the stock exchange |
As Sakshi says, “Aaj kal luxury ka matlab hai—jab chaho paisa nikaal lo, bina stress ke.”
Also Read - How to Invest in Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms
Tax Efficiency That Even CAs Are Clapping For
When you’re talking about multi-crore investments, every bit of tax planning matters. And that’s where REITs shine—paise bhi kamao, aur tax mein bhi bachat.
For example, after 3 years of steady investing, Sakshi utilised her REIT returns like a pro. Here's what her tax math was in FY 2024–25:
Income Component | Amount | Tax Applicability | Net Benefit |
Dividend Income | ₹8,00,000 | Tax-free (SPV didn’t opt for Section 115BAA) | Full ₹8,00,000 received |
LTCG from REIT Sale | ₹2,00,000 | 10% tax on ₹1,00,000 above the exemption | ₹1,90,000 post-tax |
TDS Deduction | ₹0 | No TDS applicable | Smooth income flow |
Total Tax Saved: ₹1,20,000
And according to Sakshi, “ITR bharte waqt is baar toh smile selfie layak thi!”
In 2025, the game is not merely about accumulating wealth—it's about doing so smartly. With consistent income, portfolio diversification, tax efficiency, and SEBI-supported transparency, REITs are becoming the preferred asset for India's high-net-worth individuals. Sakshi's story teaches you that you don't have to be a finance guru to make substantial investment choices—you just need clarity, courage, and consistency.
Now, having a slice of India's best commercial real estate doesn't require crores or hassle—just wise decisions and a demat account.
Because the true luxury in 2025? Making more, stressing less.
REITs aren't investments—they're empowerment.
Typically, quarterly or semi-annually, depending on the REIT.
Yes, they can facilitate timely loan repayments through regular income.
They offer better liquidity and no maintenance hassles.
Top REITs with quality assets tend to stay stable.
About the Author
LoansJagat Team
We are a team of writers, editors, and proofreaders with 15+ years of experience in the finance field. We are your personal finance gurus! But, we will explain everything in simplified language. Our aim is to make personal and business finance easier for you. While we help you upgrade your financial knowledge, why don't you read some of our blogs?
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