Best Brokers for Indian Investors in REITs & Real Estate
Indian investors can access REITs through global online brokers. REITs offer real estate exposure without the illiquidity of direct property ownership. They're required to distribute 90%+ of taxable income as dividends, typically yielding 3–5%. Global REITs have delivered 8–10% total returns historically. Converting INR to USD through IBKR costs ~0.1% vs 0.5–1% through Indian bank wire. On ₹8.3 lakh ($10,000), IBKR saves ₹3,500–7,500 vs a standard bank conversion.
Market
REITs & Real Estate
FTSE NAREIT All REITs
Top ETF
IWDP
IWDP (iShares Developed Markets Property Yield UCITS ETF)
Your currency
🇮🇳 INR
India
FX cost reality check
Converting INR to USD at IBKR costs ~0.1% vs 0.5–1% at most retail alternatives. On $10,000 equivalent invested, IBKR saves $40–90 per transaction.
Best brokers for Indian investors in REITs
Ranked by FX conversion cost — the biggest variable cost for international investors.
Interactive Brokers
The lowest FX spreads of any mainstream broker — 0.08–0.2% mid-market margin across all major corridors.
Groww
India's fastest-growing retail investment app — domestic focus, US stocks via LRS at standard bank FX rates.
Zerodha (via Vested)
India's largest broker for domestic stocks — US investing requires LRS transfer and typically higher FX costs.
About REITs & Real Estate: what Indian investors need to know
Why invest here
REITs offer real estate exposure without the illiquidity of direct property ownership. They're required to distribute 90%+ of taxable income as dividends, typically yielding 3–5%. Global REITs have delivered 8–10% total returns historically.
Key risk
Interest rate sensitivity; illiquid underlying assets in stress; currency risk for non-USD investors
Benchmark index
FTSE NAREIT All REITs
Recommended ETF (non-US investors)
IWDP (iShares Developed Markets Property Yield UCITS ETF)
Regulation for Indian investors
Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS): up to $250,000/year per person. 20% TCS on remittances above ₹7 lakh/year (creditable against income tax).
Tax treatment for Indian investors in REITs
Gains on foreign stocks taxable in India: LTCG at 12.5% (24+ months holding), STCG at slab rate. Dividends taxable at slab rate.
Not tax advice. Tax laws change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional in India before making investment decisions.