3 reasons why Warren Buffett doesn't buy REITs, but here's why that shouldn't stop you
Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, famously steers clear of
Real Estate
Investment Trusts (REITs). While REITs have long been a proven way for investors to access real estate returns with liquidity and diversification, Buffett's massive
Berkshire Hathaway
empire holds barely any
REIT
exposure. But his avoidance doesn't mean REITs aren't worth your attention. In fact, they might be a smart addition to your portfolio right now.
Despite real estate being a time-tested wealth builder and REITs offering liquidity, diversification, and professional management, Berkshire Hathaway has rarely invested in them. Notable exceptions include minor positions in STORE Capital and Seritage Growth Properties. But compared to Berkshire's deep bets on firms like Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express, the REIT exposure is negligible.
Why? According to Buffett and his longtime partner Charlie
Munger
, the reasons are straightforward.
One key reason is the lack of a competitive edge. Buffett and his longtime partner Charlie Munger had always focused their investments in areas where they believed they have an advantage. In the highly competitive and efficient real estate market, Buffett argues that there's little opportunity to find mispriced assets. As Munger once said, 'We don't have any competitive advantage over experienced real estate investors in the field.'
Then there's the tax angle. Berkshire Hathaway, structured as a taxable C-corporation, faces an extra layer of corporate tax on any income it earns from REITs or real estate investments. This wipes out much of the tax efficiency that makes REITs attractive to individual investors. As Munger once explained, this structure makes real estate a 'lousy investment' for them.
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Another key reason is returns. Buffett seeks businesses that can generate high unleveraged returns on invested capital and reinvest those profits at similar rates over time. Real estate rarely meets this threshold. Given the extensive use of leverage and the popularity of real estate as a perceived safe asset class, cap rates — essentially the unleveraged return — tend to hover in the low-to-mid single digits. For Berkshire's long-term compounding model, that's not compelling enough.
But what doesn't work for Berkshire Hathaway might still work for you.
In India, REITs are gaining traction as an accessible, tax-efficient, and regulation-driven alternative to physical real estate ownership. Thanks to their pass-through structure, income generated by Indian REITs, such as rent or dividends from Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), is taxed only at the investor level, not at the REIT level. This avoids the problem of double taxation and boosts effective returns.
Dividend payouts from REITs are typically tax-free in the hands of the investor, provided the underlying SPVs have already paid corporate tax. That makes REIT income one of the cleaner, more efficient sources of cash flow for individual investors, particularly those looking for passive income.
On capital gains, REIT units held for more than one year qualify as long-term capital assets and are taxed at just 10% on gains above Rs 1 lakh, much lower than the rates typically applied to physical property sales or other equity-like investments. Short-term capital gains (on units sold within one year) are taxed at 15%.
Moreover, REITs listed in India are required by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (
SEBI
) to distribute 90% of their net distributable income, ensuring steady income streams for investors. They also offer better liquidity and transparency than physical real estate—REIT units trade on stock exchanges just like shares, allowing investors to enter and exit positions with ease.
GST, often a complicating factor in real estate investments, does not directly affect the rental income or the returns distributed to REIT investors. And while Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) does apply to some components of REIT income, the overall structure remains efficient and investor-friendly.
So the bottom line is that Warren Buffett's reasons for avoiding REITs stem from Berkshire Hathaway's scale, tax structure, and investment philosophy. But for Indian investors, particularly those seeking steady income, tax efficiency, and a liquid alternative to traditional real estate, REITs present a compelling case. With favourable taxation, SEBI-backed transparency, and growing institutional interest, REITs could be a smart addition to your portfolio, even if they're not part of Buffett's.
Also read | Warren Buffett's biggest investment isn't Apple, BofA or Coca-Cola — it's a stock hidden in plain sight
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Financial challenges When a child wants to pursue a sports career, the immediate concern for parents is financing the journey so that he can avail of the best training. While the initial costs at the recreational level of play are low and manageable, the sudden jump in expenses when he transitions to professional training comes as a Kolkata-based tennis aspirant, Krishnav Jhunjhunwala, 15, first picked up a tennis racket at 6-7 years, the cost was barely Rs.5,000-6,000 a month, including his coaching fee and gear expenses. After initiating professional training at 10-11 years, the expenses shot up nearly 10 times to Rs.50,000-60,000 a month. 'The coaching fee itself has gone up from Rs.3,000 to Rs.15,000, while the beginner rackets that cost Rs.4,000-6,000 have been upgraded and are much more expensive,' says Ashish, Krishnav's father. Krishnav, meanwhile, is making progress; he has won the All India Tennis Association's (AITA) tournament in Sonepat and reached the semi-finals in of the sport, most kids start playing at around 6-7 years, at which point the costs are nominal at Rs.5,000-6,000 a month because it only comprises club or academy fee (Rs.2,000-5,000 a month) and basic equipment or clothes. Within 3-4 years, the child's talent or dedication are clearly visible, and if the parents introduce professional coaching, the prices surge, as do the cost heads. Professional stage Besides professional coaching fee, parents need to shell out on physical (gym training) and mental fitness (psychologist), advanced equipment and gear, diet and nutrition, as well as match fees for tournaments, which require frequent travel by the kid and parent.'At professional level for, say, badminton, it can cost anywhere between Rs.9-15 lakh per annum because a domestic tournament will cost Rs.50,000-60,000 a week and even as a beginner you will play 5-6 tournaments a year,' says Supriya Devgun, Founder of Badminton Gurukul, an academy co-founded with badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, that aims to bring affordable training to young aspirants.'Before reaching the elite bracket, players typically incur substantial travel and accommodation expenses throughout the year to participate in international level chess tournaments which are necessary to gain ratings,' says Sandeep Singhal, Managing Partner, WestBridge Capital, and Cofounder, WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, the brainchild of chess whiz Viswanathan Anand and Viswan, mom to 18-year-old Omkar Vinod—Kerala's No.1 squash player and currently ranked 18 in India—has tried to bring down the travel costs to Rs.15,000-20,000 per tournament. 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EXPENSE TIMELINE Current expenseRs.13 lakh a year (coaching, equipment, travel, nutrition, tournament fees, fitness, mental coaching) 2025 onwards (estimated) Rs.25 lakh a year FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2015Rs.4-5 crore Current corpus Rs.6 crore (for education & golf for 3-5 years) Invested in: Real estate, stocks, mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance plans, gold. How much does training cost at different stages? Figures are indicative and may vary as per sport and talent. In elite stage, costs are cut if the child gets reward money, sponsors or endorsements. If child is also studying as a back-up plan, it may require an additional Rs.10-20 lakh at 17-18 professional coaching fee can range from Rs.10,000-30,000 a month, depending on the child's talent and the academy or coach's experience, equipment cost varies according to the sport. 'Golf or shooting would be 3-4 times more expensive because the equipment and training costs are higher, with a single golf class costing around Rs.2,000,' says Devgun. For 3-4 times a week, it could add up to Rs.30,000 a month only in coaching fee for professional coaching in cricket can also be Rs.2,000-3,000 an hour and the total cost could go up to Rs.40,000-50,000 a month. 'Cricket, like golf, is a rich man's sport now and needs money if one is serious about turning professional,' says Farhad Daruwala, Founder of Rising Star Cricket Academy in Mumbai, that trains under-privileged kids.'Critically, inflation of sports equipment tends to be much higher than general inflation and imported items are more expensive. This means a 10% general inflation could translate to 15-20% for sports gear,' says Atul Shinghal, Founder & CEO, Scripbox. So a tennis racket can easily come for Rs.20,000 today, while the cost of shooting equipment or golf clubs can run into lakhs. 'Swimming costumes at competitive level can cost Rs.35,000-40,000 and can be worn only 8-9 times,' says Jhunjhunwala, whose daughter had earlier reached national school level championships in while money is needed at this stage, there are few or virtually no sponsors till the time the kid reaches the elite stage and gains recognition or wins tournaments. 'Nobody wants to invest in a non-achiever; only known talents fit the bill. While CSR funds, scholarships and sponsorships are offered to the top talent, it is actually needed by the upcoming talent. If costs are to be brought down, the answer is to integrate sports with education,' suggests government does provide funds to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for various initiatives and schemes, and some non-banking financial corporations like Avanse Financial Services offer loans as well, but bank loans are not easy to come by. 'The parents of India's Saina Nehwal, former world number one badminton player, famously took loans for her early badminton career, as individual sports are largely self-funded by parents until elite success,' agrees Shinghal. Elite stage As the child progresses and begins to win tournaments and get ranked at the domestic or international level, the costs surge even further. 'At the elite level, training remains the most significant area of investment, including personalised coaching, access to top-tier trainers, game preparation support, and advanced analytical tools. Travel is another major expense given the international nature of toplevel chess tournaments,' says WestBridge's international tournaments easily costing Rs.2-3 lakh per tour, including air fare and accommodation, the overall cost of training can jump to Rs.20-30 lakh a year. This involves advanced, personalised and intensified coaching, more rigorous physical and mental fitness and physio, and a rise in the number of tournaments to participate good news is that at this stage, some income and financial support start to come in in the form of prize money from wins, sponsorships, CSR funds (corporate social responsibility funds), scholarships, or even public sector jobs. This brings down the costs and eases the financial burden. This is the reason Viswan is planning to start looking for a sponsor from next year as Vinod's all-India ranking has shot up from 235 in 2023 to 18 now, and the reason Jhunjhunwala is looking for colleges that offer scholarships for tennis training for Krishnav. Time for a back-up plan Despite Devgun's assertion that a back-up plan takes away from the focus of reaching top levels, most parents prefer to reach for the safety net of education while allowing their kids to pursue sports. 'Without early financial planning and a strong Plan B, the journey can become financially and emotionally draining,' says Sumit Duseja, Co-founder and CEO, Truemind Capital and Sebi-registered investment adviser: 'There is a very low chance to be a successful sportsperson in India. Hence, a Plan B should always be in place as a fall-back option that supports the child in case success is not achieved as desired.''One needs to have a back-up plan because there is no guarantee in sports. I have given Vinod a time limit of five years to prove himself. He, too, isn't yet sure whether he wants to be a professional squash player or go in an allied field like sports science,' says Viswan. 'Krishnav is excelling in studies, scoring 97.8% in his ICSE class 10 exams last year. As long as he says his studies will not be affected, I'll do everything he wants to do in tennis. Besides, what will he do after 10 years given the short career span? If he doesn't reach the top level, he will opt for engineering in data science or AI,' says Jhunjhunwala. KRISHNAV JHUNJHUNWALA,15 yrs,Kolkata Parents: Ashish & Nidhi, 48 & 46 yrs CAREER GOALProfessional tennis player/engineering. CAREER TIMELINE 2016-17Started playing at 6-7 years. 2020 Professional training and coaching. 2024 Won AITA tournament in Sonepat. Reached AITA semifinals in Kolkata. 2025 West Bengal U-16 ranked No. 5, U-18 ranked No. 7. EXPENSE TIMELINE Initial expenseRs.50,000-60,000 a year Current expense Rs.3-4 lakh a year (coaching, equipment, travel, nutrition, travel, tournament fees, fitness) FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2015Rs.15-20 lakh Current corpus Rs.20-25 lakh Invested in: Kisan Vikas Patra, with varying maturities for liquidity; stocks and mutual funds. NAVEEN GOGIAFOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, CREED CAPITAL Note:'Pursuing a sports career in India involves high risk, with no guaranteed returns. The financial burden is also steep and front-loaded.' Education vs sports:Why financial strategy differs It's also the reason Menon is spending Rs.30-35 lakh a year, combining Aymaan's football training with his graduation in sports science from one of the top European universities in Spain, Universidad Europea. Warrier too has kept `6 crore corpus for Jaitirth for the next 3-5 years, either for education or golf. He also insists on a four-year degree course, and possibly post-graduation as well. 'If he doesn't reach the required heights, he can get into sports psychology or sports management. The four years will also give him the time to prove himself in golf,' he says.'From 18-21, the child either turns pro or pursues college sports abroad, and international education may require Rs.25-50 lakh. By 22-30, the focus shifts to career transition. Successful athletes need long-term planning and passive income strategies; others may use a pre-built Plan B fund to pivot to alternate careers,' says Gogia. Financial planning Financial planning for a sports career is different from that for education goals for various reasons (see Education vs sports). For one, large sums of money can be required at an early age and staggered across a longer period. The higher risk, uncertainty and shorter career spans also call for a unique multi-pronged approach.'Higher education can be a preplanned activity, with the knowledge of approximate cost structure and when the funds will be required. Sports is a skill-based career and one is not aware of the level of competence the child will achieve. These are unknowns for which you have to plan a higher budget, and the plan needs to evolve with skill development,' says Dinesh Rohira, Founder & CEO, requires phased, proactive planning that balances long-term growth, short-term liquidity, and flexibility,' says Gogia. So you need to plan for short-, medium- and longterm expenses in varying instruments. 'It also needs to be slightly open-ended and a secondary budget should also be planned for triggers and sudden changes,' says Rohira. OMKAR VINOD18 yrs Bengaluru Parent: Sandhya Viswan, 49 yrs CAREER GOALProfessional squash player or aligned field in sports. CAREER TIMELINE 2016Started at 9 years, played tournaments. 2018 Ranked No. 1 in Kerala. 2023 Started professional training and being ranked in U-19 category. 2025 Has been Kerala No. 1 since 2018 & all-India No. 18 in U-19. EXPENSE TIMELINE Initial expenseRs.50,000 a year Current expense Rs.4-5 lakh a year (coaching, equipment, travel, nutrition, tournament fees, fitness) FINANCIAL PLANNING Goal estimate in 2012Rs.25 lakh Current corpus Rs.50 lakh (includes other brother's Rs.25 lakh who doesn't need it) Invested in: Traditional insurance plans. 'In the first phase (5-10 years), moderate but consistent investment in basic coaching and equipment is needed; second phase (11-16 years) calls for high, rapidly increasing costs for advanced coaching, tournaments, nutrition and physio; the third phase of elite training (17-21 years) sees peak expenditure for national/international tournaments, professional academies and sports psychologists; and finally, after 21 years, there is potential income generation or investment for an alternative education/career path,' says a first step, start SIPs in equity funds (large, flexi, or multi cap) at the earliest in order to build a large corpus for the long term, which can be used for higher expenses or Plan B needs. You can also invest in the PPF for tax-free payouts and safety.'For this core corpus, I invested nearly 50% in real estate, and the remaining in multiple assets, including stocks, mutual funds, insurance and gold,' says Warrier. 'It's extremely important to hire a financial planner and have a written plan for this goal. I invested in multiple assets, but am currently relying primarily on mutual funds,' says Menon. For medium-term requirements (3-7 year horizon), start SIPs in balanced advantage funds or fixed deposits of varying maturities that can be broken without incurring penalties as and when the need arises. 'I invested in a large number of Post Office Kisan Vikas Patra with small sums and varying maturities for both my children's sports expenses in the second phase,' says Jhunjhunwala. Next, keep an operational buffer for short-term (1-3 year horizon) expenses like equipment and gear purchase or domestic tournaments, investing in liquid, arbitrage or ultra short-duration funds, or even sweep-in fixed deposits. SUPRIYA DEVGUNFOUNDER & MD, BADMINTON GURUKUL Note:'While CSR funds, scholarships and sponsorships are offered to the top talent, it's actually needed by the upcoming talent.' Given the high risk of injury, it is also crucial to have Rs.50 lakh-1 crore medical and personal accident insurance.'If earnings begin, consider setting up a trust or HUF for tax-efficient structuring. In the career phase (after 21 years), preserve wealth with a diversified mix of equity, debt, and REITs, and create passive income through annuities or systematic withdrawals. Throughout, avoid over-locking your capital; in sports, flexibility is just as important as performance,' says Gogia.'It's also important to review the plan on a regular basis, in six months or one year, depending on the career progress of the child,' advises Rohira. Long-term investment For core corpusStart saving for the child's goal, be it sport or education, at birth. This will help build a large corpus for expensive, professional training if he chooses a sport. Or, if the sports career doesn't work out, it can be used for education in aligned fields later. Where to invest Large-cap, multi-cap or flexi-cap equity mutual funds; PPF. Medium-term investment For professional trainingIn the second phase of his training between 11 and 16 years, expenses will suddenly spiral as he moves from casual to professional training and large sums will be needed for coaching, equipment and tours for tournaments. Where to invest Balanced advantage and equity savings funds, or medium-term fixed deposits for staggered withdrawals. Short-term investment For operational expenses You will need some funds throughout his sporting journey for equipment and gear, fitness, travel and coaching fees. Where to invest Liquid or ultra short-duration funds, or sweep-in fixed deposits. No trending terms available.
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