Public and Private Real Estate in a Mixed-Asset Portfolio

Abstract

Executive Summary. Recent stock market volatility and low interest rates have renewed interest in income / dividend producing investments. Previous research has studied the inclusion of public real estate or private real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio, but only one study has included both (with constraints). This study analyzes the inclusion of both public and private real estate in a mixed-asset portfolio using the mean / variance Markowitz efficient frontier methodology unconstrained. The 5-, 10-, 15- and 25-year results show that both public and private real estate can improve efficient frontiers substantially and may command a larger allocation than currently used.