International Real Estate Diversification: Empirical Tests using Hedged Indices

Abstract

This article is the winner of the International Real Estate Investment/Portfolio Management manuscript prize (sponsored by Jones Lang LaSalle) presented at the 1999 American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting.

This study examines the potential diversification opportunities arising from the extension of real estate portfolios into an international environment. Using data for ten countries, the article compares the diversification benefits obtained from both real estate securities and hedged indices. The hedged indices are constructed in line with the methodology proposed by Giliberto (1993) and are examined as a potential alternative proxy for the direct market. The results indicate that while benefits do arise from international diversification, the results tend to be statistically significant only when local returns are used and no constraints are imposed on the optimal portfolios. In addition, there are concerns over the reliability of the mean return and correlation coefficients obtained using the hedged indices.