Investing in housing vs REIFs: Türkiye real estate investment fund index

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2026.26796

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the risk-return performances of real estate investment funds, a rising real estate capital market instrument in Türkiye, and housing prices, which skyrocketed in recent years in Türkiye under high inflationary periods. The research was conducted for the data obtained between March 2020 and May 2024 in 4 different periods (2020–2024), (2021–2024), (2022–2024) and (2023–2024). The risk-return performance analysis used monthly and quarterly returns of the housing prices and real estate investment funds. Sharpe ratio was calculated for each investment tool. Due to the negative Sharpe ratios obtained for some real estate investment funds, the performances were retested by the Modified Sharpe ratio. The research also used the consumer price index (CPI) as the primary benchmark tool. The research results revealed that except for the last period analyzed, where the increase in housing prices slowed, housing prices overperformed the real estate investment funds. The quarterly data analysis gave better performance results for the REIFs compared to the monthly data. This study is the most comprehensive research regarding the number of real estate investment funds and the period it covered. Establishing Türkiye Real Estate Investment Fund Index was also suggested for the first time.

Keywords:

housing prices, real estate investment funds, high inflation, REIF Index, Sharpe ratio

How to Cite

Sümer, H. N., Yaşar Akçalı, B., Sümer, L., & Hepşen, A. (2026). Investing in housing vs REIFs: Türkiye real estate investment fund index. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 30(2), 95–107. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2026.26796

Share

Published in Issue
May 15, 2026
Abstract Views
176

References

B3. (2024). Real Estate Investment Fund Index (IFIX). https://www.b3.com.br/en_us/market-data-and-indices/indices/indices-de-segmentos-e-setoriais/real-estate-fund-index-ifix.htm

Central Bank of Türkiye Republic. (2024). Konut birim fiyatları [Housing unit prices]. https://evds2.tcmb.gov.tr/index.php?/evds/serieMarket

Central Bank of Türkiye Republic. (2025). Faiz istatistikleri [Interest rates statistics]. https://evds2.tcmb.gov.tr/index.php?/evds/serieMarket

Capital Markets Board. (2014). Gayrimenkul yatırım fonlarına ilişkin esaslar tebliği [Regulation on the principles regarding real estate investment funds]. https://spk.gov.tr/duyurular/basin-duyurulari/2013/gayrimenkul-yatirim-fonlarina-iliskin-esaslar-tebligi

Capital Markets Board. (2025). Aylık istatistik bültenleri [Monthly statistics bulletin]. https://spk.gov.tr/istatistikler/aylik-istatistik-bultenleri

Çamlıbel, M. E., Sümer, L., & Hepşen, A. (2021). Risk-return performances of real estate investment funds in Turkey including the Covid-19 period. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 25(4), 267–277. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2021.14957

Fuerst, F., & Matysiak, G. (2013). Analysing the performance of nonlisted real estate funds: A panel data analysis. Applied Economics, 45(14), 1777–1788. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2011.637898

Gullett, N. S., & Redman, A. L. (2005). Do real estate mutual funds enhance portfolio returns and reduce portfolio risk? Briefings in Real Estate Finance, 5, 51–66. https://doi.org/10.1002/bref.157

Hoesli, M., & MacGregor, B. D. (2000). Property investment: Principles and practice of portfolio management (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315840482

Igan, D., & Loungani, P. (2012). Global housing cycles (IMF Working Paper No. 12/217). https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475505672.001

INREV. (2024). The index guide. https://www.inrev.org/system/files/2019-05/INREV-Index-Guide-2019.pdf

Israelsen, C. (2009). Refining the Sharpe ratio. Journal of Performance Measurement, 13(3), 23–27.

Jensen, M. C. (1968). The performance of mutual funds in the period 1945–1964. Journal of Finance, 23(2), 389–416. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1968.tb00815.x

Katzler, S. (2016). Methods for comparing diversification strategies on the Swedish real estate market. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 20(1), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.3846/1648715X.2015.1120789

Kaya, Ö., & Akabalık, M. (2021). Gayrimenkul yatırım fonları ve gelişmelerine yönelik öneriler: Bir anket çalışması [Real estate investment funds ans suggestions for development: A survey research]. Trakya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 23(2), 963–986. https://doi.org/10.26468/trakyasobed.915085

Kıyılar, M., & Hepşen, A. (2010). Performance appraisal of real estate investment trusts (REITs): A practice in Istanbul stock exchange. İstanbul Üniversitesi İşletme Fakültesi İşletme İktisadı Enstitüsü Yönetim Dergisi, 21(65), 11–23. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/iuiieyd/issue/9199/377025

Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio selection. The Journal of Finance, 7, 77–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1952.tb01525.x

Maurer, R., Reiner, F., & Rogalla, R. (2004). Return and risk of German open‐end real estate funds. Journal of Property Research, 21(3), 209–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/09599910500136633

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024). Housing prices. https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/housing-prices.html?oecdcontrol-82d381eddd-var3=1947

Ong, T. S., Teh, B. H., Soh, C. H., & Yan, Y. L. (2012). Malaysian real estate investment trusts: A performance and comparative analysis. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 4(5), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v4n5p73

Philpot, J., & Peterson, C. A. (2006). Manager characteristics and real estate mutual fund returns, risk and fees. Managerial Finance, 32(12), 988–996. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074350610710481

Presidency of Migration Management. (2024). İstatistikler. https://www.goc.gov.tr/istatistikler

Redman, A. L., & Manakyan, H. (1995). A multivariate analysis of REIT performance by financial and real asset portfolio characteristics. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 10, 169–175. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01096988

Schnejdar, S., Woltering, R. O., Heinrich, M., & Steffen, S. (2022). Fund closure risks of open-end real estate funds. Journal of Real Estate Research, 44(4), 447–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/08965803.2022.2033392

Sharpe, W. F. (1966). Mutual fund performance. Journal of Business, 39(6), 119–138. https://doi.org/10.1086/294846

Shoeib, G. (2019). İslami gayrimenkul fonu değerlendirme çalışması [Islamic real estate funds corrective study and proposed pattern] [Doctoral dissertation, İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim Üniversitesi]. Istanbul. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezDetay.jsp?id=J90wkbq-CfUlzX6XHFsfSw&no=RW7krhf030uWBYQ5MMLacw

Sümer, L. (2017). Developing a real estate-pension fund investment ecosystem: Turkey real estate fund [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Boğazici University.

Sümer, L. (2023a). An alternative interest-free home financing model. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 16(2), 408–425. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHMA-02-2022-0027

Sümer, L. (2023b). Hedging abilities of stocks, gold, and real estate funds against inflation during Covid-19: Evidence from Türkiye. Doğuş Üniversitesi Dergisi, 24(2), 479–496. https://doi.org/10.31671/doujournal.1289675

Sümer, L. (2023c). Risk-return performances of sustainability and REIT indices: Evidence from the Turkish real estate market. In F. Calisir, M. T. Khasawneh, & M. Durucu (Eds.), Industrial engineering in the sustainability era, GJCIE 2023. Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54868-0_8

Sümer, L. (2024). The global housing crisis: A sustainable new home financing model. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72604-0

Şengül, G. (2017). Gayrimenkul yatırım fonları ve Türkiye’deki uygulamalarının değerlendirilmesi [Real estate investment funds and assesment of practices in Turkey] [Y. Lisans tezi, Ankara Üniversitesi]. Ankara.

Tradingeconomics. (2024). Turkey home ownership rate. https://tradingeconomics.com/turkey/home-ownership-rate

Treynor, J. L. (1965). How to rate management investment funds. Harvard Business Review, 44(1), 63–75.

Turkstat. (2025a). Konut satış istatistikleri [Housing sales statistics]. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Konut-Satis-Istatistikleri-Ocak-2025-54147

Türkstat. (2025b). Adrese dayalı nüfus kayıt sistemleri sonuçları 2024 [Address-based population registration system results 2024]. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Adrese-Dayali-Nufus-Kayit-Sistemi-Sonuclari-2024-53783

Wang, Y., & Kinugasa, T. (2022). The relationship between demographic change and house price: Chinese evidence. International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, 16(1), 43–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42495-021-00068-z

View article in other formats

CrossMark check

CrossMark logo

Published

2026-05-15

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Sümer, H. N., Yaşar Akçalı, B., Sümer, L., & Hepşen, A. (2026). Investing in housing vs REIFs: Türkiye real estate investment fund index. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 30(2), 95–107. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2026.26796

Share