This chart compares the volatility measured by two real estate indexes: the FTSE NAREIT PureProperty index, which measures unlevered investments in listed REITs, and the NCREIF Transaction Based Index, which measures unlevered investments in institutionally owned real estate. The results indicate that listed real estate is no more volatile than unlisted real estate: the difference in measured volatility between listed REITs and private equity real estate investments is because (1) most measures of listed REIT returns reflect the use of leverage whereas leading measures of private real estate returns subtract the effects of leverage, and (2) leading measures of private real estate returns are based not on transactions but on appraisals, which smooth measured returns relative to actual returns. Questions? Contact me at bcase@nareit.com.