Portfolio Check · by Midnight Runner · 2026-09-05

REITs if you already own a rental?

I have one paid-off duplex with my brother. It is not passive unless you define passive as getting calls about water heaters during dinner. Because of that I'm not sure whether adding a REIT fund is smart diversification or just doubling down on the same economic bucket.

Financial portfolio outside the duplex:
VTI 57%
VXUS 18%
BND 15%
cash 10%

Would you count the duplex as my real estate allocation and skip VNQ entirely?

11 sparks · 6 comments

Comments

Cozy Rider · 16 likes

I'd count the duplex, yes. Real estate exposure doesn't stop being real because the ticker isn't three letters.

Sophie Gagnon · 1 likes

I own rentals and still hold a tiny REIT fund in retirement accounts. Different enough for me, but definitely not essential.

Rohan Mehta · 1 likes

REITs and your duplex won't behave identically, but if the goal is broad diversification I'd probably look elsewhere first.

Silver Fern · 1 likes

During dinner means you already have enough real estate exposure

Noah Miller · 2 likes

Last month it was 8:14 pm over a garbage disposal. So yes, point taken.

Noor Janssens · 0 likes

The unpaid labor is the bigger reason I'd skip more real estate lol