They don't have to include in income the rental value of their property--their dividends, if you will, from owning--and capital gains are pretty much exempt, too.

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But the Supreme Court declared the exaction to be unconstitutional, though only when applied to rental income and other revenues derived from property use (such as dividends).

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Faced with low yields elsewhere, many investors have bid up property and REIT shares for their dividends, but Ms. Wong cautions they should be choosing only ones where management has consistently delivered.

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The expediency of bulk-leasing negotiations may explain why, despite the theory of a few years ago that the Internet would turn malls into dustbins, mall REITs in general have scored higher total returns (stock appreciation plus dividends) than other kinds of property trusts.

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When property including bank accounts, bonds, dividends, uncashed paychecks, utility deposits and contents of safe-deposit boxes lies unclaimed for a period of time and the owner can't be tracked down, it gets turned over to the state.

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