Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Admiral Shares
Figures last verified October 31, 2026
Tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index — REITs and real estate companies.
Real estate is the one sector tilt with a defensible diversification story: REITs are legally required to distribute most of their income, behave somewhat differently from the broad market, and represent an asset class — commercial property — that cap-weighted stock indexes arguably underweight relative to its economic footprint. VGSLX indexes the whole US REIT universe for 0.13%.
Location matters more for this fund than most: REIT dividends are taxed as ordinary income, making VGSLX one of the worst funds you can hold in a taxable account and a fine one inside an IRA. And keep the slice modest — the investors who learned in 2008 and again in 2020-2022 that property can crater alongside everything else generally wish their 'diversifier' had been 5% of the portfolio, not 20%.
A dedicated REIT sleeve, ideally inside a tax-advantaged account.
VGSLX alternatives & comparable funds
If you’re weighing VGSLX against the field, these are the funds most investors line it up against — same job, different provider, slightly different terms.
| Fund | Family | Expense Ratio | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGSLX — Vanguard Real Estate Index… | Vanguard | 0.13% | $3,000 |
| VTSAX — Vanguard Total Stock Marke… | Vanguard | 0.04% | $3,000 |
| VVIAX — Vanguard Value Index Fund … | Vanguard | 0.05% | $3,000 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the expense ratio of VGSLX?
VGSLX (Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund Admiral Shares) has an expense ratio of 0.13%, which works out to roughly $13 per year for every $10,000 invested. That is moderate — cheap for an actively managed fund, but several times what a comparable index fund charges.
What is the minimum investment for VGSLX?
VGSLX requires a minimum initial investment of $3,000.
What does VGSLX invest in?
Tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index — REITs and real estate companies. It falls in the sector category and is an index fund.
What are good alternatives to VGSLX?
The funds most often compared with VGSLX are VTSAX, VVIAX — broadly similar exposure from different providers, with small differences in fee, minimum, and portability that usually come down to which brokerage holds your account.
Expense ratio and minimum for VGSLX drawn from Vanguard fund documentation; last verified October 31, 2026. Figures change — confirm against the official prospectus before investing. This review is editorial opinion, not investment advice.