The investment objective of the Account is to seek favorable long-term returns primarily through rental income and appreciation of real estate and real estate-related investments owned by the Account. The Account holds real estate properties directly and through subsidiaries wholly-owned by TIAA for the benefit of the Account. The Account also holds limited interests in real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships, as well as investments in loans receivable with commercial real estate properties as underlying collateral. Additionally, the Account invests in real estate-related and non-real estate-related publicly traded securities, cash and other instruments to maintain adequate liquidity levels for operating expenses, capital expenditures and to fund benefit payments (withdrawals, transfers and related transactions).

The Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which requires the use of estimates made by management. Actual results may vary from those estimates and such differences may be material. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies of the Account.

The Accumulation Unit Value (“AUV”) used for financial reporting purposes may differ from the AUV used for processing transactions. The AUV used for financial reporting purposes includes security and participant transactions effective through the period end date to which this report relates. Total return is computed based on the AUV used for processing transactions.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used to determine the fair value of the Account’s investments and investment related mortgage loans payable.

The Account’s primary objective when valuing its real estate investments will be to produce a valuation that represents a reasonable estimate of the fair value of its investments. Implicit in the Account’s definition of fair value are the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby:

Property and investment values are affected by, among other things, the availability of capital, occupancy rates, rental rates, and interest and inflation rates. As a result, determining real estate and investment values involves many assumptions. Key inputs and assumptions include rental income and expense amounts, related rental income and expense growth rates, capital expenditures, discount rates and capitalization rates. Valuation techniques include discounted cash flow analysis, prevailing market capitalization rates or multiples applied to earnings from the property, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sale negotiations and bona fide purchase offers received from third parties. Amounts ultimately realized from each investment may vary significantly from the fair value presented.

Real estate properties owned by the Account are initially valued based on an independent third party appraisal, as reviewed by TIAA’s internal appraisal staff and as applicable by the Account’s independent fiduciary at the time of the closing of the purchase. Such initial valuation may result in a potential unrealized gain or loss reflecting the difference between an investment’s fair value (i.e., exit price) and its cost basis (which is inclusive of transaction costs).

Subsequently, each property is appraised each quarter by an independent third party appraiser, reviewed by TIAA’s internal appraisal staff and as applicable the Account’s independent fiduciary. In general, the Account obtains appraisals of its real estate properties spread out throughout the quarter, which is intended to result in appraisal adjustments, and thus, adjustments to the valuations of its holdings (to the extent such adjustments are made) that happen regularly throughout each quarter and not on one specific day or month in each period.

Further, management reserves the right to order an appraisal and/or conduct another valuation outside of the normal quarterly process when facts or circumstances at a specific property change. For example, under certain circumstances a valuation adjustment could be made when the account receives a bona fide bid for the sale of a property held within the Account or one of the Account’s joint ventures. Adjustments may be made for events or circumstances indicating an impairment of a tenant’s ability to pay amounts due to the Account under a lease (including due to a bankruptcy filing of that tenant). Alternatively, adjustments may be made to reflect the execution or renewal of a significant lease. Also, adjustments may be made to reflect factors (such as sales values for comparable properties or local employment rate) bearing uniquely on a particular region in which the Account holds properties. TIAA’s internal appraisal staff oversees the entire appraisal process, in conjunction with the Account’s independent fiduciary (the independent fiduciary is more fully described in the following paragraph). Any differences in the conclusions of TIAA’s internal appraisal staff and the independent appraiser will be reviewed by the independent fiduciary, which will make a final determination on the matter (which may include ordering a subsequent independent appraisal).

The independent fiduciary, RERC, LLC, has been appointed by a special subcommittee of the Investment Committee of the Board to, among other things, oversee the entire appraisal process. The independent fiduciary must approve all independent appraisers used by the Account. All appraisals are performed in accordance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices, the real estate appraisal industry standards created by The Appraisal Foundation. Real estate appraisals are estimates of property values based on a professional’s opinion. Appraisals of properties held outside of the U.S. are performed in accordance with industry standards commonly applied in the applicable jurisdiction. These independent appraisers are always expected to be MAI-designated members of the Appraisal Institute (or its European equivalent, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and state certified appraisers from national or regional firms with relevant property type experience and market knowledge. Under the Account’s current procedures, each independent appraisal firm will be rotated off of a particular property at least every three years, although such appraisal firm may perform appraisals of other Account properties subsequent to such rotation.

Debt securities with readily available market quotations, other than money market instruments, are generally valued at the most recent bid price or the equivalent quoted yield for such securities (or those of comparable maturity, quality and type). Debt securities for which market quotations are not readily available, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Investment Committee of the Board and in accordance with the responsibilities of the Board as a whole.

Short-term investments are valued in the same manner as debt securities, as described above.

Money market instruments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

Equity and fixed income securities traded on a foreign exchange or in foreign markets are valued using their closing values under the valuation methods generally accepted in the country where traded, as of the valuation date. This value is converted to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the valuation day. Under certain circumstances (for example, if there are significant movements in the U.S. markets and there is an expectation the securities traded on foreign markets will adjust based on such movements when the foreign markets open the next day), the Account may adjust the value of equity or fixed income securities that trade on a foreign exchange or market after the foreign exchange or market has closed.

fiduciary reviews and approves all loan receivable valuation adjustments before such adjustments are recorded by the Account. The Account continues to use the revised value for each loan receivable to calculate the Account’s daily net asset value until the next valuation review.

its contributions as increases to the investments, and distributions from the investments are treated as income within

and then reducing the sum by liabilities held within the Account, including the daily investment management fee, administration and distribution fees, mortality and expense fees, and the liquidity guarantee fee, and certain other expenses attributable to operating the Account. Daily estimates of net operating income are adjusted to reflect actual net operating income on a monthly basis, at which time such adjustments (if any) are reflected in the Account’s unit value.

After the end of every quarter, the Account reconciles the amount of expenses deducted from the Account (which is established in order to approximate the costs that the Account will incur) with the expenses the Account actually incurred. If there is a difference, the Account adds it to or deducts it from the Account in equal daily installments over the remaining days of the following quarter. Material differences may be repaid in the current calendar quarter. The Account’s at cost deductions are based on projections of Account assets and overall expenses, and the size of any

adjusting payments will be directly affected by the difference between management’s projections and the Account’s actual assets or expenses.

The Account adopted the asset management agreements are not expected to be significantly different from the revenue recognition pattern under existing GAAP. For the adoption of ASU 2014-09, the Account is planning to utilize the modified retrospective adoption approach. Management is currently in the process of evaluating the final impact of the new standard.

The Account adopted the Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15") as of January 1, 2018. ASU 2016-15 clarifies how to present cash receipts and cash payments for public business entities for fiscal yearscertain activity in the Statement of Cash Flows. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 was retrospectively applied and interim periodshad an immaterial impact to the Account.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-2”2016-02”) which will supersede Topic 840, Leases. This ASU applies to all entities that enter into a lease. Lessees will be required to report assets and liabilities that arise from leases. Lessor accounting is expected to remain unchanged except in certain circumstances. The ASU also contains certain practical expedients, which the Account plans to elect, including the practical expedient not to separate lease and non-lease components whereby both components are accounted for and recognized as lease components. Under ASC 842 as a lessor, lease components will be recognized on a straight line basis, while non-lease components will be recognized in accordance with the new revenue standard. The Account is in the process of evaluating the impact the ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.  The Account’s tenant reimbursement revenues generated from common area and maintenance services that are provided to its tenants are considered a non-lease component that must be separated, allocated based on the transaction price allocation guidance and accounted for according to the new revenue standard. In January 2018, the FASB issued a proposal for comment that would allow lessors to elect a similar practical expedient by class of underlying assets to not separate non-lease components from the lease component. The lessor’s practical expedient election would be limited to circumstances in which (i) the timing and pattern of revenue recognition are the same for the non-lease component and the related lease component and (ii) the combined single lease component would be classified as an operating lease. If the exposed practical expedient is issued in its existing form, the Account expects to elect the practical expedient which would allow the Account the ability to combine the lease and non-lease components if the underlying asset meets the two criteria above. This ASU is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including all interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-2 on the Account’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investment advisory services for the Account are provided by TIAA officers, under the direction and control of the Board, pursuant to investment management procedures adopted by TIAA for the Account. TIAA’s investment management decisions for the Account are subject to review by the Account’s independent fiduciary. TIAA also provides various portfolio accounting and related services for the Account.

The Account is a party to the Distribution Agreement for the Contracts Funded by the TIAA Real Estate Account (the “Distribution Agreement”), dated January 1, 2008, by and among TIAA, for itself and on behalf of the Account, and TIAA-CREF Individual and Institutional Services, LLC (“Services”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TIAA and a registered broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Services performs distribution services for the Account which include, among other things, (i) distributing of annuity contracts issued by TIAA and funded by the Account, (ii) advising existing annuity contract owners in connection with their accumulations and (iii) helping employers implement and manage retirement plans. In addition, TIAA performs administrative functions for the Account, which include, among other things, (i) maintaining accounting records and performing accounting services, (ii) receiving and allocating premiums, (iii) calculating and making annuity payments, (iv) processing withdrawal requests, (v) providing regulatory compliance and reporting services, (vi) maintaining the Account’s records of contract ownership and (vii) otherwise assisting generally in all aspects of the Account’s operations. Both distribution services (pursuant to the Distribution Agreement) and administrative services are provided to the Account by Services and TIAA, as applicable, on an at cost basis.

The Distribution Agreement is terminable by either party upon 60 days written notice and terminates automatically upon any assignment thereof.

TIAA and Services provide investment management, administrative and distribution services at cost. TIAA and Services receive payments from the Account on a daily basis according to formulas established each year and adjusted periodically with the objective of keeping the payments as close as possible to the Account’s expenses actually incurred. Any differences between actual expenses and the amounts paid by the Account are adjusted quarterly.

TIAA also provides a liquidity guarantee to the Account, for a fee, to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet participant transfer and cash withdrawal requests in the event that the Account’s cash flows and liquid investments are insufficient to fund such requests. TIAA ensures sufficient funds are available for such transfer and withdrawal requests by purchasing accumulation units of the Account.

To the extent TIAA owns accumulation units issued pursuant to the liquidity guarantee, the independent fiduciary monitors and oversees, among other things, TIAA’s ownership interest in the Account and may require TIAA to eventually redeem some of its units, particularly when the Account has un-invested cash or liquid investments available. TIAA also receives a fee for assuming certain mortality and expense risks.

Concentrations of credit risk may arise when a number of properties or tenants are located in a similar geographic region such that the economic conditions of that region could impact tenants’ obligations to meet their contractual obligations or cause the values of individual properties to decline. TheAs of March 31, 2018, the Account hashad no significant concentrations of tenants as no single tenant hashad annual contract rent that makesmade up more than 3%2% of the rental income of the Account.

The Account’s wholly-owned real estate investments and investments in joint venture are located in the United States. The following table represents the diversification of the Account’s portfolio by region and property type as of September 30, 2017:March 31, 2018:

Level 1—Valuations using unadjusted quoted prices for assets traded in active markets, such as stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Active markets are defined as having the following characteristics for the measured asset or liability: (i) many transactions, (ii) current prices, (iii) price quotes not varying substantially among market makers, (iv) narrow bid/ask spreads and (v) most information regarding the issuer is publicly available. Level 1 assets held by the Account are generally marketable equity securities.

Level 2—Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active, dealer or broker markets. Fair values are primarily obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs for fair value measurements are inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include:

Examples of securities which may be held by the Account and included in Level 2 include certificates of deposit, commercial paper, government agency notes, variable notes, United States Treasury securities, and debt securities.

Level 3—Valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, including pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and are not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker-traded transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections that are not observable in the market, and require significant professional judgment in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities. Examples of Level 3 assets and liabilities which may be held by the Account from time to time include investments in real estate, investments in joint ventures, and loans receivable and payable.

An investment’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy described above is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Account’s limited partnership investments are valued using the net asset value per share as a practical expedient, which excludes the investments from the valuation hierarchy.

The Account’s determination of fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based upon vendor-provided, evaluated prices or internally developed models that primarily use market-based or independently sourced market data, including interest rate yield curves, market spreads, and currency rates. Valuation adjustments will be made to reflect changes in credit quality, counterparty’s creditworthiness, the Account’s creditworthiness, liquidity, and other observable and unobservable inputs that are applied consistently over time.

The following tables show the major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2016,2017, using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1); significant other observable inputs (Level 2); and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3); and practical expedient (in millions):

During the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3.

The amount of total net unrealized gains (losses) included in changes in net assets attributable to the change in net unrealized gains (losses) relating to Level 3 investments and mortgage loans payable using significant unobservable inputs still held as of the reporting date is as follows (in millions, unaudited):

Transwestern Mezzanine Realty Partners III, LLC (“Transwestern”) may engage in liquidation activities in 2017 based on the terms of its partnership agreement. The Account may elect to sell or transfer its ownership units by giving notice and acquiring consent from the management committee of Transwestern, which requires approval by a majority of the members. Redemption of the Account’s interest in Transwestern prior to liquidation is prohibited, unless a supermajority of the members approves the redemption request.

Clarion Gables Multi-Family Trust LP allows redemptions with an advanced notice of three months or more. Redemptions are funded using the partnership’s available cash, which may not immediately be in excess of the redemption amount, and may not be sufficient to fund the redemption amount for several months. The general partner has sole discretion in identifying how much cash is available to process redemptions. The partnership allows the Account to sell its interest in the partnership, subject to the consent and approval of the general partner.

Taconic New York City GP Fund, LP prohibits redemptions in the partnership prior to liquidation. Liquidation of the partnership is estimated to begin no earlier than 2024. The partnership allows the Account to sell its interest in the partnership, subject to the consent and approval of the general partner.

The Account owns interests in several real estate properties through joint ventures and receives distributions and allocations of profits and losses from the joint ventures based on the Account’s ownership interest in those investments. Several of these joint ventures have mortgage loans payable collateralized by the properties owned by the aforementioned joint ventures. At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the Account held investments in joint ventures with ownership interest percentages that ranged from 33.3% to 97.5%. Certain joint ventures are subject to adjusted distribution percentages when earnings in the investment reach a pre-determined threshold. The fair value of the Account’s equity interest in these joint ventures was $5.7$5.8 billion and $5.6$5.9 billion at September 30, 2017March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2016,2017, respectively.

A condensed summary of the results of operations of the joint ventures are shown below (in millions, unaudited):

At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the Account had outstanding mortgage loans payable secured by the following properties (in millions):