PRICE T ROWE REAL ESTATE FUND INC
497K2, 1999-11-08
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                                                                 October 1, 1999
FUND PROFILE
T. ROWE PRICE
Real Estate Fund

 A stock fund seeking capital growth and current income through companies
 engaged in the real estate industry.
This profile summarizes key information about the fund that is included in the
fund's prospectus. The fund's prospectus includes additional information about
the fund, including a more detailed description of the risks associated with
investing in the fund that you may want to consider before you invest. You may
obtain the prospectus and other information about the fund at no cost by calling
1-800-638-5660, or by visiting our Web site at www.troweprice.com.

TROWEPRICELOGO
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                                                                               1

FUND PROFILE
- ---------------------------------------------------------
 What is the fund's objective?

   The fund seeks to provide long-term growth through a combination of capital
   appreciation and current income.


 What is the fund's principal investment strategy?

   We normally invest at least 80% of total assets in the equity securities of
   real estate companies. Our definition of real estate companies is broad and
   includes those that derive at least 50% of revenues or profits from, or
   commit at least 50% of assets to, real estate activities. The fund is likely
   to maintain a significant portion of assets in real estate investment trusts
   (REITs). REITs pool money to invest in properties (equity REITs) or mortgages
   (mortgage REITs). The fund generally invests in equity REITs. Other
   investments may include real estate operating companies, brokers, developers,
   and builders of residential, commercial, and industrial properties; property
   management firms; finance, mortgage, and mortgage servicing firms;
   construction supply and equipment manufacturing companies; and firms
   dependent on real estate holdings for revenues and profits, including
   lodging, leisure, timber, mining, and agriculture companies.

   The fund will not own real estate directly and will have no restrictions on
   the size of companies selected for investment. Up to 20% of fund assets may
   be invested in companies deriving a substantial portion of revenues or
   profits from servicing real estate firms, as well as in companies unrelated
   to the real estate business.

   Stock selection is based on fundamental, bottom-up analysis that seeks to
   identify high-quality companies with both good appreciation prospects and
   income-producing potential. Factors considered by the portfolio manager in
   selecting real estate companies include: relative valuation; free cash flow;
   undervalued assets; quality and experience of management; type of real estate
   owned; and the nature of a company's real estate activities.

   While most assets will be invested in U.S. common stocks, other securities
   may also be purchased, including foreign stocks, futures, and options, in
   keeping with fund objectives.

   The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure
   gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.

   Further information about the fund's investments, including a review of
   market conditions and fund strategies and their impact on performance, is
   available in the annual and semiannual shareholder reports. To obtain free
   copies of any of these documents, call 1-800-638-5660.
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                                                                               2

FUND PROFILE
- ---------------------------------------------------------
 What are the main risks of investing in the fund?

   As with all equity funds, this fund's share price can fall because of
   weakness in the broad market, a particular industry, or specific holdings.
   The market as a whole can decline for many reasons, including adverse
   political or economic developments here or abroad, changes in investor
   psychology, or heavy institutional selling. The prospects for an industry or
   company may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including
   disappointing earnings or changes in the competitive environment. In
   addition, our assessment of companies held in the fund may prove incorrect,
   resulting in losses or poor performance even in a rising market. Finally, the
   fund's investment approach could fall out of favor with the investing public,
   resulting in lagging performance versus other types of stock funds.

   The fund will be concentrated in the real estate industry and as a result
   less diversified than stock funds investing in a broad range of industries.
   Therefore, its price could fall in value when trends are perceived as
   unfavorable for the real estate industry. For example, changes in the tax
   laws, overbuilding, environmental issues, the quality of property management
   in the case of REITs, and other factors could hurt the fund. Real estate is
   also affected by general economic conditions. When growth is slowing, demand
   for property decreases and prices may decline. Rising interest rates, which
   drive up mortgage and financing costs, can restrain construction and buying
   and selling activity, and may reduce the appeal of real estate investments.
   While a fund focused on one sector represents greater risk than a more
   diversified approach, the income offered by some real estate companies helps
   moderate this risk. Also, if the portfolio has substantial exposure to small
   companies, it would be subject to the greater volatility of small-cap stocks.

   To the extent that the fund invests in foreign stocks, it is also subject to
   the risk that some holdings may lose value because of declining foreign
   currencies or adverse political or economic events overseas. If the fund uses
   futures and options, it is exposed to additional volatility and potential
   losses.

   As with any mutual fund, there can be no guarantee the fund will achieve its
   objective.

  . The fund's share price may decline, so when you sell your shares, you may
   lose money. An investment in the fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not
   insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any
   other government agency.
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                                                                               3

FUND PROFILE
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 How can I tell if the fund is appropriate for me?

   Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and
   your tolerance for risk. If you are willing to accept the risks of investing
   in a single industry in an effort to achieve long-term capital growth and
   income, the fund could be appropriate for you. This fund should not represent
   your complete investment program or be used for short-term trading purposes.

   The fund can be used in both regular and tax-deferred accounts, such as IRAs.

  . Equity investors should have a long-term investment horizon and be willing
   to wait out bear markets.


 How has the fund performed in the past?

   The bar chart and the average annual total return table indicate risk by
   illustrating how much returns can differ from one year to the next. The
   fund's past performance is no guarantee of its future returns.

   The fund can also experience short-term performance swings, as shown by the
   best and worst calendar quarter returns during the year depicted in the
   chart.

LOGO


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 <S>           <C>
  Calendar Year Total Returns
  "98"              -14.86
 -------------------------------
</TABLE>


          Quarter ended              Total return

 Best quarter                            3/31/98 1.12%

 Worst quarter                           9/30/98 -10.95%
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                                                                               4

FUND PROFILE
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<TABLE>
 Table 1 Average Annual Total Returns
<CAPTION>
                                                 Periods ended
                                               September 30, 1999
                                                         Since inception
                                           1 year         (10/31/1997)
 ----------------------------------------
 <S>                                     <C>           <C>
  Real Estate Fund                            -4.37%         -5.39%

  Wilshire Real Estate Securities Index       -4.33          -9.17
  Lipper Real Estate Funds Average            -2.28          -8.62
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


 These figures include changes in principal value, reinvested dividends, and
 capital gain distributions, if any.


 What fees or expenses will I pay?

   The fund is 100% no load. The fund charges a 1% redemption fee, payable to
   the fund, on shares held less than six months. There are no other fees or
   charges to buy or sell fund shares, reinvest dividends, or exchange into
   other T. Rowe Price funds. There are no 12b-1 fees.

<TABLE>
 Table 2 Fees and Expenses of the Fund
<CAPTION>
            Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
  Redemption fee (for shares held less than six months)              1%
                          Annual fund operating expenses
                  (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <S>                                                     <C>
  Management fee                                                   0.62%/a/
  Other expenses                                                   1.25%
  Total annual fund operating expenses                             1.87%/a/
  Fee waiver/reimbursement
  Net expenses
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


 /a/
   To limit the fund's expenses during its initial period of operations, T. Rowe
   Price is contractually obligated to waive its fees and bear any expenses
   through December 31, 1999, which would cause the fund's ratio of expenses to
   average net assets to exceed 1.00%. Fees waived or expenses paid or assumed
   under this agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the
   fund whenever the fund's expense ratio is below 1.00%; however, no
   reimbursement will be made after December 31, 2001, or if it would result in
   the expense ratio exceeding 1.00%. Any amounts reimbursed will have the
   effect of increasing fees otherwise paid by the fund.


   Example.  The following table gives you a rough idea of how expense ratios
   may translate into dollars and helps you to compare the cost of investing in
   this fund with that of other funds. Although your actual costs may be higher
   or lower, the table shows how much you would pay if operating expenses remain
   the same, the expense limitation currently in place is not renewed, you
   invest $10,000, you earn a 5% annual return, and you hold the investment for
   the following periods:
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                                                                               5

FUND PROFILE
- ---------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   1 year      3 years      5 years       10 years
 ----------------------------------------------------
 <S>         <C>          <C>          <C>
    $102        $414         $844          $2,043
 ----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



 Who manages the fund?

   The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Founded in 1937, T.
   Rowe Price and its affiliates manage investments for individual and
   institutional accounts. The company offers a comprehensive array of stock,
   bond, and money market funds directly to the investing public.

   David M. Lee manages the fund day-to-day and has been chairman of its
   Investment Advisory Committee since 1997. He joined T. Rowe Price in 1993 and
   has been managing investments since 1996.

 Note: The following questions and answers about buying and selling shares and
 services do not apply to employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you are a
 participant in one of these plans, please call your plan's toll-free number for
 additional information.


 How can I purchase shares?

   Fill out the New Account Form and return it with your check in the postpaid
   envelope. The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRAs and gifts
   or transfers to minors). The minimum subsequent investment is $100 ($50 for
   IRAs, gifts or transfers to minors, or Automatic Asset Builder). You can also
   open an account by bank wire, by exchanging from another T. Rowe Price fund,
   or by transferring assets from another financial institution.


 How can I sell shares?

   You may redeem or sell any portion of your account on any business day.
   Simply write to us or call. You can also access your account at any time via
   Tele*Access /(R)/ or our Web site. We offer convenient exchange among our
   entire family of domestic and international funds. Restrictions may apply in
   special circumstances, and some redemption requests need a signature
   guarantee. A $5 fee is charged for wire redemptions under $5,000.


 When will I receive income and capital gain distributions?

   The fund distributes income quarterly and net capital gains, if any, at
   year-end. For regular accounts, income and short-term gains are taxable at
   ordinary income rates, and long-term gains are taxable at the capital gains
   rate. Distributions are reinvested automatically in additional shares unless
   you choose another option, such as receiving a check. Distributions paid to
   IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are automatically reinvested.
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FUND PROFILE
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   Distributions from the Real Estate Fund will not be included in your
   consolidated 1099-DIV that we send to you in January of each year. The Real
   Estate Fund's distributions will be reported on a separate 1099-DIV mailed to
   you in February. The reasons for this are:

  . A sizable portion of the dividends paid by REITs may represent a return of
   capital. Consequently, a portion of the fund's distributions may also
   represent a return of capital. Return of capital distributions are not
   taxable to you, but you must deduct them from the cost basis of your
   investment in the fund. Returns of capital are listed as "nontaxable
   distributions" on Form 1099-DIV.

  . REITs typically have not indicated what proportion of their dividends
   represent return of capital in time to allow the fund to meet its January 31
   deadline for 1099-DIV reporting. Therefore, to ensure accurate and complete
   tax information, we will send you a separate 1099-DIV for this fund in
   February (subject to approval by the IRS).


 What services are available?

   A wide range, including but not limited to:

  . retirement plans for individuals and large and small businesses;

  . automated information and transaction services by telephone or computer;

  . electronic transfers between fund and bank accounts;

  . automatic investing and automatic exchange;

  . brokerage services; and

  . asset manager accounts.
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
www.troweprice.com

LOGO
                                                                     RPS F12-035
 T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., Distributor
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