<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000946155
<NAME> TIAA REAL ESTATE ACCOUNT
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,941,323,004
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,998,440,751
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 28,771,633
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 289,647
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,027,502,031
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 467,990
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 25,409,911
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 25,877,901
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 12,925,942
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 12,089,729
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 0
<NET-ASSETS> 2,001,624,130
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,793,216
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,377,999
<OTHER-INCOME> 30,580,364
<EXPENSES-NET> (2,606,515)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 36,145,064
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 58,263
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 14,044,336
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 50,247,663
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 836,213
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 176,888,415
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,069,798
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,606,515
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,889,745,038
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 146.036
<PER-SHARE-NII> 2.835
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.071
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 149.942
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.140
</TABLE>
