CERTIFICATION
            PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


     Pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a)
and (b) of section 1350,  chapter 63 of title 18,  United States Code),  each of
the  undersigned  officers of Teachers  Insurance  and  Annuity  Association  of
America, do hereby certify, to such officer's knowledge, that:

     The  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q of the TIAA Real  Estate  Account  (the
"Account")  for the quarter  ended  September  30, 2002 (the "Form  10-Q") fully
complies  with the  requirements  of  Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents,
in all material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations of
the Account.



Dated: May 12, 2003        /s/ Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
                           ------------------------------------
                           Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
                           Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
                           Officer, Teacher Insurance and Annuity Association of
                           America


Dated: May 12, 2003        /s/ Richard L. Gibbs
                           ------------------------------------
                           Richard L. Gibbs
                           Executive Vice President
                           (Chief Financial Officer),
                           Teacher Insurance and Annuity Association of America



A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to the TIAA Real Estate Account and will be retained by the Account and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.