EXHIBIT 32

                                  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, 2003 (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.

DATE: November 12, 2003

                           /s/ Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                           Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
                           Chairman of the Board, President
                           and Chief Executive Officer
                           Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America

DATE: November 12, 2003

                           /s/ Elizabeth A. Monrad
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                           Elizabeth A. Monrad
                           Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                           (Principal Financial Officer),
                           Teachers 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.

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