UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-A


                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


               Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred Income Fund, Inc.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
    (Formerly Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred Balanced Income Fund, Inc.)


               Maryland                                 61-1448879
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(State of incorporation or organization)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

    757 Third Avenue, New York, NY                         10017
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(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

         Title of each class                   Name of each exchange on which
         to be so registered                   each class is to be registered
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    Common Share, $.001 par value                  New York Stock Exchange
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If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box.  [X]

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box.  [ ]

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
333-104047 (if applicable)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      None
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                                (Title of class)

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Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to Be Registered.

         A description of the Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of the registrant to be registered hereunder is set forth in
the section entitled "Description of Shares" of the Prospectus that has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with the
registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on March 26, 2003, as
amended on May 5, 2003, which description is incorporated herein by reference as
filed with the SEC. Such Registration Statement may hereafter be amended or
supplemented and filed as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or
otherwise pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is
hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 2.  Exhibits.

         The following is a list of exhibits to this Registration Statement
which shall be filed with the New York Stock Exchange:

            1. The Company's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No.
               333-104047), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               on March 26, 2003.

            2. Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
               Form N-2 (File No. 333-104047), as filed with the Securities and
               Exchange Commission on May 5, 2003.

            3. Articles of Incorporation and Articles of Amendment of the
               Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2(a) to the
               Registration Statement).

            4. By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
               99.2(b) to the Registration Statement).

            5. Form of specimen share certificate (incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 99.2(d)(i) to the Registration Statement).

            6. Form of Dividend Reinvestment Plan (incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 99.2(e) to the Registration Statement).


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                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                           COHEN & STEERS REIT AND PREFERRED INCOME FUND, INC.

                           By:  /s/ Robert H. Steers
                               -----------------------------------------------
                               Name:  Robert H. Steers
                               Title: Chairman & Secretary


Dated: May 7, 2003