Real Estate Development

College Majors Business Major
1

<p>I was wondering if anyone has any experience or knows someone who is involved with real estate development. It can be either residential or commercial, but I want to emphasize the DEVELOPER. I don't want to be a realtor or anything like that.</p>

<p>I just want to know what college degree would be best (excluding real estate, I have many real estate classes I can take, but I definitely wouldn't want to pigeon hole myself), what companies are best to work for upon graduation and anything else that can be added.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I would go with Finance -unless you want to give the construction management track a shot (sounds like you don’t). You are not going to start as a developer obviously, but I know some commercial realtors become developers. Also, you could get involved in the real estate division at a corporation (this would be a slow path, but being a developer ain’t easy). Maybe the best way: research the biggest developers in your area and send them an impassioned letter and good resume.</p>

3

<p>Finance for sure. Finance is about the flow of money and getting it where it needs to be to be the most productive. Being a developer would rely heavily on raising capital and trying to get the best return out of it. Sounds like a ton of fun, too!</p>

4

<p>The main developers (Trammel, Hines, etc.) said they look for MBA graduates to become developer associates. Is that a track I should be looking for as well?</p>

<p>How applicable would mortgage banking be as a “start-up?'” As in could you start out as a mortgage loan officer for a few years, go to grad school, and then come out with actual development jobs?</p>

5

<p>I don’t think your pre-MBA work will matter much for developing as long as it gets you into a good MBA program and you can make it sound like you learned applicable skills.</p>

6

<p>What would the applicable skills be?</p>

<p>And for good MBA would I still be getting it with a Finance specialization?</p>

7

<p>tischman spyer is probably top dog if u want to get experience</p>

<p>and then start ur own firm :)</p>

8

<p>Applicable skills would be anything from the ability to raise or allocate capital effectively to the ability to read the market to experience working on a team to expand operations. Anything finance related should be somewhat applicable, really.</p>

<p>I would get the MBA with a finance specialization as well unless there was another interesting option available.</p>

9

<p>I guess what job out of school would be best to prepare to be a developer in the future?</p>

10

<p>Leasing is always a good way to start. Crow used to start everyone in leasing as they way to learn what customers really want.</p>