<p>Will majoring in Architecture help me become a real estate developer or is there a better major???</p>
<p>Architecture can help you get into project management with a developer, and this can be a pretty lucrative way to make a living, however the guys that make the real money are the deal makers. They can come from any background as long as they can sell; convince tenants, banks, landowners, etc. that their project is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Business majors are probably the most common, but here in Dallas it also seems to depend on which fraternity you were in at UT or SMU, and the kind of connections you made.</p>
<p>Rick</p>
<p>from what I can gather, RE development is one of the fields people who leave architecture go into, but I doubt an accredited Arch degree with all it entails is the optimal educational path if you are sure you want to go into RE development.</p>
<p>There are scores of architects who design their own projects and get involved in real estate development…typically they’re known for being more enlightened as far as developer’s go. Less likely to do bad, sustainable, or suburban projects and more likely to do something exciting and cool. But dual architects and developers are not common, don’t have any advantage, and don’t really go hand in hand.</p>
<p>To go into real estate development, you either come into it with the funding (or ability to get financial investors) so that you actually become the owner of a development, or you approach it from the sales perspective to become the person who does the leasing. To become involved on the leasing end, you would start by getting your experience in commercial real estate sales and leasing. Of course, architects and engineers are hired by developers to plan the project, so that is certainly related to development, too.</p>
<p>Fixed the following post of mine (so it can make more sense):</p>
<p>There are scores of architects who design their own projects and get involved in real estate development…typically they’re known for being more enlightened as far as developers go. Less likely to do bad, unsustainable, or suburban projects and more likely to do something exciting and cool. But dual architect-and-developers are not common, don’t have any advantage, and don’t really go hand in hand.</p>
<p>Majoring in Architecture in itself probably won’t help much in the RE Development field. It’s something that’s not taught in architecture school.</p>
<p>It’s really a career path you will have to try to put yourself on after school. If you are in the right place at the right time, you can get into development. Business acumen will also be very helpful as well.</p>
<p>My husband works for a real estate developer, in charge of construction and facilities. We had the same conversation with our son who is majoring in architecture. My son is not sure he wants to be an architect. His company hires real estate development analysts and all of them have architecture degrees. Some have MBAs as well with a 4yr arch degree. Students depending on the school you attend can minor in real estate development. The owners do not have a degree. Having an architecture degree can only help.</p>
<p>I know NYU has a degree program in real estate. It is part of their continuing ed.</p>