All this RE talk!!

[SC4EVA]

Ok so Bran and Matt have given great info on this board - Very Impressed.

Heres my deal - I graduated undergrad in 2001 with business major - I am currently in grad school doing an MBA in finance - Will prob finish in 2006 (will be 26-27)

I have also had great interest in Real Estate world - Everything from sales/marketing/projects to landscaping

So - once I get closer to graduation I hope to leave my wanna be wall st job for a new career - What is everyones feeling on residential developers and their "training programs" Some that I have been researching (mostly because they are in the Northeast are Toll Brothers, K Hovanian, Pulte, Centex, Ryan Homes - I notice some just have project training programs where some have marketing/sale or projects or str8 up finance - I cant see myself enjoying the cubicle finance stuff ... Well that was a lot of rambling - Any feedback is appreicated!

 

[SC4EVA]

Geez why my post that bad?

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Well, this is probably more for Bran...

At 26 or 27, you're still in the "accumulate knowledge" part of your career. Working for a large developer is a good way to learn how THEY view the biz.

it is not the end all of RE knowledge, but it is a start.


I think the best way to learn RE is to work for a commercial developer who builds in bigger cities.

 

[bran987]

Geez why my post that bad?

It was terrible.

LoL

j/k.

I really don't know much about those training programs - but judging from those names they are mostly single family detached homebuilders, so I suspect that is the training they provide.

From what you listed it sounds like they provide training in each department of their respective organizations just like any other company would. I would judge the merit of the programs based upon the merit of each company's reputation overall.

If it's single family homebuilding you want to get into then I suppose those places are as good as any to learn it. My only comment is that in an organization that large it will take you a lot longer to learn all the moving parts than if you were to work for a smaller company. I know this from my experience and from friends who have taken the 'big company' approach in my field i.e. they went to work for Trammell Crow or Post Properties etc.. (multifamily REITS)

 

[bran987]

oh it looks like Matt replied while I was typing out my own response.

Working for a large developer is a good way to learn how THEY view the biz.

I concur.

I think the best way to learn RE is to work for a commercial developer who builds in bigger cities.

me too but I'm biased.

 

[SC4EVA]

Thanks guys as always for good advice - I currently am in finance and have not been able to find a good position in the industry as of yet so I am setting my sights on the Real Estate division of my firm (mortgage lending, valuations, CMBS, MBS, trading all that - Figure try and get some exposure information while still getting the MBA paid for here

 

[bran987]

Thanks guys as always for good advice - I currently am in finance and have not been able to find a good position in the industry as of yet so I am setting my sights on the Real Estate division of my firm (mortgage lending, valuations, CMBS, MBS, trading all that - Figure try and get some exposure information while still getting the MBA paid for here

great plan, excellent exposure, good luck!

 

[SC4EVA]

Thanks!!

 

[RottenWillow]

I'm hopelessly late getting to this thread, but here's my take on RE. Bear in mind this is from my perhaps skewed, and definitely myopic, perspective as a bystander.

My mom is 43 and has made quite a lot of money in RE. Together with my dad's income they are straigh up wealthy now. She started out as an agent, then starting investing in her parttime, and became a broker. For years she only dealt in single family as an investor. She made money, but never really a lot, just steady income to supplement her "day job" as a broker. Then I think 9 years ago she slowly got into duplexes, then quads, then rehabbed a 250 unit ghettoed out apt complex and made a big profit. So what I've noticed is while single family usually provides a quicker income flow and it's generally less risky, it also doesnt seem to have the income potential of commercial. Also, you definitely can learn commerical investment without working for a large company that operates in RE or a related field. My mom learned from investor colleagues and GaREA, the Georgia Real Estate Investor's Assocation. You should join an equivilant group in your area.