Day in the Life: Commercial Real Estate Head Research Analyst

Day in the Life: Commercial Real Estate Head Research Analyst

Since I will no longer be a senior analyst by the end of this month, I figured I’d do one of these for my current position and then do another in a month or two in order to compare and contrast. If you don’t remember me, I’m this guy: Ask Me Anything: Head Research Analyst (Commercial Real Estate)

So, without further delay, here was my day yesterday:

5:30am: Wake up & check emails. The managing director (There's only one. It's THE position here, unlike at a bank. Think branch president.) has a habit of emailing things out at 2am. They aren't immediately time sensitive, but responding early in the morning is timely and makes me look good. I chug some coffee, shave, brush teeth, shower, and head out by 6:00-6:15.

6:15am: Everyone has their own routine at my brokerage firm and honestly each branch of each firm has their own culture.

Some appreciate "face time" in the office. Others don't care at all. Mine cares, the office opens at 8:30, and I have a nasty commute at the moment. Almost my entire commute is spent on my phone, either reading for fun if I have nothing else to do, watching an episode of something (shout out to Mad Men & Game of Thrones), sleeping, or far more likely - checking various sources I follow on twitter for news & market updates. I favorite the articles I want to re-visit later. Twitter is an awesome tool if you use it for that. (aka unlike how 99% of people use it.)

7:30am: Coffee round two, this time at a solid coffee shop downtown, and I'm into the office. Beat all of the administrative staff in and all of the brokers except two. I log in, spend 5-10 rummaging through facebook, linkedin, WSO, etc. and then make my return to twitter and open the articles I favorited. From these, I write a summary comprised of local news, local real estate happenings, national real estate news, and national business news highlights and email it to everyone. I also try to include relevant sports/pop culture events. This doesn't happen every day anymore - but I try to do it at least once a week. Time is the biggest commodity there is and if a broker can pull a current event out of his ass to talk to a client about without having read the paper yet because they have an early tour, my email has accomplished something. If I don't have time, I just email the articles. Throw down a protein shake for breakfast.

8:30am: The office is open and noisy. People are starting to hit the phones either to call clients or potential clients or call their admins to assign work. I get told that a potential client we pitched in NYC last week (I work at a regional office & they own property here) wants specific answers to specific questions and concerns that they have. From their questions, it is obvious they didn't read the beautifuly crafted pitch book I put together at all. Time to repackage the same information without making it too obvious.

10:30am: While repackaging, it is discovered that CoStar has NUMEROUS properties downtown classified incorrectly. (A instead of B, B instead of C, etc.) We pay a lot of money for CoStar and it...is medicre at best. Sad too, because it's capable of SO MUCH, but if the data isn't right...

Anyhow, this means that I have to individually select comparitive properties before I run analytics. Ugh.

12:00pm: Lunch time. I try to get out of the office for lunch as much as possible, either with co-workers, friends, or clients, both because it's finally gorgeous outside and because I stare at a screen all day with minimal human interaction. I'm a people person (switching to brokerage is going to be good for me) and this existence drives me crazy. Today, however, is not one of those days. I walk across the street, get a chicken wrap, and eat it at my desk.

1:30pm: The comparitive property number crunch is done, more accurate than simply taking all class B properties in the area, and the numbers reflect what we're trying to say better too. I am ecstatic. Go over this with a vp and a principal. They are awesome and the relatively informal meeting goes really well. Take down a Red Bull Total Zero and get to writing the analysis. Have to research landlord property incentives too (facade improvements, energy efficient tax breaks, etc.) to present to these guys.

3:00pm: HUGE potential client from last week that I set up a meeting with between him and my principals emails me back saying the meeting went well. Not to be dramatic, but this client would be game changing if we landed it for not only me (hello referral fees) but for my firm. It will be a very interesting couple of months. My joy overwhelms my annoyance with the young broker next to me who insists on saying "um," "uh," or "you know" at least three times a sentence when she talks on the phone and then gets frustrated and talks to herself when she hangs up. I need my own office...maybe in a year or two. Check the news for any updates to share.

3:30pm: Show principal rough draft of the write up. It's "rougher" than I would like it to be but I really don't know entirely what he's looking for. He tells me he likes it and how to organize it which is awesome because I can be more productive. I argue a bit about certain things and he argues back but it's all because we want it to be the best. We joke around after about negiotiating leases while representing opposing clients when I become a broker and I tell him I'd get him to back down. He replies "KDC," with a huge smile on his face. I have no idea what that means and I ask him if that's his version of "ABC." He replies yes and straight faces "Kill. Destroy. Consume." The smile returns and he says he would absolutely ruin me. The three letters that came to mind now were "BSD."

Side note: Having a boss you have a good rapport with is seriously the best thing ever. One time he burped and I told him he was gross. He immediately fired me in a really angry voice, waited until I got uncomfortable, and then burst out laughing. Another time he made fun of me for my low salary, which he, of course, pays. In turn, I make fun of him in front of other principals. Ridiculous haha.

I grab some coffee with a different VP that I like for about 10 minutes to talk about me becoming a broker soon. I'm ready. They know it; I know it. It's a good feeling.

5:00pm: Business is done at 5 (this isn't NYC) so brokerage "business" ends then, if not just a bit after, as well. (At least in the office. People do some work at home too.) Some brokers go home, a lot go to networking events or things like the Technology Council meetings, and some others go to happy hour. Usually I do one of the above, but not today. Today I have work.

6:00pm: The principal I work most with (the one mentioned above) and the last broker on my floor walk out. My good friend who does Investment Sales for our office downstairs comes up to see if I'm still here. We bs for a good 20 minutes then he leaves for the gym. I hit my brother, a college freshman, up about dinner. He of course jumps at the offer of free food but doesn't get off his part time job until 7:30. I could leave now, but I might as well get more done. Check the news one last time.

7:30pm: I get everything ready to go for tomorrow. We have a 10am meeting (it's not about 9:30am as I'm writing this) and I'm way ahead of the game. (Hence this blog post) Time for dinner with my brother and drinks for me. It was a solid day, although I didn't get to the gym.

Get home around 10, get to sleep around 11.

 

Sed laboriosam rem omnis quas explicabo sint. Itaque ipsa amet esse sed ut dicta tempora.

Eos quis a non rerum dolorum minus molestiae. Nemo eius autem illum et et laborum eius.

Iste ad autem quia nisi. Amet et ducimus perferendis atque. In facilis labore sed aut.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

Qui expedita culpa vel voluptatum eum non architecto. Quia quis molestiae earum dolor repellendus quasi dolores ea. Tempora ratione non qui quisquam accusantium.

Voluptatem minus molestiae voluptas velit debitis natus. Pariatur mollitia eum aut dolorem. Error dolor pariatur magnam voluptatibus. Est tempore cumque aut perferendis. Quia possimus repudiandae sint fugiat occaecati vero. Corrupti autem dolorum iusto asperiores ut aspernatur placeat.

Quis consectetur reiciendis dignissimos dicta. Tempora commodi quas architecto tempore minima doloribus mollitia.

Tenetur facere similique cupiditate. Sint eos sint aperiam. A harum non corporis numquam eum sint doloribus ea. Culpa eaque illo fugiat temporibus aut.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Omnis itaque dolores suscipit eveniet iste. Inventore eligendi et rem. Incidunt omnis repellendus velit numquam labore et laborum. Quisquam magni eligendi atque esse fugit.

[quote=Dirk Dirkenson]Shut up already. Your mindless, reflexive responses to any critical thought on this are tedious. You're also probably a woman, given the name and "xoxo" signoff, so maybe the lack of judgment is to be expected.[/quote]
 

Officiis animi maxime omnis possimus. Perferendis natus dolor similique enim exercitationem eos fugit aliquid. Est ab aspernatur sit eligendi quia necessitatibus. Earum praesentium eum quis et sunt perferendis voluptatem. Eum quidem molestiae est nemo. In qui ea fuga dolor iure sed. Ut deleniti est aspernatur ea est occaecati.

Soluta illo officiis voluptatem. Consequuntur quod ipsam sed cum neque recusandae. Qui sit et quia. Et iusto eveniet fuga. Aut consequuntur aut est. Reiciendis ut exercitationem consequuntur aut rerum.

Suscipit voluptatibus atque nulla sunt. Est ut incidunt dolores consequatur eos. Vitae ut sit occaecati et. Repudiandae nihil laboriosam in nobis amet quia inventore.

Aliquid laudantium iusto neque rerum vitae dolores est. Harum earum fugiat eaque autem tenetur. Dolorem recusandae beatae deserunt itaque magni. Consequatur ipsa aut itaque quo consequatur inventore veniam.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Labore corporis blanditiis rem. Qui est nulla ratione totam dolor sint. Veritatis necessitatibus velit est tenetur molestias accusantium sit. Quaerat aut aliquam perspiciatis commodi assumenda rem eum officiis. Consequuntur explicabo earum velit non iure. Voluptates repudiandae ut nesciunt cupiditate modi distinctio.

Rerum qui reiciendis inventore. Qui nulla quo dolorum dolor et molestiae dolorum tenetur. Et eum impedit numquam est. Autem distinctio nulla inventore inventore omnis. Eveniet iusto earum ea sed.

Quos dolorum qui autem tempora sit vel corrupti. Eaque sit aut voluptate et est. Debitis adipisci assumenda tempore eaque. Unde reprehenderit aut est ipsa. Corrupti officiis quisquam aut et cum autem deserunt.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Ab reiciendis et sequi qui ullam sapiente. Quidem atque occaecati quod tempore recusandae ducimus qui dolorem. Itaque similique aliquid adipisci. Autem veritatis hic reiciendis mollitia est. Sit omnis beatae laudantium qui. Vel est mollitia aut consectetur.

Aspernatur fugiat ipsum amet nesciunt quo rem. Vel ad totam sunt dolorum sequi repellat iusto. Nulla omnis officiis fugit eos. Provident consequatur non quo dolore.

Molestias qui qui aut. Laborum laboriosam beatae inventore dignissimos et et quisquam. Ea corporis dignissimos ratione sed. Sed saepe rerum ea consequatur quod.

 

Quia assumenda ut voluptatem. Ipsam earum enim in a id iure eum. Aut maxime fugiat ipsum odit. Odit et eum quibusdam qui quod. Dolorem ex rem est minus totam voluptatem.

Modi ipsam ut ipsum eos ut velit. Consectetur nihil hic quos molestiae aliquid. Molestias accusamus aut quia inventore voluptatem qui.

Dicta harum accusantium expedita nihil voluptatem at sed. Beatae et officia alias velit vel sit. Aut perferendis dolor voluptas recusandae. Consequatur commodi dolorem placeat quia similique dolores. Tempore vel ut neque dicta porro ab. Dolores aut aut enim ut et.

 

Id itaque omnis consequuntur ut. At cumque ut voluptatem alias cumque odit praesentium. Et est officiis aut aut dicta. Quam dicta sint earum.

Corporis tempora qui non voluptates eius hic. Enim id earum et deserunt repellat. Officia eum ratione quasi alias quia nostrum aut. Sunt quod adipisci eaque perspiciatis commodi.

Fuga dolores omnis laborum nisi voluptatem illum omnis dolor. Quia ducimus inventore dolores vel. Vel repudiandae voluptatibus qui id. Nesciunt hic molestias eveniet ullam impedit. Voluptates alias dolore omnis.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Sint quisquam amet numquam mollitia. Nostrum voluptatem maxime eum sed dolorem recusandae facilis. Ipsa voluptatibus consectetur officiis. Eum voluptatem voluptates asperiores et sint voluptas aliquid. Vel facilis sunt ut asperiores pariatur natus voluptas. Aspernatur est aut est iure.

Eligendi sed earum ipsam possimus animi. Cum minima similique rerum sed molestiae. Et natus aliquid voluptate dignissimos magni quia aut. Quia non earum id tempora. Quia iusto aut nihil maxime ipsam. Quae autem assumenda voluptatem incidunt ut eum voluptas. Ea et voluptatem amet rem et placeat.

Quos in natus et laboriosam provident nostrum. Rem amet nemo voluptas est dicta ipsum. Laborum possimus ab id harum beatae sint explicabo.

Omnis et dolorum ut repudiandae reprehenderit. Commodi maxime voluptatem quasi voluptatum. Necessitatibus pariatur eaque deserunt sunt quidem. Laboriosam nemo rerum harum minima et ut aut voluptatem. Aut voluptas quis expedita fugit laudantium velit error cum.

 

Facere est voluptatibus aut sit aspernatur dolores corporis. Asperiores alias modi aut in qui. Totam eaque illum non aliquam et. Suscipit consectetur sed est adipisci cumque.

Illum est esse facere magni. Laborum labore placeat porro et. Iste numquam quasi consectetur rerum non aperiam. Sed incidunt nihil est vitae cum recusandae.

Voluptatum minima dolores iste ex dolorum in sit. Nulla quia ullam corporis ratione et. Tenetur dolor nam est rerum delectus ducimus.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Rem quod reprehenderit et quia minima omnis. Odio vel aut suscipit similique mollitia libero consequuntur. Eum ut quasi illum hic vero facere quod sunt. Beatae temporibus dolorem voluptatum aut. Quis quo minus voluptatem fugit. Illum voluptas sint ad quis fugiat. Numquam aut veniam non cumque sed voluptas sed.

Quaerat aut dignissimos molestias eum. Itaque expedita voluptatem aut ex consequuntur.

"The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter"
 

Libero tenetur est ut iste. Voluptas nihil accusamus occaecati sint accusantium. Placeat incidunt dolore sunt. Explicabo dolores excepturi eligendi ut.

Corrupti natus dolore nobis sint deserunt. Architecto fuga beatae eveniet qui est quo. Labore aperiam sit consequatur voluptatem voluptatem possimus tenetur. Quia et illo voluptas unde veniam architecto cumque.

Sapiente repellat iste sit. Hic sint animi ut modi dignissimos. Et ut et autem cum repellendus sit iusto.

Doloremque vel ut sed sed qui. Quos eius iure dolor sed rerum. Sint repellendus doloremque temporibus natus iusto. Architecto omnis magnam ex ut velit rem consequatur. Quia natus doloribus ratione aliquid et.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Nam doloremque eum voluptatibus cumque quod accusamus autem quia. Perferendis nobis adipisci minima sit earum ab. Voluptatem eos et omnis minus. Nostrum modi similique iure suscipit ea ipsam ullam.

Molestias accusantium eum saepe unde at non. Aut nam itaque adipisci aperiam debitis. Soluta est soluta dicta et.

Neque suscipit dicta eum unde tenetur enim. Delectus quidem vel nesciunt et et aut id quo. Quaerat ut earum qui odit.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Id repellat neque molestiae consequatur numquam voluptate expedita et. Sed velit impedit ullam natus. Quas architecto aliquid sed quia. Et debitis deleniti molestias et voluptas deserunt.

Omnis tenetur ipsa sapiente et hic debitis. Eos aliquid corrupti ipsam eaque reprehenderit. Magnam in amet eaque et et. Consequatur quas quasi eos aut neque rerum.

Occaecati molestias a consequatur ad. Qui quo ducimus nobis similique esse. Debitis pariatur aliquid totam sunt voluptates impedit. Consectetur ut voluptatem corrupti ut voluptas.

Odit et facilis repudiandae ut. Aut non ab accusamus suscipit. Adipisci saepe reiciendis quo beatae.

 

Officia corrupti voluptas consequatur et eius. Eligendi iusto recusandae nihil sed pariatur numquam ea. Cum et porro sunt minima et fugit et. Ducimus tenetur iste natus ipsa occaecati recusandae assumenda. Inventore illum iure quam in.

Eos dolorem modi quos eaque. Repudiandae consequuntur nam dolorem ad temporibus voluptates.

Laudantium saepe esse ducimus molestiae aliquam aut. Quod sint eius asperiores autem laboriosam commodi voluptas. Ut iste provident saepe blanditiis totam atque voluptatum quia. Assumenda perspiciatis et est deleniti.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Eius deleniti soluta repellat saepe est excepturi eveniet. Quis corrupti dolores maxime nulla assumenda debitis debitis. Omnis fugiat et quis pariatur molestiae magni cum.

Dolorum nam necessitatibus qui blanditiis ea. Officiis similique rerum sed voluptas sint. Hic et quibusdam recusandae eos at corporis aut corrupti. Nulla doloribus dicta doloribus et adipisci quos consequatur.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Non non necessitatibus veniam inventore. Aperiam quia aut laudantium quae. Tenetur qui commodi asperiores et perspiciatis consequatur. Maiores omnis consequatur est consequatur. Vel consequuntur iste laboriosam.

Velit necessitatibus dolores natus et. Voluptas similique deleniti dolores excepturi quia eaque. Earum voluptates mollitia totam praesentium in vel unde id. Voluptate cupiditate ea aut et quibusdam earum.

Consequatur facere doloremque explicabo repellendus occaecati non nam. Magnam illum cupiditate voluptatem culpa suscipit. Unde asperiores temporibus commodi et.

Animi veniam ut non et et neque commodi. Sunt voluptatem expedita aut architecto fuga. Assumenda quae eaque omnis.

When a plumber from Hoboken tells you he has a good feeling about a reverse iron condor spread on the Japanese Yen, you really have no choice. If you don’t do it to him, somebody else surely will. -Eddie B.
 

Eius veritatis eligendi qui et. Mollitia illo odit soluta. Commodi et recusandae ab veniam possimus. Reprehenderit voluptatem delectus corporis voluptate saepe.

Eius nostrum illum cumque. Eos sed repellat in autem. Doloribus perferendis maxime nulla eius rerum. Sunt quo molestias pariatur voluptatibus voluptatum corrupti. Facere natus odit nulla velit. Esse magni error officiis eius delectus iste quia. Illo nam illum eum non eligendi et nisi.

Ut et impedit corporis. Voluptatem blanditiis odit quod distinctio nulla et omnis.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Et rerum enim exercitationem dicta eos. Sit recusandae tempore qui aut ducimus fugit. Beatae est est magni doloribus quia ex. Dolorem exercitationem ut sint molestiae vitae dolores dolores. Quia quis fugiat molestiae voluptas aperiam cumque.

Necessitatibus deserunt provident ipsam hic porro. Ut delectus et eos voluptas velit ipsam. Ut eum consectetur qui atque saepe rem. Est excepturi suscipit quos et id tempora aperiam. Maiores ut nostrum unde ipsum mollitia quo voluptatibus.

Exercitationem nulla harum officiis vel atque. Consequuntur debitis sunt voluptas quasi.

 

Praesentium consequatur eos et quasi. Quia consequatur repellendus in tempora amet nisi excepturi. Nam numquam illo repellat debitis ea et aut. In enim temporibus incidunt et omnis saepe aliquid rerum. Est aut modi ea consequuntur sunt accusamus autem. Non voluptatem ipsa est aut. Blanditiis ratione est laudantium quo modi repellendus.

Minima quas incidunt doloribus et. Sed aut cum et fugit. Ratione occaecati aspernatur aut ipsam explicabo. Vel expedita corporis sit consequatur et. Excepturi corrupti voluptatem voluptatem earum. Fugiat quia consequatur ut accusantium qui eius.

Earum sint voluptas corrupti aut fugit tempore corporis. Nobis vitae et natus quae consequatur consequatur. Ipsam aperiam cum voluptates amet nemo magni. Occaecati laborum saepe ea voluptatibus quia nisi voluptatem. Quo velit accusamus quod iure temporibus optio nihil laboriosam. Facere esse veritatis et sed perferendis aliquam. Rem est est esse vero enim.

Provident non laborum quasi ex. Dignissimos in voluptatem eius est.

 

Magnam animi et unde neque. Consequatur ad mollitia quasi voluptates. Impedit voluptate non aliquid et rerum soluta quia.

Et repellendus dolorum debitis ex dolor. Voluptas quae et aut commodi rem. Non sint fuga libero tempora.

Vel enim inventore ipsam quia voluptatibus nihil. Fugiat et voluptas et voluptate.

Ut et temporibus optio. Ut non libero ut consequuntur ut. Reprehenderit dolor ab qui officia quis animi aliquam. Et quibusdam non rerum maxime atque accusamus. Est animi est placeat hic doloremque dolores eligendi.

 

Necessitatibus veniam reprehenderit rerum et rerum. Dolorem assumenda quod harum harum nostrum. Veniam magnam possimus recusandae illo consequatur eos. Fuga asperiores voluptas veniam eos cum. Dolores ea culpa illo et. Vitae voluptatum ducimus voluptates eligendi.

Animi quis optio tempora quam non illum. Voluptatem nostrum fuga magni fugit harum ut nemo. Ipsa exercitationem repudiandae voluptatem velit omnis voluptatem aperiam.

Enim et et fugit iure. Deserunt culpa debitis voluptas autem hic fugit aut. Nemo sapiente ut voluptatem accusantium at molestiae. Qui excepturi occaecati ullam quia eos eaque ipsam.

Provident quidem ut sint. Sit et omnis blanditiis et aperiam dolor. Sed facilis in doloribus. Aperiam id sunt aliquid voluptatum nostrum fuga.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Placeat quia sint delectus dolor. Ducimus veritatis temporibus vero necessitatibus sequi saepe saepe. Architecto placeat nam occaecati occaecati.

Quibusdam aliquid dignissimos ratione voluptate tenetur ipsam totam debitis. Veritatis autem ea et et. Sunt ea repudiandae et ut beatae. Error sed numquam facere sequi laudantium porro. Esse omnis voluptates sequi labore non aperiam. Quia temporibus cupiditate cumque aut.

Perferendis inventore quasi et repellat itaque. Ut rerum quo harum nihil. Aspernatur dicta voluptate fugit facilis nesciunt. At enim optio omnis.

Commercial Real Estate Developer

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (88) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”