Finding Lesser Known/ Smaller Firms

I often read on the RE forum how there are sometimes better career growth opportunities and learning experiences at smaller real estate firms/ family offices that are not as institutionalized and have much leaner teams.

For those of you who have come across or landed roles at firms that fit said description, how did you do so? What resources did you use to source these roles?

 

When I was looking, I used Curbed to put together a long list. But I think the site shut down or is at least no longer publishing new articles.

I would google new developments, you’ll find stuff about new construction, projects under construction, and projects going through approvals and you can put together a list of companies you’d want to work for that way.

 

If you're in NYC or the tri state area, trying scrolling through YIMBY and see which names keep popping up.  Obviously a lot of heavy hitters, but you start to see trends that certain developers are very active in building lots of 20-50 unit buildings in Brooklyn.  Or TradedNY is an instagram account you can do the same for

 

A friend is now working at a boutique that does $1bn+ deals. Had a mentor who was major force at a BB and hopped to start own firm. Just happened to see on linkedin and reached out. Says base pay is slightly less than street but bonus on a good year is fire. Greatly appreciates the experience and learning curve

 

Background: Summer at a SFO based in Toronto, worked part-time throughout final school year, returned for full-time since May. A lot of the work I've been involved with have been RE related - Canadian REITs on public equity side and development/re-development on private equity side.

I came across a job posting on my school portal (UofT/Ivey/Queens).

A lot of these smaller shops have weird names with "Capital, Partners, Group..." names of that sort. All I did was scope out these companies that for the most part no one has heard of. Once you get your foot in the door, you'll greatly expand your network of institutional investors and GP's alike.

 
Most Helpful

I delivered Jimmy Johns in an urban area during lunch hours while I was job hunting for a role in development for almost 2 years. In reality, it was the easiest access to companies and decision makers that you can get since I could walk right into offices. I had a decent enough background to not get laughed at (Finance degree, experience in tangential field) and carried my resume with me in my vehicle at all times. I usually did a quick google search on the company before delivering to see if it was a CRE company. I also busted ass networking at ULI, NAIOP, YIMBY etc so that I had respected people in the field who at least knew of me and could be a good reference. I also, cold-approached/trespassed into every development shop in my market as well, but ultimately it was delivering sandwiches that got my foot in the door. 

I landed a spot leading up the new land division in new boutique brokerage shop. I'm now 2 years in, the company and people I work with are amazing, and the company has since quadrupled in size with both the entire company and my specific land team at the busiest we've ever been. Even better is I get to work on the types of high profile sexy institutional level land deals/projects/developers that I could've only dreamed about before starting this role. Its basically like living a dream considering how shitty and arduous the job search was.

Opportunity is found in the most unlikely of places.

 

Hi. I'm networking/job searching for exactly this kind of firm in the Los Angeles area. I have a giant list of LA companies I can send you if that would help. 

What I do is I google search for RE investment managers and then I do intense LinkedIn stalking. Most CRE professionals work at a handful of different firms during their time. If it isn't the big companies (CBRE, Starwood, George Smith, etc) then its always going to be a small player.

1. Go through someone's LinkedIn 

2. find a company

3. look at their team of employees

3. search their linkedins

4. repeat

Every time you find a new company, write it down in a list so that you can come back to the list to do your reach-outs. 

 

Interned at medium REPE firm - leveraged alumni from school plus talked to as many people as possible everywhere I went till I finally met a few people with good connections to help me out. Honestly gained insane experience that wouldn't have been possible at a large firm

 

Voluptas eaque itaque nemo. Deserunt possimus et ut quod corrupti. Sapiente est incidunt quia numquam cumque perspiciatis odio. Velit omnis qui exercitationem aut omnis voluptatem. Quidem eveniet numquam commodi animi.

Ducimus et assumenda neque iste illo similique. Blanditiis qui quia voluptas consequatur qui temporibus. Sint est odit numquam voluptas ullam omnis consectetur enim. Eos totam sit in dolore quibusdam sit.

Possimus est sint assumenda temporibus impedit. Fugiat odio accusamus labore suscipit rerum quaerat totam.

Veritatis nisi rerum veniam. Id molestiae quo dolorem non beatae laboriosam itaque. Molestiae delectus sint ut voluptatem et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 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

March 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

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”