Commercial Real Estate Lending to IB?

Thoughts on making this transition? I currently underwrite debt for smaller property acquisitions - like $1-10MM. I'm in a market with some IB presence, but not a ton. I'd probably have 2 years experience when transferring. I thought I wanted to do real estate when I was in school, and I enjoyed my internships. So far though the job just hasn't been very interesting, and I'd rather work on larger deals in another field. I really like the idea of PE, especially on the strategic management side, and I understand IB is the best way to get there. Would I come in as a first year analyst, or would my non-IB experience count for something? What do you think the biggest hurdles would be in trying to make the switch? Would an MBA be necessary? I have the grades and GMAT for an M7, but I'm not sure how great my work experience looks

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Best Response

REIB might be an option at a boutique. I'd also look at other real estate jobs e.g. Developers, Acquisitions at a REIT, etc. In terms of IB just network, you are unlikely to go to a big name firm (you can pretty much count out any BB and EB outside of a RE role). Reach out to MMs and boutiques. Also can you move upmarket? Going from doing dull multi family and strip malls to underwriting downtown towers is another possibility. Are you at a big firm? Maybe if you're at a regional, super regional or JPM/Citi/Wells/BAML you can do larger deals either within commercial or corporate banking. You also could look at interesting niches maybe LIHTC?

Your work experience is out at an M7 and more in line with a top 20/30 MBA.

 

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