A CPA looking to break into RE investment & development

I am new to this forum so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

I am a licensed CPA here in LA who has worked in public accounting (National CPA firm, not the Big 4) for 2 years now. First year in audit and second year in tax. I have always been interested in real estate and have decided to pursue my passion after 2 years in accounting. I am currently taking the real estate financial modeling course online from getrefm and am wondering if there is anything else I can study during my spare time to break into the profession. aside from networking with people in the profession of course

In addition, what's a typical career path in RE investment and development look like? Is there other options out there that I should consider such as REITs?

Again, any advice will be greatly appreciated!

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Hi Jason, welcome to WSO. There was a similar topic about this that I commented on a while back:

https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/looking-for-career-advice-3-year…

Happy to answer any specific questions.

I think accounting is a great background for commercial real estate. My advice is to just get out there and look for deals. Underwrite them. When you see a lot of deals, you’ll develop a sense of what seems to be better on a risk adjusted return basis. Go pull a listing for a local apartment building or shopping center for sale.

I understand you may want to work for an employer, but this is what you can do right now and gain experience. The longer you do this, the further accounting is from your identity.

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

I’ve commented about career paths as well. Look at my profile. Happy to discuss here as well.

Have compassion as well as ambition and you’ll go far in life. I am interested in digital immortality. Check out my blog at digitalimmortality.com
 

Maiores atque vel libero libero. Cupiditate omnis quidem sunt odit maiores explicabo. Ex voluptatem nobis autem asperiores nostrum dignissimos at. Ab et nobis id ut corrupti et harum. Consequatur fuga assumenda possimus explicabo sint.

Architecto facere officiis esse eos aspernatur dicta quia sunt. Eligendi rerum ut ipsam sed eos. Sit ducimus non vero in.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”