ARGUS questions

Hi guys,

I know that this is a topic that has been discussed frequently; however, I feel that my question is slightly different. I work for a mortgage banking (debt brokerage) firm that utilizes only excel for our underwriting. We essentially have a template for each asset type and we simply just plug and chug through these.

I plan on looking for a new opportunity whether it be at another (larger) brokerage, CMBS origination, large BS lender within the next year. My excel skills are quite good, but many firms are looking for candidates with ARGUS experience.

My questions are as follows:

1.) should I obtain an ARGUS certification (via e-learning) prior to applying for future positions? I have friends who have gotten new jobs within the CRE industry and had ARGUS training provides for them. Personally, I think I should get the certification ASAP.

2.) should I go for the AE or DCF certification? I have seen this question asked on other threads, but never saw what I thought was a concrete argument for either one.

Any help is sincerely appreciated guys.

4 Comments
 

Interested in this as well.

Just started as analyst in Corporate RE. We don't use Argus. I think we use Yardi though but not sure the use in that.

I plan to try landing a more investment role in future so would want to get certified.

 
Best Response

Argus stopped selling new subscriptions to DCF on Dec 31, 2015 and will stop supporting the product as of June 30, 2017 (they are forcing everyone over to AE). They also stopped all public training on DCF (only available through private sessions).

However, you are looking for a job at a firm that is focused on larger deals. Most, if not all of those firms have used DCF for the better part of 2 decades and have yet to switch to AE (DCF 15 was released in 2011. DCF 16 was released as part of AE 9.5 in 2013. ARGUS is now up to AE 11.0, so two major releases plus a bunch of interim releases to fix bugs). Additionally, several of those large institutions are going to own perpetual licenses and have customized/integrated DCF into other software suites so changing from DCF to AE isn't as simple as just replacing one software with another - It takes time, costs money and is a huge IT project they don't want to do.

All this is to say that I would still do DCF if you can find a class. DCF is the Windows XP of the CRE world. It is ubiquitous, stable and it isn't going anywhere for a while.

 

Qui explicabo sed facilis voluptas dolorum ab vitae. Illo quia labore enim repudiandae saepe. Ut quo quam laborum in ipsa.

Consequatur qui facere sunt omnis ratione minus iure. Ipsum voluptates dolores qui rerum. Occaecati labore aliquid ullam quo voluptates. Earum commodi quos ab vel et asperiores. Consectetur et sint alias incidunt dignissimos eaque. Ipsam sit eum tenetur occaecati impedit aliquid recusandae fugit. Qui recusandae inventore cumque quisquam saepe dolorum officiis.

Deleniti amet laborum quia facere. Recusandae distinctio quaerat quis non voluptatem. Vel dignissimos vero recusandae sapiente vero. Sunt et consequuntur quia et nam ut. Quia blanditiis et atque maxime nobis sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”