Best Modeling Courses for Mid Career

I am looking to switch roles in the upcoming year into development (or potentially acquisitions at the right shop) from AM and was hoping for advice on how to shore up my modeling skills for interviews. I am a pretty advanced excel user and have done some modeling for UW functions but really not at the level where I feel it would impress in interviews or be able to speak to it in a polished way. Saw that a lot of others have recommended that A.CRE accelerator course which looks legit but is pricey at $1k. Hoping to get some advice on resources that others have used to make a successful pivot mid career. 

Background: I have 6 years of experience in CRE post college, Currently in a role where I handle mostly AM which has been great experience - on good team at good company (vertically integrated developer) and great learning experience. However, in late 20s now and thinking about what I want to do long term. Feeling that almost 30 existential crisis lol. I got into RE originally because I was interested in the architecture and engineering aspects of the job, and was drawn towards the concepts of building things. I actually looked at architecture school before but every architect that I talked to seemed miserable and said I should work for developer if I can, so i did. I enjoy the analytical aspect of looking at deals a lot too, so doing an acquisitions stint would be a great option too and I think I could draw on my current experience a lot as I have a very in depth understanding of how properties operate and can make good assumptions. 

Have also thought about going to grad school, but seeing as I am already in the industry and have good experience I want to try to make the pivot without taking on debt if possible. I am an EU citizen so could go for free to public universities over there, but I get the impression that those degrees don't hold a lot of weight where I work in the US. 

Anyway - if you did something similar or can recommend a good course to take on my spare time to help my case would love to hear your perspective. 

7 Comments
 

You do not need to take a course or go back to grad school. While probably not the insightful advice you’re looking for, networking will be your best bet.

Just keep in mind that the comp for acquisitions will likely not be any better than in AM. Unless you just can’t stand AM, switching to acquisitions seems a bit backwards. Staying in a lane will make you the most $ in the long-run.

As someone who went from acquisitions to asset management, I can say with certainty asset management is far more valuable (regardless of whether industry comp reflects that). Anyone can buy a building, not everyone can operate one.

 
Funniest

Saying Asset Management is more important than acquisitions is like saying a fry cook at McDonalds is more important than the CEO. "cant have mcdonalds without some1 making fries!"  says the AM associate begging for a salary increase. In the meantime, a diamond studded acquisition just secured the fund a new deal at -10% below market price. He gets a nice linkedin toot as well. "pleased to just close on this 200 unit deal.. blah blah THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS AT CBRE, INSURANCE, TITLE, AND 20 MORE LISTED VENDORS ALL HYPERLINKED".

 
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