Best Places to Start in CRE

Seeing that there is a large thread on the worst places to start in CRE, I figured I'd open the discussion up for best places to start. Obviously this varies based on numerous factors and is in no way objective, but I'd love to get everyone's general take on this.


For me personally, I recently started as an Analyst in IS at top national brokerage (Eastdil, JLL) in a core market (LA, SF, NYC) and am receiving in-depth and structured technical training. Comp is slightly under street (at least 2017-2018 street comp) and placement into non-competing firms is encouraged and facilitated by my firm, so the pay/exits are likely among the best. Work-life balance not so much.I think for the purposes of training and deal exposure, there aren't many better places to be early in a career.


That said, I'd consider BB or Eastdil REIB to be a step above for comp and exit opps, with work-life balance more or less in line. Obviously a SW/Blackstone on the fund side or a Related/TCR on the Dev side are certainly up there as well. Curious to hear others' perspectives.

 
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Might get flack for this, but I think that a debt or capital markets job is one of the best places to start off in real estate mainly because it keeps the most doors open which is great especially if you're a fresh college grad and don't know what you want to do in real estate yet.

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