Big Four Real Estate Advisory

I have done some digging around on the site and know that there is some information regarding Big Four Real Estate Advisory, but was hoping to get some more information, and hopefully a better idea of a timeline.

Has anyone worked with these groups? If so, what work did they do for your firm?

Alternatively, has anyone hired or worked for/with someone who left one of these groups?

I have seen that past one year it the returns can be diminishing and you run the risk of being considered an appraiser and unable to get out. How true is this? Also, based on this timeline, and considering the other posts regarding recruiting timelines and how long to stay at your first job, would you recommend to start looking after 9, 12, 15 months?

I am caught between trying to get out as early as possible (what this real estate board seems to think about this job) and making sure to stay enough time to get the "stamp of approval" that I have real estate experience and that I am a competent human being (WSO community recommends staying 12+ months so that you go through at least one annual review and didn't get fired)

Are there any things I should be pursuing to supplement my experience?

Appreciate the help!

12 Comments
 

thisismywsoinbox, hey, look at the bright side, at least you didn't get a ton of monkey shit thrown at you...here is my best guess on threads that might be helpful:

  • Big4 M&A- An Explanation The corporate finance departments at Big4 essentially offer MM boutique bank advisory services. You ... Over the years I've seen several posts on people considering jobs at Big4 corporate finance ... modelling work than at a BB, but still good exposure. Big Four Transaction Services TS in particular is an ...
  • Exiting Big Four (Audit) after 5 years and entering FP&A- Ask me anything Mod Note (Andy)- as the year comes to an end we're reposting the top AMA's from 2015, ... this one was originally posted 7/19/2015. Spent the past 5 years working for a B4 firm in the Assurance ... questions. big 4 audit to Wednesday, December 30, 2015- 11:55am ...
  • Big Four Accounting To Investment Banking In discussion with an econ professor, he mentioned how working as an accountant at the big four ... you had the choice between Big Four (non-relevant experience) and a "no-name" boutique ... together pitches, that is still more relevant. No disrespect to Big Four employees meant, but hiring hoards ...
  • Big4 Auditor hoping to break into Management Consulting I've been an auditor with a Big4 firm for about a year now and have passed all four parts of ... a non-Deloitte Big4 currently-- not sure if they even hire auditors into this group Try to get a position at tier ... have options; I recently saw a Big 4 buddy hop from tax to advisory after 3 months of full-time work. ...
  • Broke in from the Big Four I joined the Big Four out of college. I wound up in the CRE valuation/advisory group. Finding ... had no focus. I figured this job could be a springboard. I knew immediately that the Big Four was the ... this time that my best friend quit. He left to do Asset Management for one of the largest real estate ...
  • AMA: From Big4 Audit-> Big4 Advisory-> MBA-> AM Portfolio Manager joined Big4 audit team in London, did CFA, then moved to advisory (TAS/Valuations/CF), also did a few ... years in a developing country with the big4 setting up a new advisory team. Then went to a top European ...
  • Goldman Sachs Realty Management vs. Big 4 Real Estate Transaction Advisory interviewing for both Goldman Sachs ' Realty Management Division and a Big 4 Real Estate Transaction ... experience with either? Any advice or experiences are appreciated. Thank you! commercial real estate ... Advisory Services team. I'm having a tough time deciding which I would go for. Anyone have any ...
  • AMA: Big Four Valuation Associate- Deciding Whether This Job Is Right For You apologies for any typos I'm not re-reading this. big four Business Modeling business valuation ... to contribute to the forum. Since I started work in a big four valuation group, I have seen many ... you work on many valuation aspects of the same deal 7. You get way more vacation at the big four than ...
  • More suggestions...

You're welcome.

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I think we may know the same people.. or may just go to show that this isn't an uncommon thing to do.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

A couple people I went to undergrad with took this route, some stayed at Big 4, but others went on to valuations at larger more RE focused shops in my market, plus GSEs so it's fairly good way to get experience I'd say, especially if it's your first job out of school.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 
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If you go the valuation/appraisal/advisory type route, I would highly recommend staying at least 3 years, even 5 before seriously trying to jump. Really, this is generally good advice, but some roles do make shifts after 1-2 years doable and worthwhile.

These fields are more cerebral/analytical, not just banging out deals which is actually pretty rote at the end of the day (why analyst in IB or IS can/do jump faster to principal side). This will take longer to get good. That said, being good at valuation and analysis is very valuable to the principal side as well as IS/capital markets brokerage. People start here and jump over often, I don't think it is that hard. But a fast move could be sub-optimal.

You could of course do this for a few years, go get grad degree and then apply in to principal side roles.

 

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