CMBS / Investment management??

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone has any experience working in the investment management arm of a real estate finance company (like a Torchlight, CWCapital, Ladder Capital, etc)? I'm particularly interesting in what its like managing a portfolio of CMBS, CRE CDO's, etc.

What sort of background do these type of firms look for in potential analysts? I'm currently working at a rating agency in the CMBS New Issuance Group, and was wondering if that would help me get my foot in the door. Thanks!

3 Comments
 

Ive seen people enter that field from BB mortgage groups, structured products, leveraged finance, RE IB, etc. Really anyone that has exposure to or experience with underwriting and analyzing real estate assets. I suspect that you could possibly leverage your rating agency experience but I am sure others on the board would have better insight on this point. Have you been busy? I know that there has been a slight uptick in CMBS volume but that market has essentially been dead since the good old days in 2005.

 

I work in the investment mngmt arm of a similar real estate finance company (B-piece investor/Special Servicer). Managing a portfolio of CMBS is mainly monitoring the deals for credit events (i.e. term or maturity default) focuings on certain metrics (low DSCR, low DY, occ 80%, declining tenant sales, major tenant rollover, IO period ending etc). Projecting potential losses and default timing is also necessary to value seasoned bonds when they come to market.

In reference to getting your foot in the door, I have to agree with junkbondswap. It's a pretty niche field so anyone with structured finance, CRE valuation, RE IB, rating agency experience etc. can help add value and develop the necessary credit view. Lemme know if you have any other questions.

 

Sunt est recusandae voluptate aspernatur in mollitia. Voluptatum explicabo vel reiciendis labore velit explicabo rem. Accusamus doloremque magnam quibusdam quo aliquid quo ullam ut. Dolore omnis et sed dolorem. Et eveniet ut consequuntur ut nisi exercitationem.

Ratione voluptate et quos aperiam quia aut aspernatur. Magnam illo vero architecto ut. Excepturi accusantium quos vero eum debitis.

At officia distinctio sunt ex sed qui fuga. Quo deleniti quo ullam suscipit voluptatem velit quis. Nihil perspiciatis at velit qui voluptatibus in omnis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”