CRE positions that don't require you to sit and stare at a screen all day
title pretty much says it, about a year out of school as an acquisitions analyst and while I enjoy the substance of the work, I just can't sit and stare at a screen for 8-10 hours a day while working. Is there anything out there that might fit the bill here? I was thinking maybe an appraisal position of some sort where you at least get to drive out and see a property to do your work, but I'm not sure - I just can't see myself sitting at a desk and working in excel for the next few decades of my life, there's got to be a better way.
Brokerage or in-house leasing. you'll be out and about all the time.
I mean any deal position..Aquisitions, leasing etc
Development
Valuations,
You'll get paid 120k and drive around half the day with a 50-80% bonus.
Thats soooo much money!
How would someone get considered for a Valuation role? What would make a candidate competitive?
Brokerage may work for you - going to be a grind and get told no a lot but if you enjoy the chase and the challenge, you'll for sure be less bored
Development OP. I had the same exact thoughts as you.. didn’t want to be staring at a screen 50 hours a week for the next 30+ years. I got lucky with my current job but now I’m on site 1-2 days a week, touring properties every now and again with brokers, and generally directing people instead of excel work / staring at screen all day.
Obviously still lots of emailing, Zooms, etc. where I’m technically staring at a screen but it sure beat my last debt/equity job where I was in excel & PowerPoint all day. Now drafting OMs and modeling are only 5-10% of my job and I love it. Also enjoy marking up drawings, working in Bluebeam with architects/engineers, etc. Much more visually appealing in my eyes than staring at excel..
Also worth noting that as you gain seniority you’ll actually need to be dragged away from the computer screen to effectively do your job. I.e. procure business, go to meetings, tour sites, network etc. This is across the board for most legit deal team positions (development, leasing, acq, etc.)
What kind of acquisitions analyst is sitting in front of a screen all day?
What kind of acq analyst isn’t lmao. Unless you’re counting a few hours of conference calls a day and a one hour tour every couple weeks as meaningful time away from the screen.
Is there screen time? Absolutely, but the only analysts I have ever met who spend all day in front of screens and do nothing else are at sweatshops that just blast offers out that aren't even competitive.
So, I think has sorta been referenced above, but.... getting away from desk becomes mandatory/normal at ranks above analyst to be honest.... I'd guess even associates have more travel, site visit, meetings, etc. than analysts and by time you make Director/VP (or whatever title fits your type of firm), you may be at desk less than 20% (depends a lot of field tbh).
Even in appraisal or development, analysts (or equivalent junior role) still play desk jockey to the seniors as needed. Part of the joys of seniority!
So, unless you don't progress or just want to an analyst for life... you have little reason to worry about "decades of your life" being on excel, its value will fall as you get promoted and do cooler stuff. So, I'd just relax... I would NOT shift career fields for this purpose (now, if you want to do appraisal or development because you like those fields... by all means... do it!)
As Redever said, pretty much any role will get more time in the field as you move up. When I was in brokerage, the more senior people probably only spent like 10-20% of their time at their desks, and were usually out at properties/meetings and delegating desk work to the juniors from their phones. When I moved to acquisitions it was basically the same thing, the lower level analysts crank out the underwriting at their desks while the upper level people go travel to tour deals / meet with investors etc.. The good news is that the path from the junior to senior positions only takes a few years so you won't be stuck at your desk for long and will get to spend the larger chunk of your career in a non-desk role if you want.
Appraisal definitely allows more time on the road which can be a positive or negative depending on how you look at it. Driving 3 hours to a gas station in the desert is not the most glamourous but then there is also the sexy Class A assets. That said I would not recommend a career as an appraiser for other reasons. I think you have to target being a 'deal guy' for any position so you spend more time in front of clients not spreadsheets. The highest earners in this industry probably don't spend more than a few hours a day in excel, they have more important tasks.
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