CRE Stepping Stones

Looking to get some insight into a potential strategies for a career path in CRE.

I'll start with the end goal first: Start my own shop and own/acquire a portfolio of CRE across asset classes. Nothing more specific at this point but bottom line is I eventually want to run my own show.

I'm currently working as a first-year analyst in investment sales at a top shop. I'm thinking about transferring internally to their debt & structured finance side and then potentially moving into their IB side so I can work on the raising capital portion. Afterwards I would leave for a smaller REPE and work acquisitions for a few years before trying my hand at things on my own.

Looking for some advice as to transferring around and what departments/divisions would be most beneficial for eventually working on my own.

18 Comments
 

Second to this, no need to bounce around in different roles at the brokerage. 1-5 years as an IS Analyst at a top firm is all you need to get into REPE.

That being said, if your goal is to buy your own deals, working at a top firm is a great place to do that. There are tons of people I know that work at large brokerages that syndicate/ open funds/ reits on the side. Working in IS sales, you've already got access to buyers and sellers (capital and properties).

 

I’m currently working as a CRE lawyer in Big Law and thinking about trying to lateral to the finance side of CRE soon, with an end goal of running my own shop eventually. Similar boat to OP, so these answers are super helpful.

 

Any suggestions for reputable owner/operator or capital allocator/LP shops to start off with, or does it vary from market-to-market?

 

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