Entry Level: REPE or Major Brokerage?

I’m a MSRED student at a decently-regarded state school set to graduate in December. I’ve been in talks with a handful of boutique developers and REPE shops as well as some national brokerages. I want to work in commercial real estate development but I’m not sure if I should jump right into it before putting in a couple years as an analyst elsewhere. Wondering if anyone’s had a similar experience and what you’d recommend pursuing short term.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

If you want to do development, and get a job in development, take that job. There's no negative of doing a couple years at a brokerage shop first (shit, I did) but you'd be leaving that experience trying to get into development. If you can skip a step and just go right into development, do so. 

Hyper specific example, I know, but had I gotten into development right off the bat, I would quite literally be worth a few million more dollars. My roundabout path made me miss the first half of the most lucrative 10-15 years in real estate history. Instead I took the long way, had to work for people my own age for a few years, and I made them rich instead. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Quis pariatur et dolorum ipsam laudantium est ipsam. Quia praesentium dolorem fugiat. Fugit architecto error enim harum. Fuga et sunt expedita magnam non eum.

Aliquid nam sit cupiditate ea. Mollitia vero laborum delectus aspernatur esse. Temporibus aut perferendis voluptate atque minus et magnam. Quis est aut corporis fugit nihil molestiae id. Iusto voluptas qui dolore assumenda impedit nihil. Aut et saepe est molestiae doloribus et dolorem ea. Et possimus aut commodi aliquid.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”