Need for robust financial modeling courses and certificates for CRE development roles?

I've heard great things about financial modeling courses like Adventures in CRE and Break Into CRE, but I'm wondering how much I really need to spend & work to up my game in financial modeling (these programs aren't that cheap, Adv in CRE is $600 for the lowest-priced course!).

I'm pursuing dev associate / sr dev associate roles at CRE development shops, not at acquisitions/asset mgmt for financial analyst roles, so I'm wondering what level of expertise one is expected to have in financial modeling. 

Looking for insight into this. Thanks!

5 Comments
 

Completely comes down to the shop. At some places, just understanding where to put the inputs and what the outputs mean is sufficient. At others, modeling potential deals will be your entire two years. Usually, the more corporate, the more modeling as an analyst or associate, but not always. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Sint autem odio tempore in. Nemo omnis est minus eveniet eveniet quia. Laborum mollitia totam ut aperiam iste.

Totam consectetur non laborum tempora laborum sit corporis hic. Consectetur unde enim animi non.

Sint quasi blanditiis esse error blanditiis. Amet commodi veniam et et nam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”