ULI Membership - Worth It To Break Into CRE?
Hi everyone,
I've searched around the forums and couldn't find anything close to what I'm looking for so decided to throw this out there. Do you all think it would be worth it for someone currently outside of the industry to get a ULI Membership and go to any and all events hosted just to try and get their name out and network? I know the job market is tough right now but I've practiced my RE modeling skills and have been applying to everything I can (AM, acquisitions, and development are all something I'd be interested in), just trying to figure out something else to boost my chances here. Maybe it would be better to wait for the new year to begin searching again? Thanks in advance.
Yes
Getting the ULI membership and networking will do much more for you than whatever your modeling skills are.
Okay good to know, looks like I'll be joining up then!
Yes it’s not expensive and has solid events. Plus in my market they had a young leaders group for different things (development, cap markets). I got into it after applying and we got to meet with a group of people every month and was assigned a mentor. Super beneficial.
That's awesome, I imagine to join those groups you have to be in industry though correct? I'll get signed up and go to the next event, I know it's not the best time to try to be breaking in but better late than never. Thank you for your response btw.
Honestly I think the application process is simple. Everyone in my group was employed and working in real estate in some capacity but I’m sure if you demonstrate enough interest or have some tie or connection to real estate you can get in.
I found a ton of value in ULI in my early years. Couldn't recommend it more.
I also highly recommend NAIOP if they have a chapter in your city/region. It has a bigger presence in my city and I am heavily involved in it. I had a guy join and reach out to me for a position at my firm so we are grabbing drinks soon.
Sounds like you’re on the right track to breaking in.
Delete.
I'm honestly surprised how positively everyone views ULI. In my experience ULI meetings are attended by city/county officials, people in affordable housing dev, and CRE industry support roles (like marketing, research, and DEI). No hate to people who are in these fields, but in my opinion, these are NOT the relationships that substantially drive business or career progression forward. You want to be networking with brokers, lawyers, other REPE/dev professionals, etc. Essentially the 1st degree connections for those of you working at a REPE. So with that, ULI - at least in my market - is pretty low ROI for breaking into the industry, and next to zilch for people already working on the ownership side.
Delete.
There are usually events held by brokerages or your ACRE (Associstion of Commercial Real Estate) chapter that are open to the public (but can be costly). This is where I typically go to network with industry pros. CRE market debriefs of almost any sort will usually have at least a handful of people who are really serious about CRE.
I’ve had the complete opposite experience, although, it sounds like your region may not have an under 35 program. It’s been an amazing program for me so far, and the events geared towards younger professionals have been mostly the roles you seem to be aiming to meet.
Are you going to standard ULI member meetings? It's not Young Leaders Group right? Also, what region are you in? I'm California and I'm very surprised that my region doesn't seem to have a younger CRE professional base that would network through ULI...
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