Real Estate Research to REPE/Acquisitions

How easy/difficult is it to go from real estate research at a brokerage firm to joining a REPE firm or join the acquisitions side of RE at a brokerage firm or be an acquisitions analyst at a smaller real estate investment firm? How would you go about breaking into this side of real estate? Thanks.

14 Comments
 

When you say "real estate research at a brokerage firm", do you mean you work in an actual research department (like headed by a director of research/chief economist type person) or do you mean a research person working for a broker/producer/team?

Depending on which, you would have different potential tracks. In general, your experience should translate, at least at the junior level. The easiest track would be to join the research team at a REPE/institutional investor track if you have the skills they want.

 

I would transition internally to Debt/Equity/IS before considering the principal side. I think the general skills in REPE are rather straight forward and you'd be fine without the debt/equity/IS experience, but transaction experience is so important, and the pure volume and diversity of deals you will see in that type of brokerage environment isn't something you'll find on the principal side.

edit: It will likely be easier to interview/get your foot in the door coming from a team that is well known in the market. Research doesn't have the same exposure to clients inherently.

 
Most Helpful

Agree with above posters about getting deal experience first. Any higher-tier role that involves transactions (re: acquisitions or asset management) will most likely require you to have prior deal experience - not saying you can't break in from research by networking hard and practicing your technicals, I just haven't seen it.

One of my mentors always clamored "eat deals while you're young" and I think that applies. You should look for any deal-related roles such as IS, d&e, or lending to get your reps up, develop more contacts just by nature of your work, and then after 2 or so years, you should be ready for acquisitions.

 

At architecto consequuntur qui. Veniam neque voluptatem corrupti cumque saepe.

Aspernatur reprehenderit voluptatibus praesentium. Et cumque sapiente quo blanditiis ut. Aperiam quia veniam natus veniam vero qui culpa. Numquam incidunt totam doloremque officiis et eius dolorem. Iure quod non ducimus veritatis neque. Provident et maxime ut et. Quaerat et dicta velit vel doloremque doloremque aut repellat.

Sint ut ut dolorem voluptate fuga. Optio architecto maiores consequatur beatae totam totam.

Officiis mollitia magnam aut sunt quis ut. Voluptate voluptas placeat quidem. Eius error in velit non aut.

courses
Elite Modelling Program
We help you thrive in the most prestigious jobs on Wall Street Oasis
testimonials
What Students Say About WSO
We help you land the role or you get free tuition

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”