Jobs in Commercial Real Estate | Investment Banker

CRE Investment Banking Careers & Career Paths

Commercial real estate investment bankers facilitate large transactions in the real estate market, including the buying, selling, and financing of commercial properties. What are some other job titles and related positions that commercial real estate investment bankers might hold?

1. CRE investment analyst
2. CRE associate
3. Senior CRE investment banker
4. Real estate finance analyst
5. CRE portfolio manager
6. Real estate acquisitions analyst
7. Debt and structured finance analyst
8. CRE asset manager
9. CEO real estate investment fund

Commercial Real Estate Investment Banking Education

1. Bachelor's degree in finance, real estate, business, or a related field
2. Master's degree (MBA or MFin) preferred
3. Certifications: CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)

Career Fields for CRE Investment Bankers

What fields do commercial real estate investment bankers work in? What types of businesses hire commercial real estate investment bankers besides investment banks? These are examples of companies that employ CRE investment bankers:

1. Commercial banks
2. Investment firms
3. Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
4. Private equity firms
5. Real estate development companies
6. CRE brokerage firms
7. Hedge funds
8. Institutional investors
9. Real estate advisory firms

Keywords That Employers Look For

Your resume and profile will stand out among applicants when you use the language that hiring firms look for in CRE investment bankers. Focus not only on hard skills, such as financial modeling and market analysis, but also soft skills such as negotiation, leadership, and strategic thinking.

Hard skills for CRE investment bankers:

1. Financial modeling: Proficiency in creating and analyzing complex financial models.
2. Market analysis: Ability to conduct thorough market research and analysis.
3. Valuation: Expertise in property valuation and appraisal techniques.
4. Deal structuring: Knowledge of structuring deals, including debt and equity financing.
5. M&A: Experience in mergers and acquisitions within the real estate sector.
6. Due diligence: Ability to perform comprehensive due diligence on potential investments.
7. Capital markets: Understanding of capital markets and investment strategies.
8. Portfolio management: Skills in managing and optimizing real estate investment portfolios.

Soft skills for CRE investment bankers:

1. Communication: Ability to effectively communicate complex financial concepts to clients and team members.
2. Negotiation: Strong negotiation skills to close deals and secure favorable terms.
3. Leadership: Capability to lead teams and projects, and make informed decisions.
4. Analytical thinking: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to evaluate investment opportunities.
5. Time management: Skills in prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and managing multiple projects.
6. Client service: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to understand and meet client needs.
7. Problem-solving: Ability to identify and resolve issues efficiently and creatively.

Software Tools and Apps that CRE Investment Bankers Use

1. Financial modeling and analysis: Microsoft Excel, Argus Enterprise, Tableau
2. Customer relationship management (CRM): Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Affinity, Pipedrive
3. Deal management and workflow: DealCloud, Intralinks, Ansarada, Midaxo
4. Data and market research: Biscred, CoStar, Real Capital Analytics, REIS, SNL Real Estate, Capital IQ, Orbis, Crunchbase, FactSet, Bloomberg Terminal
5. Presentation and visualization: Microsoft PowerPoint, ThinkCell, Tableau, Qlik
6. Document management and collaboration: Microsoft SharePoint, iDeals, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive
7. Investment management: Yardi Investment Manager, AppFolio Investment Manager, MRI Software, Intapp
8. Risk management and compliance: Intapp Conflicts, Intapp Employee Compliance, Compliance.ai, ComplySci
9. Startup and private company data: Biscred, Crunchbase, Tracxn, Preqin
10. Project management: Asana, Trello, Monday, Wrike, Zoho Projects, Teamwork, Jira, Basecamp, Clarizen

Commercial Real Estate Investment Banking: Industry Outlook

1. Median salary U.S.: Ranges between $103,522 and $127,231 per year or $50 to $61 per hour
2. Projected job growth: 7% per year through 2032
3. Employment 2022: 482,200
4. Employment projected 2032: 517,700
5. Top 5 states for CRE investment banker jobs (number of jobs, annual mean wage):
6. New York (62,110, $197,490)
7. California (56,820, $101,090)
8. Florida (43,710, $88,890)
9. Texas (41,120, $101,650)
10. Illinois (25,390, $110,750)
11. Top industries (percentage of industry employment):
12. REITs (30%-35%)
13. REOCs (20% to 25%)
14. Lodging and hospitality (15% to 20%)
15. Home builders and residential real estate, real estate development (10% to 15%)
16. Commercial real estate lending/CMBS (5% to 10%)

CRE Investment Banker Licensure, Certification, and Professional Associations

1. CFA: Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
2. CCIM: Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute
3. NAIOP: National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
4. ULI: Urban Land Institute
5. NAREIT: National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts
6. CREFC: Commercial Real Estate Finance Council

*Industry outlook is based on a variety of factors and could change any time. We pull our data from a variety of sources to give a general idea of employment and salary. It should also be noted that job titles and job descriptions vary, based on company, industry and geography, and much of our data is pulled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To understand how the BLS codifies jobs and updates its Occupational Outlook Handbook, read their FAQs.

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⁴ Raymond James, Investment Banking > Industries of Focus > Technology > Services > Application Software, accessed 2024-05-22

⁵ Captera, Commercial Real Estate Software, accessed 2024-05-22

⁶ Glassdoor, How much does a [sic] Commercial Real Estate Banking make?, accessed 2024-05-22

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⁸ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook > Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sale Agents* > projected job growth, accessed 2024-05-22

⁹ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook > Securities, Commodities and Financial Services Sale Agents* > Employment as of 2022, accessed 2024-05-22

¹⁰ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook > Employment by state, accessed 2024-05-22

¹¹ Mergers and Inquisitions, Real Estate Investment Banking: The Best Way to Make Yourself Indispensable?, accessed 2024-05-22

*The BLS doesn’t track data for “commercial real estate investment banker”. We used the broader category of securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents, which includes investment bankers.