Commercial Real Estate License

[Will Stanton]

Hi everyone, I’m interested in going to school to get my commercial real estate license. I’m interested in getting some advice on education and who to go through. Any advice is appreciated. Please and thank you!

[John Wijtenburg]

@Will Stanton

Check with your state licensing agency on the education requirements. Here is a link for Washington: https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/realestate/

As for CRE education, start with a good book. The "for Dummies" series is usually a good place to start, and they're usually available at your local library. The book will give you a sense of the terminology and basic strategy.

I was an economist at Fannie Mae before getting into commercial real estate. I thought I knew something about real estate, but it took a minute to really grasp cap rates and certain asset management concepts.

In my experience, immersion is the best way to learn. Experienced investors and brokers love talking to ambitious young real estate professionals. The key to gaining their attention is to spend some time learning and come prepared with well-thought out questions.

Specialization is critical in commercial real estate. Pick an area that you love. The big four are multifamily, office, retail, and industrial. Beyond that, you could look at specialty asset classes, like hotels, medical, senior housing, or student housing.

Good luck, and please feel free to get in touch with any specific questions!