Special Topics Course 11.S967

11.S967 Real Estate Investment Research, Strategy & Assessment Overview

Faculty: Chip Weintraub

Time: H4 Tuesdays 2:30-5:30 pm

Dates: 4/2/25-5/14/25

Room: 9-354

Grade: Letter Grade

Units: 6

Course Description:

Real Estate Investment Research, Strategy & Assessment is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in commercial real estate investment. No specific pre-requisite classes or prior experience are required to attend this class, but students are expected to be familiar with commercial real estate investment concepts. The class will focus on developing practical skills for a career in real estate investment, using case studies, research, and spreadsheet materials to analyze individual investment opportunities within the context of broader economic and market-level considerations. Course work will include three original content case studies and a final project, equally weighted for grading purposes.

Coursework

Students will work in groups on the case studies and final project to examine industrial, office, and multifamily assets in various U.S. markets. Research and strategy analysis will focus on local and national supply and demand drivers including population and job growth trends, land scarcity and other barriers to supply growth, and market and submarket construction and development pipelines. Special topics within each section include the overall economic and real estate-specific impacts of inflation, demographic trends, trade policy, artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous driving. The course emphasizes in-class discussion to critically analyze and refine complex investment strategies.