Real Estate Finance

"Real Estate Finance provides the fuel that keeps the industry running…"

The real estate finance business field is extremely diverse and complex. Employers range from pension funds, insurance companies, and private-equity firms, to commercial banks, private banks, and credit unions. Job titles range from investment banker, to mortgage bankers and brokers, and underwriters. Real estate financing is not just for home loans and home equity lines of credit. Major commercial loan business is done with refinancing old loans, new construction loans, permanent financing on leased projects, mezzanine debt, and acquisition loans. Typical job functions in the field involve consulting potential borrowers and originating loans, servicing existing loans by making sure payments are being made and taxes and insurance are paid, securitizing pools of loans to be sold in the secondary MBS and CMBS markets, and much more. Loan underwriters evaluate deals to determine loan amounts, creditworthiness of borrowers, and income potential of projects. Lenders usually specialize by product type including single family residential, multi-family, retail, office, industrial, and more. Lenders may also specialize by loan amount.

Information on this page provided courtesy of Cornell University Program in Real Estate
Information Provided by Cornell University

Real Estate Finance Professional Reading and Resources

  • "Affordable Housing Finance"
  • "Apartment Finance Today"
  • "JOURNAL OF PROPERTY INVESTMENT AND FINANCE"
  • "JOURNAL OF PROPERTY INVESTMENT AND FINANCE"by Brueggeman and Fisher
  • "JOURNAL OF REAL ESTATE FINANCE AND ECONOMICS"
  • "REAL ESTATE ECONOMICS"
  • "The Wall Street Journal"

Industry Segments

  • Bachelor�s Degree with concentration in finance, business, real estate (Minimum)
  • Masters Degree in Finance or MBA preferred
  • CCIM: Certified Commercial Investment Member
  • CLO � Certified Loan Officer designated by MBAA
  • CMCP � Certified Mortgage Compliance Professional designated by MBAA
  • CMS - Certified Mortgage Servicer designated by MBAA
  • CMT � Certified Mortgage Technologist designated by MBAA
  • CQAP � Certified Quality Assurance Professional designated by MBAA
  • CLBB � Certified Lender Business Banker designated by ABA

Looking to the Future

The future of the real estate finance industry is hard to determine. The financial crisis of late 2008 has brought new levels of scrutiny to the industry and increased the underwriting standards for most lenders. Moving forward, solid underwriting will be of top priority in that lax underwriting is seen as a cause for the high amount of loans defaulting. Several lending tools such as commercial mortgage back securities and collateralized debt obligations that were so prevalent may not find their way back into the market due to the problems involved with lenders writing bad loans, collecting fees, and moving the loans off their books by selling them into the secondary mortgage markets. Until credit comes back, and transactions start to occur once again, most of the finance industry will be in a standstill. Yet those looking to enter the industry should remain hopeful in that the real estate industry is cyclical and eventually credit will come back, deals will start to happen and lenders will once again find business.

Top Real Estate Finance Companies

  • Prudential Real Estate Investors
  • USAA Real Estate Company
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Bank of America
  • Blackstone
  • Pension Funds (CALPERS)


Job Title / Description     Hide Description Company Location Posted
Real Estate Financial Analyst - Minnetonka, MN
About Jones Lang LaSalle Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate. With 2...


Jones Lang LaSalle MN-Minnetonka 9/2/10
Administrative Staff Analyst (Non – Managerial)
City of New York/Parks & Recreation Seasonal Job Vacancy Notice Civil Service Title: Administrative Staff Analyst (Non – Managerial) Salary: $32 - $35 per hour Duration: This is a 10 month seasonal position beginning September 2010. Work Location: Arsenal North, Manhattan Number...


City of New York NY-New York 9/2/10
ASSOCIATE, CO-INVESTMENT/ACQUISITIONS
The Townsend Group is the largest institutional real estate consultant in the United States, with a client base that spans nearly a dozen countries. Last year, its clients collectively committed approximately $10 billion to private real estate funds and other similar vehicles throughout the glo...


The Townsend Group OH-Cleveland 9/2/10
Analyst
NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. Employment Opportunity Company description: NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NYSE: NRF) is an internally managed commercial real estate company that makes fixed income, structured finance and net lease investments in real estate assets. Our management t...


NorthStar Realty Finance Corp NY-New York 9/1/10
Sr Real Estate Associate
Investment banking firm headquartered in NYC is seeking an experienced senior real estate executive who has a proven track record in commercial real estate. Experience in acquisitions and equity and debt recapitalizations required.   Proficiency in Argus & Excel, st...


Confidential NY 8/31/10
Structured Finance Associate
  Structured Finance Associate   Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., is a real estate investment trust, (REIT), which was formed to invest in mortgage-related securities, real estate-related bridge and mezzanine loans, junior participating interests in first mortgages, preferred an...


Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC NY-Uniondale 8/30/10
Experienced Financial Analyst: Acquisitions - Chicago, IL
About Jones Lang LaSalle / LaSalle Investment Management Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or ...


Jones Lang LaSalle IL-Chicago 8/30/10
Associate
Allied Advisors is seeking an Associate who desires to pursue a career in real estate investment banking. Candidates should have strong quantitative and qualitative abilities and computer proficiency. Excellent writing skills and strong time management abilities. Primary responsibilities ...


Allied Advisors, LLC TX-Houston 8/28/10
Financial Analyst: Acquisitions - Chicago, IL
About Jones Lang LaSalle / LaSalle Investment Management Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or...


Jones Lang LaSalle IL-Chicago 8/27/10
Assistant Vice President
Key tasks & responsibilities:   - Assist with administration of loan portfolios - Liaise with both customers and the Bank's professional advisors - Oversee and perform certain investigating and collecting of information regarding   var...


Anglo Irish New York Corporation NY-New York 8/25/10

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