What are Some Advantages to an MBA in Real Estate?

Completing an MBA in real estate is a great way to learn more about the real estate market and how real estate can function as a type of investment. Though not all colleges offer a concentration in real estate for MBA students, many colleges now offer this program online or as an accelerated option. An accelerated program lets you earn your MBA faster and gain a better understanding of real estate. Before searching for schools that offer these MBA programs, take a look at some of the advantages of studying real estate in business school.

Professional Networking Opportunities

One of the biggest advantages to these MBA programs is that you’ll gain access to professional networking opportunities. Business schools have a large alumni network that features people working for investment firms, banks, financial institutions and real estate holding companies around the world. MBA students can meet and greet with those professionals in a relaxed setting on campus. As you chat with those former students, you can form connections that will help you find an internship in the real estate firm or even a great job after you graduate.

Practical Experience

Another reason to enroll in one of these programs is because of the practical experience you can gain. When comparing programs, look for those that offer course credit for internships. Some business schools will let you take an entire semester off from school to complete an internship for a major firm, and others will encourage you to do an internship in the summer. Internships give you the chance to develop practical skills that will make you more appealing to employers later. Depending on the program you choose, you may even have access to paid internships that give you a regular paycheck for your contributions.

Investment Strategies

The idea of real estate as an investment is an old concept, but going to business school will teach you a whole new way to look at those investments. You’ll learn how to weigh the pros and cons of each piece of property and how to make investments on the behalf of your clients. The investment strategies courses that you take look at all types of real estate, including undeveloped land in rural communities, hotels and commercial properties in urban settings and even rental homes in growing cities. The classes can also help you learn how to make investments of your own to grow your own wealth.

Earnings Potential

Getting an MBA in real estate can also increase your earnings potential. Though you probably already know that you can make more with an MBA than you could with a bachelor’s degree, you may not realize how much additional income you can make in the future. A report in Forbes found that the average salaries among MBA holders will increase by $45,000 in the coming years. Choosing a concentration in a subject like real estate can prepare you for working in financial institutions, real estate firms and even for yourself.

Earning an MBA with a concentration in real estate gives you a unique understanding of the real estate market and how those properties serve as investments. Some of the advantages of finishing an
MBA in real estate program include increasing your earnings potential and teaching you strategies for investing in real properties like commercial buildings and residential homes.

See also: Top 20 Most Innovative MBA Programs, Ranked by Acceptance Rate 2014