Recipients of the REALTOR® University 2015 Master of Real Estate (MRE) were honored recently in Washington, D.C. A primary aspect of the program is that students focus on areas of study directly relevant to their business and career goals.
NAR CEO Dale Stinton delivered the commencement address, along with a message from Sharon Millett, NAR Past President and Chair of the Board of Regents, emphasizing the importance of life-long learning and the proactive pursuit of information.
The REALTOR® University Class of 2015 totaled thirteen, with five choosing to pursue the Commercial Real Estate and Investment concentration, one of the five concentrations offered. Curriculum includes course work on investment acquisition and disposition strategies consistent with proven techniques for portfolio management to provide students with overviews of fund marketing tools, techniques and institutional target markets.
The program stands out among comparable advanced real estate degrees for being practitioner oriented. Faculty are doctoral-level practitioners who bring knowledge and hard-earned experience to the classroom, which was appreciated and echoed by the cohort. As of March 2015, 25% of all students are enrolled in the Commercial concentration, from across 30 states and Canada.
We asked a few students to share their experience with the program. Here’s what they had to say:
“The master’s program has been a perfect environment to acquire a vast amount of knowledge through global collaboration in real world settings, while keeping our day professions. I have loved the program and it has taken my business to a new level.”
Micah Capener, MRE
“The program, staff and faculty helped me gain a deeper understanding of the Commercial real estate finance markets, financial analysis techniques, appraisal methods and portfolio management strategies. More importantly, I have made lifelong friends in my classmates working through our assignments, discussions, video conferences, and group projects. The practical applications of the assignments and projects required in each course have made their way into my day-to-day commercial real estate practice.”
Thomas Guirola, CCIM, MRE
“Hearing from leading commercial industry professionals on financial analysis and market trends from across the country paved the way for engaging conversations. The MRE degree has opened doors for referrals from other colleagues. I highly recommend it. The journey is worth it!”
Mike Hege*, ABR, CRS, GREEN, GRI
“The degree provides superior education for the serious minded real estate professional. It sets you apart with an elevated credential which is more recognized, understood, and appreciated by the general public and business community than other non-degree real estate designations.”
John Kent*, ABR, BPOR, SFR
*pending completion
Learn more about pursuing a Masters of Real Estate from REALTOR® University.