The BEST [and Worst] Work-Life Balance Jobs in Commercial Real Estate

The BEST [and Worst] Work-Life Balance Jobs in Commercial Real Estate // Investment banking roles tend to get a bad rap for 80 hour workweeks and overly demanding bosses, and as real estate has become more institutionalized over time, the hours that analysts are putting in at real estate private equity and brokerage firms can sometimes be just as tough.
But having worked at 6 different commercial real estate firms myself (throughout very different parts of the industry), I can tell you that not all companies are created equal on the work/life balance front, and where you work can have a huge impact on how much you work.
In this video, let’s walk through the roles that I’ve seen with the best and worst work/life balance in the commercial real estate industry, and which types of positions to avoid or move towards, depending on what you’re looking for.
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🕒 Timestamps 🕒
0:00 Introduction
1:01 The Average Commercial Real Estate Workweek
1:20 Analytics and Processing Roles
3:33 Operations and Management Roles
5:41 Transaction and Sales Roles
7:26 Other Factors (Focus and Age)
8:40 How To Land a Job in CRE
#worklifebalance #realestatecareers
*Nothing in this video should be construed as tax, legal, accounting, valuation, or financial advice or recommendation. All information in this video is intended solely for educational purposes, and you are advised to consult with your own personal professional advisors regarding your personal investment decisions.
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[@BreakIntoCRE]

If you're working in real estate right now, how many hours per week do you work?

[@charlesosugo4764]

I work around 50 hours and you're right about the after hours portion of brokerage, I didn't add that to my "hours" because it's predominantly recreational. I work under KW Commercial and I've noticed a difference between Commercial only agent brokerages and resimercial (residential and commercial)brokerages because I handle smaller deals I don't experience some aspects you've described and that may also be influenced with being in Minnesota, my big cities aren't too big in the scope of America

[@JMateoLucas]

I do about 60 hours a week

[@BreakIntoCRE]

@@charlesosugo4764 great insight - thanks, Charles!

[@BreakIntoCRE]

@@JMateoLucas thanks for the feedback, Jose!

[@matthewcandler4179]

40-50 Just depending on whats happening during the week.

[@lowwprofile]

Thank you for making these videos!

[@clay7404]

Thanks for the vid. One not covered directly is working as an analyst or portfolio manager on the Real Estate investment team of a pension / sovereign wealth fund / endowment / etc. I purposely went this route as opposed to working for a private market firm / PE that would pay more because of work life balance. Although you can sometimes be "one step further removed" from the physical real estate (not sourcing the deals yourself, but often being in the LP position) , you get a great bird's eye view of the market, focus on Real Estate every day, still travel (10-12 wks a yr) and have great access to many of the best investors out there.

[@coleyboy1921]

I’ve been thinking about where I want to be long term in CRE and that’s exactly the same thought I had. I’d love the chance to ask you some questions if you’re ok with it?

[@zwms8469]

Great video, I’m glad I watched it, the video was truly insightful, thank you for the upload! So a private equity analyst would work how long? My work within this field as an intern was about 9-11 hours a day. What am I to expect in this now that I’ve graduated and looking to have a decent work life balance?

[@b5thomas7]

I'm in development. Workload is often chaotic and unpredictable, with some weekend work and very late nights occasionally. Typical week is 50-60 hours. Lots of after-hour events as well. It's a cool job, but it can be a grind.

[@averyrustad7605]

Landed an Investment Analyst Internship today primarily because of your courses. Thanks for everything you do! - Tibe on Udemy

[@BreakIntoCRE]

Congrats, Avery!

[@bw8240]

hey Justin, while the difference between property management and asset management is easy to understand, just wondering the biggest difference between asset management and portfolio management instead (given that they both have multiple properties to manager under their own portfolio)?

[@ethanharris1391]

Could you perhaps make a video covering valuation advisory?

[@michaelsteliotes558]

I’m starting a job as an analyst with Cushman on the institutional multifamily team. Huge thanks to you for the videos and courses online. Definitely a help!

[@cartermarteeny6711]

Investment sales broker in a smaller/mid tier market (St. Louis). Primarily working on multifamily, self-storage, multi-tenant retail. I have carved out a pretty good niche at the sub institutional level. Definitely work a ton but it rarely feels overburdened. Making your own schedule and working at your own pace is amazing. Certainly on the phone a lot, but a ton of time is spent networking, showing face at local groups (Chamber of commerce, rotary, etc.). Fortunately this is the kind of stuff I enjoy. I'd encourage any young person showing interest in CRE to entertain brokerage if they can stomach a year or two with little to no pay as they getting started. Must be optimistic and extroverted.

[@BreakIntoCRE]

I love this - great insight and it's great for people to hear this from someone who has been successful in this path. Thanks for posting this and congrats on the career you've built!

[@stephenbigfaxxx7490]

Landed a Valuation and Advisory job with CushWake bc of your videos, Thank you!

[@BreakIntoCRE]

Way to be, Stephen! Congrats!

[@TK-ne2yo]

I work as an analyst but also sales. Typically 50-60 hour weeks depending. Usually some work on the weekends. In this business its hard to ''turn it off''.

[@BreakIntoCRE]

Agreed - thanks for the feedback, T K!

[@Herberberber]

Life Co's have the best work life balance

[@BreakIntoCRE]

Very wise words - that has also been my experience. Thanks for posting!

[@phil6298]

@@BreakIntoCRE interview with PGIM Monday, do u have any insight or videos about lending roles or more specifically agency lending at lifecos?

[@tonykaider51]

for the ones that have less work life balance, do they tend to make more in salary?

[@JMateoLucas]

Yes! I can say this in my own experience

[@Woodshadow]

Yes. Transactional roles definitely pay more and have more hours. If you love your job then it doesn't feel the same as work. I work 9-5 in asset management. My properties are all hyper local 36 properties all with in 20 minutes of each other. After work I spend probably an hour or two every day working on networking and trying to build my own personal real estate portfolio

[@BreakIntoCRE]

Yes - typically all-in compensation is significantly higher in the transaction and sales focused roles I mentioned in this video. The two comments from Jose and Woodshadow are spot on.

[@emersonmilner4422]

I work as a Commercial sales broker at a large brokerage. We work all day everyday. Just the nature of this specific role.

[@BreakIntoCRE]

Great feedback - thanks, Emerson!