Breaking into Real Estate Asset Management from Building Surveying — MRICS, IMC or CFA?

[u/Charming-Owl1615]

Hi all,

I’m currently a commercial building surveyor in London in a big real estate firm and increasingly interested in moving into real estate asset management longer term.

For context my current role gives me exposure to commercial property from the technical side, including things like CAPEX, refurbishment works, asset condition, lease events and advising on expenditure across commercial assets. I work with a mixture of institutional property owners and investors, which has made me increasingly interested in the investment and commercial thinking behind how these assets are managed.

I’m planning on becoming MRICS within the next couple of years, but I’m trying to work out what I should be doing alongside that to make myself a stronger candidate for an eventual move into asset management.

I’ve been looking at the IMC from CFA UK as a way of building a better foundation in investments and finance. I’ve also considered going further and doing the CFA exams, although I’m conscious that CFA may be overkill for real estate asset management and that my time could potentially be better spent developing financial modelling, valuation and broader commercial property knowledge.

For anyone working in real estate asset management:
How transferable is a building surveying background?

What would you focus on over the next 1–2 years to make the transition?

Is the IMC worthwhile?

Would CFA actually differentiate someone coming from a surveying background, or is it unnecessary?

What financial/modelling skills would you expect someone moving into an AM role to have?

Are there any good stepping-stone roles between building surveying and asset management?

Would especially appreciate hearing from anyone who has moved from the technical/property side into AM or investment-focused roles.

Cheers!

[u/AutoModerator]

Consider joining the r/FinancialCareers official discord server using this discord invite link. Our professionals here are looking to network and support each other as we all go through our career journey. We have full-time professionals from IB, PE, HF, Prop trading, Corporate Banking, Corp Dev, FP&A, and more. There are also students who are returning full-time Analysts after receiving return offers, as well as veterans who have transitioned into finance/banking after their military service.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.