NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require the member's nar.realtor login.
For commercial market data, go to NAR’s Commercial Research Page
Succeeding as a New Commercial Broker
What Makes a Good Commercial Real Estate Broker? (NAI Glickman Kovago & Jacobs, Sep. 14, 2024)
- Being a successful commercial real estate broker requires several unique characteristics.
- The best brokers are self-motivated.
- Successful brokers work to serve their clients and the public. Brokers must be able to deal with rejection.
- All brokers must have superb communication skills.
- To grow their business, brokers must establish systems to run their businesses efficiently.
- Brokers build cohesive teams to delegate responsibilities.
CRE Veterans Offer Advice to Aspiring Brokers (Commercia Property Executive, Sep. 10, 2024)
Focus on gaining a strong foundation in finance and market analysis, as these skills are critical in commercial real estate brokerage. Additionally, immerse yourself in the market. Visit properties, talk to investment sales and finance brokers and stay informed about market trends to build your industry knowledge and credibility.
How to Become a Commercial Real Estate Agent (U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 22, 2024)
“I tell any agent they need to invest at least two years in the early part of their career to focus on training and skill development,” says Alicia Shepherd, a commercial real estate agent and trainer with Keller Williams Commercial in Santa Monica, California.
As for skills, experienced CRE agents say being self-motivated, a good problem-solver and a smart negotiator are critical to success. Honing your analytical, communication and financial abilities is key, too.
What to Know Before Becoming a Commercial Real Estate Agent (Freedom Trail Realty School, Feb. 5, 2024)
Understand Your Client's Business Goals - Every business has unique objectives and challenges. Take the time to understand not just your client's real estate needs, but also their overall business strategy.
Be a Consultant, Not Just a Salesperson - Aim to add value beyond just buying or selling property. Share your market insights, offer advice on property management, or introduce them to your network if it can help their business. Position yourself as a trusted advisor rather than just a transaction facilitator.
The Fastest Ways To Advance Your Career in Commercial Real Estate (Break Into CRE)
Talking to someone who has put in 80 hour weeks for two years at an institutional firm is significantly different than talking to someone who has put in 40 hour weeks over that same time period, and this really just comes down to a difference in time on task.
But while time on task is linear, skill progression compounds, and the person putting in long hours is also learning to do things faster, more efficiently, and more accurately every day.
How to Get Started as a Commercial Broker in 2023 (Tyler Cauble, Apr. 13, 2023)
Many commercial real estate firms offer summer internships or broker assistant positions to help new brokers get started in the industry. It goes without saying that you’ll want to have your real estate license and to be as educated as you possibly can be prior to joining the firm, so listen to those podcasts, watch those YouTube videos, and read every book on commercial real estate that you can get your hands on.
Woman-to-Woman: Broker’s Career Advice for Succeeding in a Male-Dominated Field (LoopNet, Mar. 31, 2023)
But the one thing you can’t teach someone is how to have self-confidence. What typically causes people to fail is that they don’t believe they can do something. But if you have that personality trait, to know and believe you’re capable, then when you go into a room, you know you can compete against a man that has confidence just because he’s in the right club.
How to Make a 6-Figure Income as a New CRE Broker (Capital Investors Direct, Feb. 12, 2023)
Do your research on the CRE type you want to target. What’s the existing inventory? How many of these properties trade hands every year? Knowing this information will help you determine the velocity of deals in the niche you’re interested in. Once you have the numbers, do the math to get the average sale price. Figure out how many closings you will need to hit each year in order to reach your income goal.
Commercial Real Estate: News and Trends
2025 Commercial Real Estate Outlook (Deloitte, Sep. 23, 2024)
After two consecutive years where most survey respondents expected revenue declines, 88% of global respondents now report they expect their company’s revenues to increase going forward (figure 2), a substantial shift from the 60% who expected further declines last year. Moreover, 60% of respondents expect growth to be in excess of 5% year over year. While their companies may be coming off muted baseline financial performances across the real estate industry last year, the turn in revenue sentiment could indicate that global real estate executives expect better prospects ahead.
Three Reasons We See a Potential Comeback in Commercial Real Estate (J.P. Morgan, Aug. 12, 2024)
We’re seeing fewer buyers and sellers in the market today as a result of high interest rates. The volume of CRE transactions has dropped well below pre-COVID levels. As for credit availability, lenders are shortening loan terms, raising the proportion of loans expiring in the next two years. This has led to more delinquencies, particularly in office.
So amid resilient cash flows, these other two components should improve as the Fed initiates its rate-cutting cycle in the back half of 2024.
What Lies Ahead for the Commercial Real Estate Market for the Rest of 2024? (Investopedia, Jul. 17, 2024)
Jeff Brown, founder and CEO of T2 Capital Management, a private equity real estate firm, said opportunities exist in more specific areas of the market, such as student housing communities.
According to Wells Fargo, "there are plenty of reasons for cautious optimism that a turnaround is on the horizon."
Office Absorption to Stay Negative Through 2025 (Commercial Property Executive, Jun. 10, 2024)
Four years after the global lockdown, companies are now better equipped to make long-term decisions regarding their space requirements, according to Adam Starr, vice president of leasing & senior director at PEBB Enterprises.
He told CPE these companies, now in a stronger position to plan for the future, have increasingly decided to give back large blocks of space.
“This trend of returning unused space has become common over the past 18 months,” Starr said.
Resources for Getting Started from NAR and its Institutes, Societies and Councils
NAR Commercial on X @narcommercial
1.4 million members engaged in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate
CCIM Connections
CCIM Connections reports on the latest trends, current developments, member news, and successful business strategies in the industry.
CCIM Institute
The CCIM Institute confers the CCIM designation and is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)
Commercial Investment Real Estate Magazine
Magazine from the CCIM Institute
CREATE
A quarterly publication for commercial practitioners, members of the National Association of REALTORS® and commercial real estate industry leaders.
Edge Up Commercial
Commercial Digest is now Edge Up, customized for members specializing in Commercial. To receive the newsletter, update your M1 profile to include commercial interests next to "Field of Business."
Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
The source for education, resources, information and membership for real estate management professionals
Journal of Property Management
Bi-monthly magazine from IREM with comprehensive coverage of trends and issues affecting all property types
REALTORS® Land Institute
RLI confers the ALC Designation and is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)
Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® (SIOR)
SIOR confers the SIOR Designation and is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®
SIOR Report
SIOR's quarterly magazine which addresses the concerns of industrial and office real estate practitioners
Commercial-Specific Resources from NAR and its Institutes, Societies and Councils
Commercial Real Estate
NAR has a broad array of resources to help you provide the best service to your clients, and to be the best in your field. From education to advocacy efforts, from networking to property data – NAR works to help you be more profitable, while protecting the commercial real estate industry.
Affiliate Organizations
Details on the variety of Commercial Institutes, Societies and Counsels.
Publications and Information
Make sure your M1 record is up-to-date and includes at least one commercial specialization in the “Field of Business” to ensure timely delivery of the commercial-related communications.
Research
Take advantage of the commercial-focused research found online at nar.realtor, including the Commercial Real Estate Market Insights, the Commercial Lending Survey, and more.
Commercial Resources for Associations
NAR research shows approximately thirty percent of REALTORS® will complete one or more commercial transactions each year. NAR’s Commercial staff team will help you identify services to share with your members, connect you to resources, and help you develop a plan to grow your local commercial membership.
Courses, Designations and Events
Explore the many educational opportunities available through these Institutes, Societies and Councils, all part of NAR. There is an array of classroom and online learning options for your convenience.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The ABCs of Real Estate Investing (eBook)
The Art of Commercial Real Estate Leasing (eBook)
The Broker's Practical Guide to Commercial Leasing (eBook)
Commercial Mortgages 101 (eBook)
Commercial Real Estate (eBook)
Commercial Real Estate Finance (eBook)
Commercial Real Estate Investing (eBook)
Commercial Real Estate Investing in Canada (eBook)
Commercial Real Estate Investment (eBook)
The Commercial Real Estate Revolution (eBook)
The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings (eBook)
The Due Diligence Handbook for Commercial Real Estate (eBook)
The Encyclopedia of Commercial Real Estate Advice (eBook)
A Guide for Commercial Real Estate Agents (eBook)
The How to Add Value Handbook for Commercial Real Estate (eBook)
Is Commercial Real Estate for You? (eBook)
Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals for Dummies (eBook)
Principles of Real Estate Syndication (eBook)
The Residential Agent's Handbook for Commercial Real Estate (eBook)
Secrets of a Commercial Mortgage Broker (eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
As a member benefit, the following resources and more are available for loan through the NAR Library. Items will be mailed directly to you or made available for pickup at the REALTOR® Building in Chicago.
The Commercial Real Estate Tsunami: a Survival Guide for Lenders, Owners, Buyers and Brokers (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011) HD 1394 W85
After the Fall: Opportunities and Strategies for Real Estate Investing in the Coming Decade (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009) HD 1375 B45
Commercial Real Estate Investing: a Creative Guide to Successfully Making Money (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2008) HG 4521 D34
Shift Commercial: How Top Commercial Brokers Tackle Tough Times (Austin: TX, Rellek Pub. Partners, 2011) HD1375 N78s
Success Strategies for Commercial and Multifamily Real Estate Careers (Management-Mentor, 2010) HF 5438 B74ss
The Fundamentals of Listing & Selling Commercial Real Estate (West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity Publishing.com, 2007) HF 5438 K26
Systems for Success: the Complete Guide to Selling, Leasing, Presenting, Negotiating & Serving in Commercial Real Estate (Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub, 2007) HF 5438 L66
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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