Real Estate Students Learn the Reality of Development

Student teams were paired with professionals in the real estate development industry and were tasked with developing a comprehensive real estate development plan. The professionals provided students with resources such as demographic data, maps and financial modeling tools and mentored the students through the process.

"Students worked in teams to identify a parcel of property, identify the best use and develop a plan to bring the project to fruition," said Rocchio, vice president of business development for Lyda Swinerton Builders. "Each team performed a real estate development feasibility study for the project to include a market study, an income analysis, and development of an estimate for capital costs and operating costs."

The student teams were judged by top real estate brokers, developers, contractors, architects and real estate attorneys. The winners of the inaugural competition were senior real estate finance and development majors Andrew Brucks, Matt Dunn, Laura Hodges, Kevin McCarty and David Walch.

"The real estate development competition was not only an avenue to apply all of the previous training and classwork throughout the entire program, but it was a great way for me to personally construct a development project," said Walch. "Our team enjoyed working hand in hand with Rick Stagers at Grubb and Ellis and with other professionals in the community."

Their project was the development of a mixed-use venture at the Legacy. The team received a $3,000 cash prize and will present their project at the annual CCIM Symposium.

"I was impressed by the students' creative thinking and their analysis of the current marketplace," said Laurie Griffith, competition judge and executive vice president at Texas Capital Bank. "It is invaluable for students to see all the moving parts that go into a project. The caliber of work from each of the teams was beyond my expectations for college students and particularly undergraduate students. It is crucial for students to learn the realities of this industry."

Real Estate Industry Expo
The UTSA College of Business hosted its third annual Real Estate Expo in March. More than 200 students and representatives from 14 companies and organizations were on hand to discuss career and internship opportunities in their respective fields.

"The expo allowed students to interact with real estate industry representatives and receive feedback on the serious conditions we are all experiencing right now," said Sharon Straus, director of business development at Koontz McCombs. "The students asked intelligent questions and took time to listen to the advice of industry participants."

The expo is sponsored by the UTSA College of Business Center for Student Professional Development, the Real Estate Finance and Development Program and the UTSA Career Center.

Participating Organizations in 2009 Included (Click to view Organization's Website):

Embrey Partners

Metropolitan Contracting Company

Presidio Title

Lyda Swinerton Builders

Joeris General Contractors, Ltd

Koontz McCombs

Galaxy Builders, LTD

First American Commercial Property Group

Yantis Company

Commercial Real Estate Women, CREW

Certified Commercial Investment Member, CCIM

Associated Builders and Contractors, ABC

Institute for Real Estate Management, IREM

International Facility Management Association, IFMA