What are the best ways for a recent graduate with an Architecture degree to start a career in Real Estate Development/Investment?

There are two paths to take from your current position: The slower, less risky path: Go find a job working for a developer. They always need people who understand architecture, particularly zoning codes. If you want to go this route, choose a smaller company where you will be able to interact with the key decision-makers and ask questions. The faster, riskier path: This is what I would do. First, go get a real estate license. Then, start looking at everything that comes on the market in your preferred area. Pay particular attention to the zoning. What you will find is that there are properties that are undervalued because the brokers don't understand what you can build on them. Find one that has been on the market for a long time. Make the owner an offer with a 60 day contingency period. Build a simple financial model showing how you can buy the property, (re-)develop it, and sell the project for a profit. Take the model to some rich people you know, and see if you can get one or more of them to go into business with you. Bang - you're a developer. I don't mean to make this sound easy. But it's how I got started. And, if you work really hard and get a little lucky, you will find you're in a position to do your own deals a hell of a lot faster than you would working for someone else. You might be interested in my blog: http:http://kagansblog.com

I agree with Bruce. The best way to learn the business is to jump in and get a job as soon as possible. Don't wait for that perfect position. I've written extensively on getting started in the real estate business - http://astudentoftherealestategame.com/start-here/

Dive straight in he heart if these companies even offering to work for free for a month.I guy I employed did exactly that. Proved himself worthy and is now the top salesman in that office.Get a really slick covering letter attaching your cv. If you're not confident with the covering letter you can hire a copy writer at http://www.fiverr.comGood luck

I agree with all the answers below, however I would suggest getting your RE license and joining a commercial brokerage, this way you can interact with different investors and different property types (office, retail, multifamily). You also get to know both ends of the business and cultivate contacts.All answers here, including mine suggest a different career paths, you have to decide which one interests you the most. Good luck.

Your best case scenario would be to try and get an architectural position in an entrepreneurial development firm where a part of the learning is not only analyzing the construction project, but also underwriting the project.Having access to the entire development process and responsibility for planning what can be built, how much, and what it costs are key components used to underwrite the development and create a development proforma.

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