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real estate financial modeling courses

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Real Estate Financial Modeling Accelerator (Updated May 2026)

Before launching the Accelerator program, Michael and I received countless emails requesting a more structured, step-by-step real estate financial modeling training program. Over the years, we've covered hundreds of real estate modeling…
Dallas Case Study real estate market trend analysis
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From Data to Decisions: Analyzing Real Estate Trends to Forecast Market Growth

Real estate market trend analysis is crucial for experienced professionals to identify up-and-coming neighborhoods. On a gut level, driving the streets of a community and engaging with residents, even for just an hour or two, can provide a clear…
IRR and XIRR are different
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Why Your IRR and XIRR are Different (Updated June 2024)

This post was inspired by a question on our real estate financial modeling Accelerator forum. Additionally, Spencer and I frequently get emails asking about this very issue, which is 'why the IRR (internal rate of return) and XIRR (extended…
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A.CRE 101: How to Use the Income Capitalization Approach to Value Income-Producing Property (Updated May 2024)

In commercial real estate, there are a few generally accepted methods for appraising (or valuing) real property. The three most common are the Cost Approach, the Sales Comparison Method, and the Income Approach. The Income Approach includes…
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Quick Thoughts on Evaluating Real Estate Investments Without Opening Excel

In our industry (commercial real estate), the ability to quickly evaluate investment opportunities is crucial for staying competitive. I know I've found in my professional career, that having a clear framework for evaluating - and then either…
after-tax cash flow analysis
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Forecasting After-Tax Cash Flow in Real Estate Analysis (Updated May 2024)

When modeling real estate investments, industry practice is generally to stop at before-tax cash flow, rather than after-tax cash flow. And this makes sense in most instances. No two owners of real estate have the exact same tax situation and…
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How to Hire Your Next Commercial Real Estate Attorney

Choosing the right commercial real estate attorney is crucial for the success of any real estate transaction. The right attorney can help you navigate the complexities of real estate law, ensure compliance, and protect your interests. Attorneys…
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Using Geometric Mean (or CAGR) as an Alternative to IRR (Updated May 2024)

The internal rate of return (IRR) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) are both metrics used to analyze investment returns. They're both commonly used in commercial real estate financial modeling, but what's the difference? When should you…
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Entry-Level Position in Real Estate: Breaking Through the No Experience Barrier

Recruiting for an entry-level position in real estate can be daunting, particularly for those entering this highly competitive field where experience is often prized above all. How does one 'break through' when traditional pathways seem blocked…
iming of Preferred Return vs Return of Capital
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Timing of Preferred Return vs Return of Capital in an Equity Waterfall with IRR Hurdles (Updated May 2024)

Recently, we had an A.CRE reader ask us about the mechanics of Preferred Return distributions in our equity waterfall models with IRR hurdles. Specifically, he questioned the timing of when and how Preferred Return vs Return of Capital were…
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Watch Me Build – Modeling a Rent Schedule in Both Excel and Using AI (Updated May 2024)

In this Watch Me Build video I show you how to build a custom rent schedule module for long-term leases. The foundation of the module is a simple INDEX/MATCH combination that takes a rent schedule and models the rent cash flows across the entire…
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Watch Me Build – American-Style Real Estate Equity Waterfall (Updated Apr 2024)

A few years ago, I recorded my screen as I built a 3-tier real estate equity waterfall model. What I didn't mention in that Watch Me Build video, is that the kind of waterfall I built is colloquially called a European-style equity waterfall.…
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Insights from Spencer’s Cornell Real Estate Distinguished Speaker Series Interview

Recently, our own Spencer Burton was invited to participate in the Cornell Real Estate Distinguished Speaker Series, a platform renowned for hosting leading voices in the real estate industry. During this prestigious event, Spencer had the opportunity…
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Terminology Guide for Build-to-Rent Investment

We recently released a Build-to-Rent (BTR) Development model to help students and developers better analyze this emerging investment type in commercial real estate. As we explored this type of analysis, it became clear that terminology is often…
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Glossary of Commercial Real Estate Terms (Updated Apr 2024)

Glossary of Commercial Real Estate Terms Welcome to the A.CRE Glossary of Commercial Real Estate Terms, a practitioner's guide to the most common terms in CRE. This is an ever-growing list of commercial real estate terms and definitions that…
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Watch Me Build – Industrial Offering Memorandum Analyzer Custom GPT

In this Watch Me Build session, I'll walk you through constructing a custom GPT that near-instantly sifts through Industrial Offering Memorandums to pinpoint whether an investment aligns with your criteria. At the heart of this build is a tailored…