Is CCIM worth it?
Hey guys! 

I'm a 21-year-old Commercial Agent. I'm at a boutique commercial brokerage (just me, my broker and an office manager) so the training is basically nonexistent, just experience and getting help from my broker here and there. I'm finding myself lost and thinking of gaining more knowledge of the industry, just don't know where or how. I would love some insight and guidance on what I should be doing. 

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Thank you, guys! I appreciate it a lot.
[{"id": "f6x4euv", "text": "It definitely makes you more knowledgeable. If you have no one to train you, you should do it. Also, if commercial brokerage is your passion/goal, then you need to quit and go to a firm with a deep training program. Unless there is some type of unique advantage your current location has, the big firms with the big training produce the best agents.\n\n I personally don't care what letters someone has behind their name as long as they are bringing me a deal I will buy. But as far as listing agents I want to know they are competent. It might get your foot in the door, if a prospect knows nothing about you.  What college did you go to?", "replies": [{"id": "f6x4mw9", "text": "Thanks for your input! I have been thinking about going to Marcus &amp; Millichap for that reason. \n\nOh also, I didn\u2019t go to college.", "replies": [{"id": "f6x57g7", "text": "I'd say get the letters then. You'll be competing against people with letters behind their names from prestigious schools. Any way you can up your perceived value will be worth it.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "f6x5gs1", "text": "Also, I work out of a small commercial office, but mainly act as a principal. All of the best guys in our office are from M &amp;M. The last 3 deals I've purchased were from guys that currently work at M&amp;M or worked there. \n\n\nThey have great training and a great culture for success. I think its worth the massive share they take for any newbie. I would recommend any person your age, to go to one of the big houses like M&amp;M, CBRE, Cushman Wakefield. \n\nAfter a few years reassess.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f6xb76n", "text": "I did my bachelor's in finance and my master's in real estate, got a job right out of the gate doing investments/asset management. I didn't feel the need for a CCIM, since I learned most of it in school and its not relevant.\n\nHowever, if you're at a small brokerage shop and/or don't have a strong financial background, you NEED to do this. I'm currently partnered in a deal where I'm running the resi and my partner is running the commercial of a mixed use deal. He's a great guy, and seems to be a decent broker, but he can't underwrite to save his life. Dealing with him is exhausting, because he has no idea what he's talking about 99% of the time. He does not understand: IRR, Unlevered and Levered Return, Discount Rate, NPV, or the concept of a waterfall. He literally doesn't speak investment, despite being a broker. If I ran into him during my day job, I'd run away screaming since every number he quotes is basically made up, or at least not rooted in underwriting (bc he doesn't know how to underwrite). If you're not that guy, you'll go much farther.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f6xgwvd", "text": "It's not worth it yet.\n\nIf you're brand new, you won't have the deal volume to qualify for the certification, which is the entire point of all of this. You also need 3 years of licensure to qualify. You're talking about spending thousands (tens of thousands if you're like me and have to travel for the courses) of dollars for a certification you can't qualify for yet.\n\nCCIM is good stuff - the instructors are great and the connections you make could be invaluable. But you don't need it yet. It won't be \"brokerage 101,\" either - it's almost entirely technical knowledge that is incredibly valuable, but won't teach you how to make cold calls or how to behave during a showing.", "replies": [{"id": "f7bsraa", "text": "This is the right answer. It's going to teach more underwriting and provide networking, but it's expensive to pursue and maintain, and fair or not, people aren't going to be comfortable referring large assignments to a 21 year old broker. Once you have more experience, you can check back into it.\n\nThere are likely other organizations that will be more valuable to you at this point in your career.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f6xnoqq", "text": "Yes read books become self educated expert; network and piece together deals. Do the damn deals.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f6xqiz2", "text": "Yes. I have pursued and completed multiple real estate designations (CCIM, CPM, ULI Development, etc) and it is by far the most informative and the one I recommend to people exclusively for real estate. Especially given your current training program (non-existent).", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f6z6yiz", "text": "I don\u2019t believe CCIM is worth it just yet for you. I agree that you should work at M&amp;M or similar big firm. It\u2019s like boot camp for commercial real estate, the amount of deal flow and training they have is what you need at your current stage. \n\nThe real brokers are closing deals and putting in the work, not worried about designations or education. So if you are not interested in getting a degree in a related field (finance, real estate, accounting, marketing, etc..) then learn online! YouTube has so many videos on CRE, like grant cardones real estate Monday trainings, literally 200+ free videos on the basics of cre. I refer all my junior agents there to learn fast. Also try Adventures in CRE, they go more in depth.\n\nI do work at M&amp;M and it has provided more knowledge than any degree, training, networking, program I have completed.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f7cuede", "text": "My broker has been on me about starting CCIM classes since my internship interview. Not because of the knowledge or recognition, but for the networking. After I graduate and take a full time position, I plan on traveling to the face-to-face classes as often as I can, but I'm waiting until then because they definitely aren't cheap. \n\nTwo brokers at my firm are CCIM holders and they hold other CCIM's in very high regard.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f7p8c2c", "text": "This may be right up your alley. It\u2019s designed for agents who want to get into Commercial, but don\u2019t have access to training in the fundamentals and the finance. www.Evergreentraining.Co", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]