Career Advice in CRE
I'm currently working for a commercial bank (CB) doing CRE underwriting/portfolio management in a smaller tertiary market. 

I've been looking at moving into a bigger CB in a primary market. I've got about 3 years in and also went through a formal credit training program.  I have also been thinking about getting my MBA and possibly a Masters of RE. 

My long term goal is to work for firm doing acquisitions and redevelopment (more likely MF) or development. 

If I would go and work for a larger CB and obtain my MBA, would that be an easy transition into an A&amp;D/development job? Or should I really be thinking of trying to get into somewhere now as an analyst and work my way up? Better to go full time for an MBA and then go out and look for something? 

The difficulty I have is lack of experience in the bigger markets and what employers are looking for with experience. CB is a good job but I would rather be the one putting the deal together vs just the finance piece. 

Also I struggle with leaving a job I have now and giving up those 2-3 years of working experience to go do a full time MBA (taking on the debt as well). Then also the possibly of coming out of school to a crap market and going right back into CB (workout role) because no one else is doing anything due to said market. Maybe I'm just paranoid but just trying to think through the best career choice that will help guide me to the long term goal. 

[{"id": "dfmuma5", "text": "2-3 years is nothing, long term, .\nwhich should interest you if you're into real estate. Larger markets are different  enough where I think it's important to learn ground up. If you can get your foot in the door, at a comp level that doesn't make you (much) poorer, I would strongly consider it. Again, long term, the long term ceiling is likely higher, if you're good.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]