Breaking into the CRE industry.
I am wondering if anyone has helpful tips or advice for breaking into the CRE development industry. A bit about myself, I’m 26 years old and have a degree in Architectural Engineering from a large state university. I spent the past 4 years out of college in the construction industry. I worked for a major EPC company as a cost analyst for 3 years. I now work for a prominent local General Contractor in Washington, D.C as an Assistant PM, hopeful to move to PM within 2 years. I’m contemplating going back to school for an MBA, or MS in Real Estate. The DC area has a couple notable programs (G’town, Johns Hopkins, UMD) that I think could be very beneficial to getting in the CRE industry. Does anyone have any advice regarding higher education? (part-time vs. full time, recommended programs or degrees). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 
[{"id": "ctpzixc", "text": "Commercial deals can take many months/1yr.+ to come through so money wise you should have saved enough to cover all expenses for a long while.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ctqatqs", "text": "Guy named Scott Frankel in the CBRE DC office started out as an engineer and has done phenomenally well - look up his bio, maybe give him a buzz, who knows. \n\nPersonally on the brokerage side, I don't think advanced degrees do much good - of course if you're into development or acquisitions is a whole different ball park. ", "replies": [{"id": "ctqldm2", "text": "Do you work at CBRE?\n", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ctr9r05", "text": "The other guys are talking brokerage/leasing side it seems, but as someone who works on the developer side, the advanced degrees do help-especially if you have minimal background in finance. I am 29, went to school for architecture, and have been working on the developer side since I was 23. I am finishing up my MBA with a real estate concentration this year, and found the real estate classes extremely helpful. I primarily deal with housing and small urban commercial, so it was nice to be exposed to anchored/shadow-anchored shopping centers, industrial, and office  development, plus get some better insight on valuation and asset management.\n\nIf I were you, I would go MSRE if you are sure you want to do real estate, that way you avoid the manufacturing and corporate management classes that a big in a lot of MBA programs. I preferred part time because I make a good salary now, and would rather bust my ass for 3 years working and going to night classes rather that forgo significant income while having to pay out graduate school tuition and living expenses.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]