Real Estate Careers

How Will Sustainability Help with Careers in This Major?

As the world looks to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also providing safe, affordable spaces for work and play, real estate professionals will increasingly play a critical role in bringing about a sustainable future.

We will surely continue to see a rise in sustainability/ESG-focused real estate roles, but we'll also continue to see sustainability as a preferred skillset and mindset for any real estate role whether in corporate real estate, commercial real estate brokerage, appraisal, mortgage lending and banking, or real estate investment.

Sustainability-Focused Career Pathways

The need for individuals with expertise in real estate who are well-versed with sustainability is growing. Below are some examples of different sustainable real estate career pathways.

Mortgage Credit Analyst

Mortgage credit analysts work to evaluate the risk and value of potential real estate investments. They conduct research, perform analyses, and present their findings and recommendations to cross-functional teams. Companies can offer positions that focus on integrating sustainability/ESG into the valuations.

Real Estate Portfolio Management

A portfolio manager is in charge of overseeing a group of properties. They are responsible for making strategic decisions to buy, sell, and improve upon properties and understanding the risk factor of each. A sustainability-focused role develops and manages properties with positive social and environmental impact in mind specifically energy conservation and efficiency, reducing waste, and conserving water resources.

Investment Analyst

Real estate investment firms of all types from private equity to REITs often have dedicated sustainability/ESG teams, practices or departments. Increasingly, sustainability considerations are part of the capital raising, developing, operating, and selling functions within these firms in order to generate a return for investors who are increasingly concerned about ESG factors.

Learn More About Building a Sustainability Career

Check out our on how to talk about sustainability with recruiters, as well as career fair tips and sustainability career searches.