Archive for the ‘UST Program News’ Category

UST Team to Compete in the Gerald D. Hines / ULI Student Urban Design Competition

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

photo source: Minnesota Vikings

The 2013 Hines Competition is underway!

One hundred sixty teams from 70 universities in the United States and Canada are currently developing solutions for a site in Minneapolis’s Downtown East neighborhood, near the site of the new Minnesota Vikings stadium

The ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition, now in its 11th year, is an urban design and development challenge for graduate students. The Hines Competition challenges multidisciplinary student teams to devise a comprehensive development program for a real, large-scale site. Teams of five students representing at least three disciplines have two weeks to develop solutions that include drawings, site plans, tables, and market-feasible financial data.

The University of St Thomas team members are  Thomas McElroy, full time MBA student; Thomas Strohm, MSRE student, Michael Richardson, Master of Urban and Regional Planning  student at the University of Minnesota; Amber Hill, Master of Landscape Architecture student at the University of Minnesota; and John Briel, Master of Urban and Regional Planning  student at the University of Minnesota.

This is an ideas competition; there is no expectation that any of the submitted schemes will be applied to the site. The winning team will receive $50,000 and the finalist teams $10,000 each.

The ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition is part of the Institute’s ongoing effort to raise interest among young people in creating better communities, improving development patterns, and increasing awareness of the need for multidisciplinary solutions to development and design challenges. This competition is an ideas competition; there is no expectation that any of the submitted schemes will be applied to the site. The winning team will receive $50,000 and the finalist teams $10,000 each. Winners that will advance to the next round of the competition will be announced by the end of February.

Congratulations to Recipients of the Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate!

Monday, December 17th, 2012

The Shenehon Center for Real Estate, in conjunction with the University of St. Thomas Center for Business Excellence congratulates recipients of the Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate.  The following recipients earned the Certificate on November 28, 2012, after completing the PCCRE program:

Joanna Franco, Corporate Services Specialist – Transaction Management Team, CBRE
Sandy Spangler, Commercial Real Estate Loan Administrator, Associated Bank
Terry Stirewalt, Vice President of Business Services, Richfield/Bloomington Credit Union

The University of St. Thomas Shenehon Center for Real Estate developed the Certificate as a strategy for professionals to keep up with market changes; the program aims to strengthen the foundation of those enrolled for the betterment of their careers, and it is designed for professionals who work within the commercial real estate industry as well as for those making a transition into it.  The six programs provide a comprehensive background of best practices in commercial real estate in the areas of Valuation, Urban Land Economics and Market Analysis, Commercial Real Estate Finance, Investment and Income Analysis, Asset Management, and Legal Aspects of Real Estate and Governmental Controls.  For more information on the Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate, visit http://exed.stthomas.edu/CommercialRealEstateEducationMN.

2012 Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Friday, September 7th, 2012

halloffame

The Shenehon Center for Real Estate is pleased to announce

the 2012 Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame Inductees

David C. Bell
Robert P. Boblett Sr
Philip C. Smaby
Boyd B. Stofer

Join the Shenehon Center for Real Estate for the 2012 Real Estate Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Thursday, November 1, 2012

5:30-6:30 p.m. Reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres
6:30 – 8 p.m. Awards Ceremony featuring keynote speaker Gary Stern
University of St. Thomas
Minneapolis Campus
Cost: $50

Register for the 2012 Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Please register by October 15. (more…)

Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate

Monday, August 27th, 2012
 Program: Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate
 Offered by: Executive Education and Professional Development and Shenehon Center for Real Estate
 Dates:           Upcoming fall programs begin September 12, 2012
 Time: Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Certificate-style program broken down into six five-week programs – see below
 Location:   Terrence Murphy Hall, University of St. Thomas Minneapolis Campus 1000 LaSalle Avenue  Minneapolis

RealEstatephotoIdeal Participant:  

  • Real Estate professionals who want upgrade their skills to set them apart from other candidates and to prepare for possible promotions or a job change.
  • People who are considering commercial real estate as a career.
  • People who want to know more about investing in income producing real estate for themselves or others.
  • Individuals in fields associated with real estate, such as architecture, construction, law, and planning

Focusing on the essential concepts, principles, and tools for the analysis of commercial real estate, this certificate program will provide commercial real estate professionals with the tools they need to understand real estate investments in today’s dynamic economy. Participants in the program may sign up for one program or the entire series – whatever works best for their schedule or allows them to meet their career goals. Programs in the certificate are:

  • Valuation: September 12 – October 10classroom2
  • Urban Land Economics & Market Analysis: October 17 – November 17
  • Commercial Real Estate Finance: Spring 2013
  • Investment and Income Analysis: Spring 2013
  • Asset Management: Fall 2013 
  • Legal Aspects of Real Estate & Governmental Controls: Fall 2013

For more information or to register: Contact Executive Education and Professional Development at (651) 962-4600 or visit http://exed.stthomas.edu/CommericalRealEstateEducationMN

A Day in the Life of Ben Bastian – UST Real Estate Alumnus and Production Analyst with CBRE

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012

This post was written by Dan Jackson, a 2012 UST MBA graduate. Dan completed many of his electives in real estate including participation in the spring 2012 REAL 714 International Real Estate Development course in the Cayman Islands.

Ben Bastian, Production Analyst at CBRE

A trip up 1,000 feet in North America’s fastest elevators and 360 degree views of Lake Michigan, the Magnificent Mile, the rest of Chicagoland and Las Vegas are just a few things that Class of 2005 alumnus, Ben Bastian, states as his most memorable experience at the University of St. Thomas (UST).   He took the trip as a member of the UST Real Estate Club.  “During my undergraduate experience, collaboration between the CBRE offices in Minneapolis and UST started.  Through the Real Estate Club, we planned a trip to Chicago that focused on touring and learning more about various properties in the Chicago central business district (CBD).  We toured a couple properties; the most recognizable property was the John Hancock Tower.  What was even more amazing about this trip was that we were able to venture out onto the roof of the Hancock building to enjoy the view,” stated Bastian.  Ben adds, “Another memorable experience was a trip to Las Vegas that was partly funded by the winning proceeds from the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) University Challenge.  Similar to the Chicago trip, we were able to tour local office buildings, including the Bellagio.”

Currently, Ben is a Production Analyst with the Minneapolis Debt & Equity Finance team within the Capital Markets Group at CBRE.  He has been in his position at CBRE for seven months, and previously was an analyst in investment sales at Cushman & Wakefield.  When asked to describe his typical work day, Ben stated, “I work a lot with numbers and perform financial analysis on prospective and current deals; I use Argus for financial modeling on most properties. Other things that take place in my day include – property tours with lenders, meetings with attorneys, prospective clients and conversations with lenders to market our current assignments.”  He continues to explain, “In a typical day I am dealing with clients who may have a property under contract to purchase or they are looking to refinance a property that they own.  Our primary goal is to be able to analyze the property, which involves determining the value, figuring out what elements are driving the value and taking this information to the market after thorough research has been completed.  All of this information is presented in a financing request package to the lenders to obtain their feedback about whether or not they want to make a loan on the property.”

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Four Real Estate Professionals Complete the Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate

Friday, June 8th, 2012

PCCRE Graduation Ceremony

The Shenehon Center for Real Estate, in conjunction with the University of St. Thomas Center for Business Excellence has named 4 inaugural recipients of the Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate.  The following recipients earned the Certificate on May 16, 2012, after completing the PCCRE program:

Sherry Hottinger, Supervisor of Mortgage Loan Administration, Thrivent Financial
Larry Reger, Sales Broker, Coldwell Banker Burnet
Lisa Sigman, Senior Commercial Loan Closer, Thrivent Financial
Melanie Walsh, Residential Appraiser,  Walsh Appraisals, LLC

The University of St. Thomas Shenehon Center for Real Estate developed the Certificate as a strategy for professionals to keep up with market changes; the program aims to strengthen the foundation of those enrolled for the betterment of their careers, and it is designed for professionals who work within the commercial real estate industry as well as for those making a transition into it.  The six programs provide a comprehensive background of best practices in commercial real estate in the areas of Valuation, Urban Land Economics and Market Analysis, Commercial Real Estate Finance, Investment and Income Analysis, Asset Management, and Legal Aspects of Real Estate and Governmental Controls.  For more information on the Professional Certificate in Commercial Real Estate, visit http://exed.stthomas.edu/CommercialRealEstateEducationMN.

Looking to Brush Up Your Real Estate Skills?

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Have you been considering building your skills in the commercial real estate industry, but aren’t quite ready to make a significant time and financial commitment to a Master’s level program? The University of St. Thomas Advanced Certificate in Commercial Real Estate Finance and Investment offers programs that will help you stay current with real estate knowledge and strategies and remain competitive within the changing market. Take programs at your own pace, or enroll in all six programs in the series (for a discounted rate) and earn your Advanced Certificate from the University of St. Thomas.

The next program, Legal Aspects of Real Estate and Governmental Controls, begins on Wednesday, April 18 and runs for 5 consecutive Wednesday evenings, though May 16. Participants in this program will learn foundational principles and best practices of real property law, including the legal need-to-knows in planning, zoning, contracts, eminent domain, etc. Case studies will be incorporated into the 5-week program, many of which will be real examples from the Twin Cities metro. There is still time to register!

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UST Real Estate Class Profile: International Real Estate Development

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Interested in what the UST Real Estate program has to offer? Students (both undergraduate and graduate) interested in International Real Estate Development have the opportunity to study in Grand Cayman (while escaping January in Minnesota!) Read on to learn what graduate student, Tim Lawrence, had to say about his experience studying International RE Development in Grand Cayman.

Can you provide a little background on what the overall course goals/objectives are?

We have been studying a large planned-use development on Grand Cayman called Camana Bay.  The project is being developed by Dart Realty (Cayman) Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Dart Enterprises.  So far, only a very small portion of the planned development is completed.  Dart plans to continue development in phases over several years.

Camana Bay, photo source: Dart Realty

Can you explain what your typical work-day is like when in the Cayman Islands?

Most of our time in the Cayman Islands was spent exploring.  We were trying to gain an understanding of the Island’s unique political, business and geographic circumstances.  Specifically, we were interested in the similarities and differences between the Cayman Island and other markets (both domestic and global) and the effect this has on Real Estate and Development.  We met with representatives of both Dart and The Cayman Islands Planning Department.

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Build Something: Your Career in Real Estate

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Everything needs a foundation – even a career in Real Estate. The Master of Science Degree in Real Estate provides you with the skills and credibility you need to differentiate yourself in a competetive industry.

Take the steps to build your career in real estate:

  (more…)

UST Real Estate Class Profile: Information Technology/Geography for Business and Planning

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

In the Real Estate program at UST, students are offered an Information Technology course concentrating on geographic techniques for business and planning applications applied to real estate supply and demand, acquisition, disposition, and asset management analyses.  The course teaches students essential concepts in interpreting industry data necessary to make sound commercial real estate investment decisions.  Students gain a practical understanding of current real estate industry software applications vital to performing market analysis, financial and investment analysis, and feasibility studies.

Real estate graduate student, Sue Marshall with Marshall & Koopman Real Estate, recently completed Real 714 and noted, “What I was most impressed about the course was the introduction and application of extremely efficient and effective software tools which I could immediately apply in my daily real estate activities.  What were once time-consuming tasks, I can now complete in a fraction of the time.” (more…)