Real Estate Finance (Adv Cert)

The Advanced Certificate offers practical, real-world knowledge and professional skills needed to analyze markets, evaluate income-producing properties, assess financing options, calculate investment returns, and ultimately make informed real estate investment decisions. The certificate focuses on the cash flow analysis, financial modeling, valuation and debt and equity capital structuring skills required in today’s real estate investment industry.

Fordham Real Estate Institute graduate-level advanced certificates are 15-credit programs that can be taken after completing a bachelor’s, master’s, or other advanced degree. These programs are an excellent option for industry professionals who would like to develop a solid background and skills in a particular sector of the industry in a relatively short period of time. Students can pursue an advanced certificate alone or alongside a graduate degree. Students who begin in an advanced certificate program may, with approval, later be admitted to and matriculate in a full graduate degree program in the Real Estate Institute.

About the Fordham Real Estate Institute

The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) offers a Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) degree; Master of Science in Real Estate Development (MSRED);  a Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) degree; advanced certificates in real estate finance, real estate development, real estate management, and construction management; a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate (BSRE) degree; and a comprehensive array of noncredit professional certificates and programs online. The programs are offered at the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan and in Westchester County, New York. Taught and developed by leading industry practitioners, our programs provide real-world skill sets for current and up-and-coming professionals. Flexibility and convenience are program hallmarks. Classes can be taken in person and online, at various paces.


To learn more about the Advanced Certificate in Real Estate Finance, visit the PCS section of the Fordham website.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with Excel is necessary to complete the course work.

Application Submission

The application committee takes a holistic view of the candidates and will evaluate each student’s academic performance and professional expertise in deciding their eligibility for the advanced certificate programs. Successful candidates must exhibit a strong understanding of the real estate environment, and depending on the area of study, real estate finance and investment. The committee will also consider the nature and extent of previous work with preference given to those possessing extensive professional experience.

Requirements for Application:

  • Bachelor’s degree transcript from an accredited university
  • Personal statement
  • Resume

Optional additional material to submit include: M.B.A. or other graduate degree transcript; GMAT, GRE or other standardized test score; professional real estate or other industry certifications.

The GMAT/GRE is not required for advanced certificate applicants and will be waived for those who would like to matriculate into a graduate degree program and have successfully completed six credits with a minimum grade of B in each course.

Who Should Apply

Ideal candidates include:

  • Real estate attorneys, developers, brokers, and management professionals who want to further their professional skills in finance and investment.
  • Commercial real estate lenders who want to go to the next level in their career
  • Design and construction industry professionals who want to better understand the broader ownership perspective of the real estate finance and investment industry.
  • Planners and public agency personnel involved in real estate projects.
  • Current or former M.S. in Real Estate and Advanced Certificate in Real Estate Development students who wish to add a specialized designation in Real Estate Finance.

More information about PCS admissions can be found on the Fordham website.

The Advanced Certificate in Real Estate Finance is a 15-credit program consisting of four required courses for 12 credits and 3 elective credits. Courses are scheduled for evenings during the fall, spring, and summer terms. You can complete the program at the pace that suits you, whether part-time or full-time.

The courses of the Advanced Certificate in Real Estate Finance are designed to ensure that every graduate will have a grasp of the most important elements of real estate financial analysis, financial modeling, market analysis, lease analysis, real estate valuation, debt and finance, credit analysis, underwriting and real estate capital markets, while the elective credits offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in specialized topics of their choice.

Course Title Credits
REAL 5002Real Estate Finance3
REAL 5010Real Estate Structures and Capital Markets3
REAL 5012Real Estate Valuation and Investment Analysis3
REAL 5108Real Estate Credit Analysis and Underwriting3
3 credits from the list below3
Total Credits15

Most 1.5 credit classes run for 7 weeks and 3-credit classes run for 14 weeks.

Real Estate Finance Electives

Courses in this group have the REFI attribute.

Course Title Credits
REAL 6001Real Estate Financial Modeling1.5
REAL 6003Private Equity1.5
REAL 6005Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities1.5
REAL 6007Real Estate Investment Trusts1.5
REAL 6018Real Estate Technology1.5
REAL 6022Special Topics in Real Estate1.5