Real Estate Acquisitions 101 from Udemy

How do investors and real estate private equity firms actually buy commercial properties? This course will teach you the entire process of acquiring a commercial real estate asset, including property identification, due diligence, raising capital, and closing the transaction. This course was designed to break down a commercial real estate acquisition step-by-step so you can go confidently into your next deal, or understand the acquisitions process as a whole if you're working for a real estate investment, development, or brokerage firm. This course will teach you how to:

Confidently be able to run the acquisitions process when purchasing commercial real estate properties, either on your own, with partners, or in your job at a real estate private equity, brokerage, or lending firm.
Minimize your equity investment and maximize profit potential through understanding fee and waterfall structures, and how JV equity partnership structures are commonly put together on commercial real estate transactions.
Determine if a career path in acquisitions is right for you based on what you want to get paid, how you want to get paid, and what your goals are over the long-term.

This course will cover the entire process of a commercial real estate acquisition from start to finish. You'll learn things like the key components of physical and financial due diligence, how investors go about the equity raise process, what lenders are looking for when assessing your deal, and even how you can structure your partnerships with equity investors to create a "win-win" scenario for all parties involved.

Ultimately, you'll leave this course with a strong understanding of the real estate acquisitions process for apartment buildings, retail shopping centers, office buildings, and industrial properties, whether you're looking to do deals on your own (and raise capital to do it), or you just want to get a more detailed look into what your company is doing when taking down a new acquisition.

Here's what some of our students have had to say about the class:

"Clear and to the point. Love that he does not waste time. Lays it out simply and clearly."

"A great high-level introduction to syndicating real estate deals. I work for a small commercial real estate development/management company, and I'm just beginning to put these sorts of deals together myself, so it was nice to have such a solid run through of the process. I'm working through a few other RE financial modeling courses by Justin and I'm really impressed with his knowledge, pacing of course material, and the quality of his explanations. Having an in-depth understanding of these course topics and the ability to apply what I've learned has really helped me stand out at work."

"This is an excellent overview of real estate syndication deals and the transaction elements of a typical commercial real estate acquisition. The material is presented in a logical and easy-to-follow manner from the start to finish of the acquisition deal cycle. The material in this course could serve as a comprehensive checklist for the proper execution of commercial real estate transactions. This course exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to anyone interested in understanding how real estate syndication works or learning the commercial real estate transaction process."

II hope to see you in the course.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the entire process of purchasing a commercial real estate property from start to finish
Learn the key components of physical and financial due diligence, capital raising, and closing of a commercial real estate transaction

Understand how fee and waterfall structures work in a commercial real estate transaction, and how investors and private equity firms earn "sweat equity"
Understand the acquisitions career path, including compensation structures, career progression, and long-term opportunities in this sector

Understand the entire process of purchasing a commercial real estate property from start to finish
Learn the key components of physical and financial due diligence, capital raising, and closing of a commercial real estate transaction
Understand how fee and waterfall structures work in a commercial real estate transaction, and how investors and private equity firms earn "sweat equity"
Understand the acquisitions career path, including compensation structures, career progression, and long-term opportunities in this sector

Syllabus

Students will be introduced to the commercial real estate acquisitions process in this section of the course.

Welcome!

Who This Course Is For

Disclaimer

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers the full process of real estate acquisition, from sourcing deals to post-closing activities

Provides practical guidance on raising capital and minimizing equity investment through structuring fee and waterfall structures

Taught by experienced professionals, Justin Kivel, in the commercial real estate field

Suitable for individuals seeking to pursue a career in the acquisitions sector

In-depth coverage of financial and physical due diligence, ensuring comprehensive understanding of risk assessment

Emphasizes practical application, offering insights into real-world scenarios and challenges in acquisitions

Reviews summary

Comprehensive real estate acquisitions guide

According to learners, Real Estate Acquisitions 101 offers a largely positive and comprehensive journey through the commercial real estate acquisition process. Students praise its practical, step-by-step approach, covering everything from property identification and due diligence to capital raising and deal closing. Many highlight the instructor's clear explanations and ability to demystify complex topics like fee and waterfall structures and lender requirements. While providing a strong foundation for beginners, some experienced learners noted it could benefit from more advanced financial modeling or case studies, suggesting it excels as a broad, practical overview rather than a deep dive for seasoned professionals.

Instructor's explanations are clear, making complex topics easy.

"The instructor's clear explanations made complex topics easy to grasp."

"The instructor is knowledgeable and presents complex information in an understandable way."

"The course is perfectly paced and the explanations are incredibly clear."

"The instructor presents the information logically, making it easy to follow the entire acquisition cycle."

Provides actionable insights and real-world strategies.

"The material on fee and waterfall structures was a game-changer for me."

"The emphasis on due diligence components like PCA, environmental reports, and lease audits was exactly what I needed to refine my process."

"I particularly valued the insights into structuring partnerships and the 'win-win' scenarios."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Covers the entire commercial real estate acquisition process.

"The content is incredibly detailed and practical, covering everything from initial property identification to the intricacies of closing a deal."

"Excellent course for understanding the A to Z of commercial real estate acquisitions."

"It covers the entire acquisition process in a digestible format."

"This course provides a strong framework for understanding the acquisition process."

Some learners desired more real-world examples or negotiation tactics.

"More examples or case studies could enhance the learning experience."

"While it's a great foundation, I would suggest adding more real-world case studies or negotiation tactics."

Ideal for those new to CRE acquisitions, less for advanced learners.

"Good overview, especially for beginners or those transitioning into commercial real estate."

"The course is okay, but it felt more like an introductory overview rather than '101' suggesting a deep dive."

"Good for absolute beginners, maybe not for those with some prior knowledge."

"I wished there was more advanced content or deeper dives into financial modeling aspects beyond the basics."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Real Estate Acquisitions 101 with these activities:

Review the course syllabus

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Review the course syllabus to familiarize yourself with the course content.

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Read the course syllabus

Watch a tutorial on commercial real estate due diligence

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Watch a tutorial on commercial real estate due diligence to understand the process.

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Find a tutorial on commercial real estate due diligence
Watch the tutorial

Discuss a commercial real estate case study with a peer

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Discuss a commercial real estate case study with a peer to learn from others.

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Find a commercial real estate case study
Discuss the case study with a peer

Four other activities

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Write a summary of a commercial real estate transaction

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Summarize a commercial real estate transaction to understand the process.

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Identify a commercial real estate transaction
Gather information about the transaction
Write a summary of the transaction

Practice financial analysis for commercial real estate

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Practice financial analysis for commercial real estate to understand the investment potential.

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Find a commercial property listing
Analyze the financial data for the property
Make a decision about the investment potential of the property

Practice negotiating a commercial real estate contract

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Practice negotiating a commercial real estate contract to understand the legal aspects.

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Find a commercial real estate contract template
Negotiate the terms of the contract
Sign the contract

Participate in a commercial real estate investment competition

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Participate in a commercial real estate investment competition to test your knowledge and skills.

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Find a commercial real estate investment competition
Register for the competition
Develop an investment strategy
Submit your investment proposal

Career center

Learners who complete Real Estate Acquisitions 101 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Real Estate Syndicator

Real Estate Syndicators raise capital and manage private equity real estate investments. They typically have experience in finance and/or real estate. This course will be helpful to Syndicators as it provides a deep dive into commercial real estate acquisitions and related financial concepts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Syndicator

Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Agents work with clients and customers to sell and purchase properties, as well as serve as advisors on real estate matters. This course will help a Real Estate Agent to prepare for this career by providing an understanding of commercial real estate acquisitions and the related financial underwriting process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Agent

Real Estate Private Equity Associate

Real Estate Private Equity Associates analyze and execute real estate investment opportunities. They typically have a background in finance and/or real estate. This course will help an Associate become familiar with commercial real estate acquisitions and understand the financial structures used by real estate investors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Private Equity Associate

Urban Planner

Urban Planners play a role in the planning and development of communities. They may work for government agencies, non-profits, or private companies. This course will provide an Urban Planner with an understanding of commercial real estate acquisitions and the potential impacts of real estate transactions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Investor Relations Analyst

Investor Relations Analysts are responsible for the relationships between an organization and its investors. They must have an understanding of accounting, finance, and financial analysis and modeling. Real Estate Acquisitions 101 can provide this understanding and help an analyst build a foundation for success.

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Real Estate Investment Manager

Real Estate Investment Managers oversee real estate investments. They typically have a background in finance and real estate. This course will provide the financial and real estate fundamentals needed by a Real Estate Investment Manager to be successful within the field.

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Property Manager

Property Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of real estate properties. They typically have experience in real estate and property management. This course may be helpful to Property Managers by providing an understanding of commercial real estate acquisitions and related financial concepts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Property Manager

Real Estate Developer

Real Estate Developers are responsible for the development of real estate properties. They typically have experience in real estate development and construction. This course may be helpful to Real Estate Developers by providing an understanding of commercial real estate acquisitions and related financial concepts.

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Real Estate Finance Analyst

Real Estate Finance Analysts spend their days looking at how to fund real estate investments and transactions. This course may be helpful to a future Real Estate Finance Analyst by providing a foundation in real estate finance, underwriting, and closing.

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Construction Manager

Construction Managers oversee the construction of real estate projects. They typically have experience in construction management and real estate development. This course may be helpful to Construction Managers by providing an understanding of commercial real estate acquisitions and related financial concepts.

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Real Estate Lawyer

Real Estate Lawyers represent clients in real estate transactions and provide counsel on real estate matters. This course may be helpful to those who wish to practice real estate law by providing a foundation in commercial real estate acquisitions and related financial concepts.

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Real Estate Investment Banking Analyst

Real Estate Investment Banking Analysts assist with the financing and underwriting of commercial real estate transactions, as well as provide advice on mergers and acquisitions. This course may be useful for an analyst as it provides an introduction to commercial real estate acquisitions and related financial concepts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Investment Banking Analyst

Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists invest in early-stage companies. They typically have experience in finance, technology, or business development. This course may be helpful to future Venture Capitalists who wish to invest in real estate-related startups.

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Architect

Architects design and plan the construction of buildings. They typically have a degree in architecture. This course may be helpful to Architects who plan to work on commercial real estate projects by providing an understanding of the acquisitions process.

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Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design and build infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and water systems. They typically have a degree in civil engineering. This course may be helpful to Civil Engineers who plan to work on commercial real estate projects by providing an understanding of the acquisitions process.

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