Module 1 – Real Estate 101 - Dirt, Deals & Dollar Signs

This foundational module introduces students to the diverse world of real estate sectors, including residential, commercial, office, healthcare, hospitality, storage, farmland, timberland, and vacant land.

Learners will explore how each sector generates and sustains value, the key drivers that influence real estate pricing, and the methods used to assess and compare properties. The module concludes with an honest discussion on the benefits, risks, and investor suitability of real estate as an asset class.

• Section A – Bricks, Bucks & Billionaires
• Section B – The Real Estate Engine Room
• Section C – The Property Jungle
• Section D – Valuation Nation
• Section E – Should You Even Be Doing This?

What will students learn?

• Understand how and where value is derived from different real estate assets.
• Identify key trends and forces driving property markets.
• Explain how real estate differs from other asset classes in terms of liquidity, volatility, and management.
• Describe characteristics and investor considerations across all major sectors.
• Apply valuation principles to assess property opportunities.
• Evaluate whether real estate suits different investor profiles.

What topics are covered?

• Real estate as a distinct and strategic asset class.
• The roles of land and dwellings in value creation.
• Investment traits of sectors such as residential, retail, commercial, office, healthcare, industrial, hospitality, farmland, timberland, and vacant land.
• Valuation methods and how they inform buying or selling decisions
• Risk, liquidity, and return profiles across real estate types
• Management demands and operational intensity
• Pros and cons of real estate investing in today's market