Real estate and land use economics is the nation’s largest industry, and involves a diverse mix of career opportunities.

Large segments requiring state licensure are involved in brokerage, appraisal, and property management. Careers in these areas may be regulated by both state and federal law.

Countless others are involved in some phase of the business that does not require licensure. Many career professionals work in mortgage lending, development and construction or counseling. Other highly specialized individuals work in title insurance companies or as managers of real estate portfolios for insurance companies and pension funds. Most corporations have real estate that is managed by a real property asset management specialist.

The public sector employs graduates in tax assessing, city planning, right of way acquisition, property management, finance and other areas of national, state and local governmental involvement.

The real estate field is challenging and changing. Today’s participants need a background in technical skills and a solid academic background to be competitive in the real estate business world. A variety of technical positions are being created by the expanded usage of electronic technology. Certainly the interpersonal skills of the real estate professional will continue to dominate. However, increasingly the new entrant will be more competitive and therefore, more likely to succeed if they possess the technical knowledge of the latest computer software applications and other emerging electronic technologies.

The Real Estate and Land Use Economics program within the Economics Department leading to a BSBA degree is concerned with assisting students to develop critical thinking and reasoning ability through the process of teaching applied concepts and theory to resolve real estate and real estate related business problems.