The National Real Estate Challenge is a case-based real estate competition hosted by The University of Texas at Austin between leading business/real estate schools around the country. The event takes place in Austin on each November on a Friday, with a kick-off dinner on Thursday, and is meant to give graduate students a taste of the challenges that face real estate professionals after graduation. The competition will be judged by esteemed real estate professionals from Goldman Sachs and other sponsoring companies.

Each school may enter only ONE team of 4 to 6 graduate students. During the week of the competition, each team receives the case by email at a set time on Tuesday morning and they have until Thursday evening to prepare a 20-minute presentation.  The competition takes place at the University of Texas at Austin and is judged by accredited real estate professionals from nationally recognized companies.  All travel and accommodation expenses are the sole responsibility of each participating team.  Challenge meals and material are complimentary.

This year’s case will be distributed by Goldman Sachs & Co.  and involves the evaluation of an investment opportunity on behalf of a global real estate opportunity fund.  The investment features development issues in addition to existing, income producing assets. Students will address issues concerning the investment process, post-investment operations, and exit strategies.

2007 Lead Sponsors:

Bank of America

Credit Suisse

GE Real Estate

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

ING Clarion

The Lionstone Group

Morgan Stanley

Trammell Crow Company

Transwestern Investment Company

Weingarten Realty Investors

2007 Supporting Sponsors:

Fidelity Investments

GE Asset Management

Grosvenor Investment Management

Hawkeye Partners

Northwestern Mutual

Personette & Associates

Principal Real Estate Investors