The John C. Goff Real Estate Investment Fund

The John C. Goff Real Estate Investment Fund enables MBA and undergraduate students to gain real-world experience in real estate investing. This multi-million dollar public-private real estate investment fund affords McCombs the distinction of being the only business school in the country where students have the opportunity to manage a fund with both public and private real estate investments.

With Gratitude to John C. Goff and Our Supporters

The Real Estate Investment Fund at McCombs would not be possible without the generosity and vision of John C. Goff and the many industry leaders who support our mission. A private investor based in Fort Worth, John founded Goff Capital in 2009 and co-founded Crescent Real Estate in the early 1990s, playing a transformative role in both the investment world and in shaping real estate education at UT Austin.

Thanks to John’s leadership and the ongoing support of our Advisory Council and donors, the Texas Real Estate Center continues to provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences that set them apart in the job market and help position McCombs among the top real estate programs in the country.

See how McCombs celebrated John C. Goff

About the John C. Goff Real Estate Investment Fund

The only program in the nation where undergraduate analysts and MBA associates manage both public and private real estate investments in a combined fund for academic credit
Open to select undergraduate and MBA students through a competitive application process
Interested students apply in the fall of their junior year (undergraduates) or the fall of their first year (MBAs)
Students invest real capital into publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in the spring semester
In the fall, students shift focus to underwriting and managing private equity real estate investments
Provides real-world training in investment strategy, financial modeling, and portfolio management
Builds direct connections to industry professionals and prepares students for careers in real estate investment, development, and capital markets

About John C. Goff

John C. Goff is a highly successful private investor based in Fort Worth, Texas, with a diverse portfolio spanning public and private industries. He founded Goff Capital, his family office, in 2009, and has since made a name for himself as a savvy investor with a keen eye for identifying and capitalizing on lucrative opportunities.

In the early 1990s, John co-founded Crescent Real Estate with Richard Rainwater, playing a pivotal role in designing the company’s strategy and orchestrating its acquisitions leading to its initial public offering (NYSE) in May 1994. As Vice Chairman and CEO, he led Crescent through a period of explosive growth, with the company’s valuation soaring from $500 million at its IPO to $6.5 billion upon its sale to Morgan Stanley in August 2007. Under his leadership, Crescent provided its shareholders with a 15.4 percent compounded annual return and paid out more than $2.5 billion in cash dividends during its 13 years as a public company.

After reacquiring Crescent in partnership with Barclays Capital in November 2009, John purchased Barclays’ interest in December 2017 to become the principal owner of Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, and Canyon Ranch, the world’s leading health and wellness brand. With a remarkable track record of success and a reputation for astute investing, John C. Goff continues to be a leading figure in the world of private investment.

How It's Done in Texas

Texas McCombs is the only business school in the country where students have the opportunity to manage a real estate investment fund with both public and private real estate investments. Select MBA students serve as equity managers, with undergraduates as analysts handling the fund’s day-to-day operations. Students participate in all aspects of the investment process, including underwriting and closing, asset management, and reporting, through the disposition of funds. Faculty members and an Advisory Board act as mentors and guide students in their investment underwriting and analysis; an outside Investment Committee continually oversees the fund performance.

Read the Fall 2025 report

Read the Spring 2025 report

Read the Fall 2024 report

Fund Advisory Board

Kenneth Aboussie, Co-Founder/Managing Partner | Stonelake Capital Partners
Beau Armstrong, Chairman & CEO | Stratus Properties
Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director | B&I Capital
David Busker, Managing Director, Structured Credit & Specialty Finance | TPG Angelo Gordon
Doug Chesnut, Chief Executive Officer | StreetLights Residential
Paul Curbo, Portfolio Manager | Invesco Real Estate
David Deutch, Partner | Pinnacle Housing Group
Bob Faith, Founder, Chairman & CEO | Greystar
Gary Farmer, President | Heritage Title
Jamie Feldman, Managing Director, Head of REIT Research | Wells Fargo
Ben Friedman, President | Abacus Capital Group
Greg Friedman, Managing Principal, CEO | Peachtree Hotel Group
John Goff, Chairman | Goff Capital Management, LP
Garret House, CEO | Evergreen Real Estate Partners LLC
Erik Johnson, Principal | White Point Partners
Andy Lusk, Chief Investment Officer | The Morgan Group
Murray McCabe, Founding Partner | Montgomery Street Partners
Terry Montesi, Chairman & CEO | Trademark
Rich Moore, Partner | LeeCarvel Enterprises, LLC
Ben Moreland, Executive Vice Chairman | Crown Castle International
Chaz Mueller, Former CEO
Keith Oden, President & Trust Manager | Camden Property Trust
Luis P. Rhi, Director | Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss
Steve Rogers, Owner, CEO | Viceroy Investments, LLC
Jeremy Smitheal, Partner | Riverside Resources
Patrick Starley, Managing Partner | Legacy Star Capital Partners
Lenore Sullivan, Advisory Director | RREEF America REIT II and RREEF Core Plus Industrial Fund
John Thompson, CEO & President | PinPoint Commercial LP

Want To Get Involved?

The UT Austin Real Estate program is ready for you.

See collaboration opportunities

Join the Real Estate Center to access the REIF application: