Real Estate Worldwide

After working with her family in the residential real estate sector throughout high school, Warner’s experience at Lindner gifted her with a well-rounded knowledge of the commercial real estate industry — and her activities in the U.K. opened up a whole new perspective.

“I'd never been abroad before this, so crossing the waters for the first time was amazing for me. And seeing how different, but similar, they lived,” said Warner.

Many students gained a new lens through which to view their entrepreneurial contributions in business.

Environmental, social, governance (ESG) regulations and adherence proved to be a sticking point for students who found this practice to be a notable divergence from the U.S. real estate industry. 

“The business culture is different there than it is here. They don't work the same kind of hours that somebody would in New York, but they still maintain the need for Class A office space,” reflected Burden. “They need the best amenities. I think the biggest difference there is they focus a lot on maintaining ESG, so everything has to be 100% carbon neutral on new buildings. And that was something that they mentioned a lot.”

A visit to Bridges Outcomes Partnerships supplied students with a firsthand look at how real estate practices can intersect with doing business for the greater good. The non-profit connects members of the community to housing and other vital resources. 

Students drew many comparisons between real estate trends in the United Kingdom and those happening locally in the U.S. 

“We've seen a lot of amazing initiatives in the Cincinnati area that have implemented the same kind of practices that I got to see in Europe,” reflected Warner of the historical preservation and other efforts happening around the city.

These takeaways allowed students to apply what they’ve learned in their real estate studies. Lindner’s real estate program delivers a robust, 360-degree view of the real estate industry. The program is bolstered by the UC Real Estate Center, which gives students opportunities to deepen their real estate knowledge, digest trends in the industry and connect with local companies and area professionals through a variety of events.

“One of the defining characteristics of our program is frequent interaction with the many real estate firms in greater Cincinnati and their leadership. This experience is elevated further when given the opportunity to see how real estate is conducted in an international gateway market such as London,” said Carl Goertemoeller, executive director of the UC Real Estate Center, who accompanied students on the experience. “In many ways, real estate is a localized business, and seeing how customs, norms and transactions may differ from one country to another provides great insight.” 

The overall experience proved transformative for students, who embraced the opportunity as a defining moment in their college tenure. 

“I never thought as a freshman coming to UC that I'd actually get to go abroad,” said Warner. “I'm so happy that I got to go abroad with UC and I'm so happy that I got to go with the people that I did, and I think it made my experience at UC that much more memorable.”

Featured image: Students connected with industry professionals at the Canary Wharf Group. Photos provided.