What do the activities in real estate developer jobs look like?

As a specialist in the real estate sector, a real estate developer evaluates suitable plots and properties on behalf of the client. This includes analyzing the market situation and integrating the findings into the portfolio. The professionalization of the implementation of real estate projects is important in order to positively influence the value creation and increase in value of the planned property. Real estate developers are able to lead a team and manage development and construction projects of all sizes. In this function in the middle management of large real estate companies, in architectural offices as well as in real estate consulting firms and construction and general contractors, they can accompany, supervise and upgrade real estate projects on a contract basis.

The following activities are common in real estate developer jobs:

• Professional design of the real estate development process:
  • search for suitable land for a real estate project
  • Search for marketable (re)utilization ideas for an existing property
  • Investigate the potential of a location
  • Develop feasibility studies for various utilization options
  • Initiate contact with the municipal spatial planning and building authorities in good time
  • Clarify the implementation of a real estate project
  • Preparing profitability studies for the client
  • Lead interdisciplinary teams with different specialists
• Collaboration with project teams of architects, authorities, real estate marketers, cost planners, lawyers and client representatives
  • Assessing valuations and real estate purchase and work contracts
  • Plan the construction project
  • Analyzing the planning basis
  • Ensure compliance with legal regulations and standards
  • ensure that a property is transferred smoothly into operation
  • hand over the relevant documentation to the client or building operator

Target group and skills: Who is the real estate developer training with professional examination suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The real estate developer training is aimed at real estate professionals who are involved in the development, renovation and project planning of smaller and larger projects. These are in particular

• Architects
• Real estate manager
• Site manager

The following skills and characteristics are required for successful work as a real estate developer:

• Analytical thinking
• Observation skills, decision-making ability
• Interest in real estate and the real estate industry
• Organizational talent, commercial skills
• Structural engineering interest
• Communication skills, negotiation skills
• Service and customer orientation
• Fluency in oral and written expression
• Spatial imagination
• Sense for numbers

Requirements for admission to the professional examination for real estate developers:

The following prerequisites are required for admission to the final examination "Federal Professional Examination for Real Estate Developers":

• a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) of at least three years of basic vocational training, a baccalaureate certificate (all types), a federally recognized commercial diploma, a degree from a higher technical college, a federal certificate, a federal diploma, a degree from a university (Bachelor's or Master's) or an equivalent qualification and
• At least 3 years of full-time work experience in a profession in the real estate industry after completing the training

or

• More than five years of full-time professional experience in a real estate management profession
• of which at least two years in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein

and

• No entries in the criminal record that contradict the purpose of the audit

You will be informed in writing at least four months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the professional examination for real estate developers.

Subject matter and content of real estate development training:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the professional certificate as a real estate developer is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, theUSPI Suisse(Union suisse des professionnels de l'immobilier) andSVIT(Swiss Association of the Real Estate Industry SVIT Switzerland).

The learning content of the Real Estate Developer course is divided into the following topics and areas of competence:

• Law
• Construction technology, including sustainable building standards
• Project management
• Real estate development (incl. processes)
• Project financing
• Project work (structure and organization, project management, leading a project team)
• Real estate investment in the context of value retention, value enhancement and demolition
• Legal aspects of real estate development
• Planning and construction process
• Marketing of real estate development concepts
• Management tools for real estate project development including profitability calculations
• Use and operation of real estate

Real estate development courses - costs and financing:

The costs for real estate developer training vary depending on the provider and duration. On average, the following amounts are to be expected for the training costs:

• Course fees:about CHF 4'900.- to CHF 13'400.-
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result).* And SVIT members receive a discount.
• Examination fees:CHF 2,700 (as at 2023)
  The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the professional examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmation of admission to the examination in real estate developer training.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and interim qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the course.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations such as the Real Estate Developer course have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also pre-financed in exceptional cases.

Duration of study, number of teaching hours and learning effort for continuing education in real estate development:

• The training and further education in real estate development is classically structured (i.e. the professional examination covers all the skills to be assessed) and lasts three to four semesters while working. The training for the professional examination in real estate development comprises around 320 lessons.
• The teaching times vary depending on the provider of the Real Estate Developer course. Classroom teaching takes place on one half-day per week and on Saturdays, as well as largely through self-study.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the Real Estate Developer course, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for class preparation and follow-up as well as for self-study. Depending on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed, we recommend that you allow the same amount of time for the additional workload as the regular teaching time.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons", which provide an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. A suitable learning environment is important on the way to successful completion of further education in real estate development.

Degree, diploma and title:

The professional examination "Real estate developer with a federal certificate" takes place annually, provided that the minimum number of 25 candidates in German, 8 candidates in French and 3 candidates in Italian meet the admission requirements.

Candidates for the professional examination for real estate developers are notified at least one month before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (with details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The professional examination for real estate developers comprises the following six parts:

1. Law (written, 2 hours, single weighting)
2. Structural knowledge (written, 1.5 hours, single weighting)
3. Project management (written, 2 hours, single weighting)
4. Real estate development (written, 6 hours, double weighting)
5. Real estate development (oral, 45 minutes, double weighting)
6. Project work (written - prepared in advance, oral, 45 minutes, double weighting)

The written examinations are used to test technical skills by means of practically relevant content. The oral examinations primarily serve to test social and methodological skills and only secondarily professional skills. This takes place in an expert discussion. The candidates are confronted with a practical case, which is the subject of the subsequent expert discussion. The assessment is based on an assessment grid provided by the examination board. The project work tests networked thinking across several areas. The candidate should have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills as comprehensively as possible in this work. The project work comprises a practical topic. Candidates can propose a topic from their company to the examination board. The examination board decides on the final topic and informs the candidate at least 16 weeks before the oral examination. The candidate must submit the project work to the examination board 8 weeks before the start of the examination. The oral examination lasts 45 minutes and consists of the presentation of the project work (15 minutes) and the subsequent expert discussion (30 minutes), which builds on the project work.

Diploma and title

Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Real estate developer with a federal certificate" or "Real estate developer with a federal certificate".

• In French: "Promoteur immobilier avec brevet fédéral", "Promotrice immobilière avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Esperto in sviluppo immobiliare con attestato professionale federale / Esperta in sviluppo immobiliare con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Property Developer with Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)