Ph.D
Advanced Real Estate and Urban Economics
REAL 947
This course covers fundamental and cutting-edge topics in urban economics and real estate as well as the most important econometric issues that arise in the estimation of urban economics and real estate models. The first part of the course focuses on the application of modern econometric methods to analyze empirical questions in the broad urban economics field, which includes topics from public economics and local finances, such as household sorting and valuation of public goods. This part of the course is especially concerned about dealing with non-experimental data, and also provides a guide for tools that are useful for applied research. The second and third parts of the course examine the economic modeling and intuition of a range of topics in urban economics and real estate, such as spacial equilibrium, supply and demand of space, housing prices and cycles. In addition, special emphasis is given to how the understanding of economic theory and institutions can help any empirical analysis. At the end of the course students should have a firm grasp of theory and econometric tools that lead to convincing empirical applications.
Undergraduate and MBA
Real Estate Finance: Investment and Analysis
Finance 209/721
Real Estate 209/721
This course provides an introduction to real estate with a focus on investment and financing issues. Project evaluation, financing strategies, investment decision making and real estate capital markets are covered. No prior knowledge of the industry is required, but students are expected to rapidly acquire a working knowledge of real estate markets. Classes are conducted in a standard lecture format with discussion required. The course contains cases that help students evaluate the impact of more complex financing and capital markets tools used in real estate.
Undergraduate and MBA
Urban Fiscal Policy
REAL230/FNCE230/BEPP 230 (UG)
REAL730/FNCE 730/BEPP 773 (MBA)
This course will examine the provision of services through cities and other local governments. Why cities exist, whether urban public finance matters, investments in infrastructure, realities of local governments such as inequality, poverty, crime, corruption, high cost of living and gentrification, will be covered. We will pay special attention to recent topics, such as partnerships with the private sector, enterprise zones, and other subsidies to businesses, the role of technology, and real estate policies that promote affordability and sustainable city development.