Why I Chose Real Estate: UCLA Students and Alums Discuss Their Career Paths
There’s not just one reason to get a real estate license in California, there are several! We surveyed
some UCLA students and alumni on what led them to real estate – from wanting a career with flexibility,
to making a difference in their hometown, to a passion for urban and community development, everyone
comes to the field with their own backgrounds and unique perspectives.
Last November, DRE signed an agreement
with UCLA's Ziman Center for Real Estate, where students pursuing a career in real estate now
have a clear, more direct path to earning a real estate license in the state of California. As part of
the agreement, DRE outlined the Ziman Center courses that meet the state's course education requirements
for becoming a licensed real estate salesperson and broker.
"I am thankful for the partnership between the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate and DRE, which helps
remove barriers to licensure by providing UCLA students a clear path to become a salesperson or broker
in California,” said DRE Commissioner Chika Sunquist. “We are happy to promote overall student success
as they embark on their new career and encourage new generations into the real estate profession."
Many
Ziman Center students are taking the steps to get licensed. Hear from UCLA students and alums on
their paths to real estate below, and learn more about
getting a real estate
license in California!
Resources: How to Get Your
California Real Estate License
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Jolie N., MBA '26
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
I was motivated to work in real estate because I wanted to bridge my
experience in social services with a practical understanding of how housing is financed, developed, and
managed. Once I received my real estate license, I was most excited to get hands-on with the properties.
I was able to look at a ton of data through the MLS, understand the world of residential brokerage, walk
the properties, and connect with the wide range of professionals in real estate (lenders, title companies,
home warranties, insurance). Receiving my license helped me enter the world of real estate, which had
felt daunting in the beginning.
While I mainly worked with residential buyers, I most enjoyed working with investors that flipped or
redeveloped small (two to four unit) multifamily properties. I eventually performed in an acquisitions
function for one investor. After this experience, I was compelled to work in more complex multi-family
deals but with an impact focus. This led to my enrollment into UCLA Anderson where I sought to bridge my
social services background and real estate experience to specialize in affordable housing development.
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Sumer P., ‘28
B.A. Business Economics, UCLA
Hometown: Modesto, CA
I am from Modesto, a small city in Northern California,
where I grew up around family members working in real estate. At the same time, I saw how many people
in my community struggled with housing and stability, and that contrast really stuck with me. That
experience motivated me to make a change and intern at a local real estate firm, where I got hands-on
exposure to property management, leasing, and sales.
Since coming to UCLA, I have joined the Bruin Real Estate Association, where I have been learning the
fundamentals of real estate through workshops and a rigorous 10-week training program. I am also
interning at a real estate private equity firm in Los Angeles where I have been learning more about
property acquisitions and asset management. Eventually, I plan to get my real estate license and use
everything I have learned to give back to communities like the one I came from.
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Andrew H., MBA ‘25
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Hometown: Washington, DC
I’m grateful for the recent partnership between
the DRE and the Ziman Center, which allows several of our core courses to count toward California
salesperson and broker licensing requirements. From my earliest experiences, I’ve been fascinated
by the way real estate shapes communities, incentivizes sustainable development, and drives economic
growth.
Earning my salesperson and eventual broker license will open doors to directly advising clients,
structuring transactions, and navigating regulatory frameworks with confidence. I’m particularly
eager to:
Apply classroom Learnings in Real Time: Translate my coursework
in investment analysis, development finance, and urban economics into actionable deal models
and site selection strategies.
Represent Buyers and Sellers: Guide clients through every stage
of a transaction—conducting market research, negotiating terms, and ensuring compliance—so
they can make informed decisions.
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Thank you for creating this pathway. I look forward to leveraging my MBA training and the insights
I’ve gained at UCLA to excel as a licensed real estate professional in California.
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Mark Y., MBA ‘26
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The biggest value that I see in working in real estate
is that it’s an incredibly impactful career path that has a huge effect on where people live, work, and spend
time together. After having my salesperson license for the past four years and having recently gotten my broker's
license, my license has really been a ticket to more opportunities. It has allowed me the freedom to be a versatile
team player, expand my network, and shape my career on my own terms.
With that in mind, my future plans in real estate are to work in commercial real estate private equity to continue
doing impactful work and bring new life to properties, businesses, and communities across California.
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Gyasi E., ’11, B.A. History, minor in Global Studies, UCLA
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
The most significant value in my eyes to working
in real estate is to see firsthand and develop expertise in underwriting, deal evaluation, financing structures, and
market cycles. In addition, being on the multifamily financing side of the industry, I get to build relationships with
developers, institutional investors, syndicators, and lenders. All these values are critical for successful ownership
of assets, and my future plans include continuing to work on the financing side while having the opportunity to invest
in and own multifamily assets.
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Nick P., ’25, B.A. History, UCLA
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
My goal is to have a long career in real estate in my hometown,
Los Angeles. What drew me to real estate and getting my license is the constant potential of opportunities that arise
here in LA for my career. Being a UCLA student and learning about the field has only driven my passion for real estate.
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