Real estate professionals are employed by investment banks in a number of different roles. These include M&A bankers with a focus on the real estate sector, capital markets bankers with an understanding of fund-raising requirements of real estate companies that want to access the debt and equity markets, and equity researchers with an understanding of real estate stock analysis.

Property finance teams are recruited by commercial banks to assess and manage large commercial real estate loans. Real estate debt managers, for example, monitor a portfolio of loans, identify threats to loan quality and develop strategies for handling distressed and non-performing loans. They prepare credit papers for approval and work with valuers, lawyers, lenders and investors to execute strategies. To help deal with non-performing real estate loans, many commercial banks are now employing 'workout teams'.

To manage their real estate funds, asset management firms employ real estate investments professionals. Product structuring managers, for example, meet the commercial objectives of the business and the funds' target investors by designing new real estate products. They also identify opportunities to grow existing funds, and must maintain a detailed knowledge of regulatory change and its impact on the real estate industry.

Real estate professionals are also employed by some private equity funds to work on buy-outs of realestate companies and to invest in realestate. Jobs may involve identifying and screening new investment opportunities in the realestate sector, building a pipeline of prospective realestate target companies, and working with entrepreneurs, company management, and advisors to negotiate and close realestate transactions. Real estate investment bankers are occasionally recruited by private equity funds.

Commercial real estate companies work more closely to the 'action' in the property sector. Typically, they provide facility management and specialist real estate investment services. Although some of their positions are in engineering, maintenance or other non-financial areas, they also offer a wide range of financial real estate jobs, such as brokers, project mangers, financial analysts, finance managers and accountants.

Real estate advisory departments are found within consultancy firms and their clients are typically banks, fund managers, institutional investors, property companies, developers and occupiers. These advisory roles help develop effective funding strategies for transactions and businesses, identifying funders and investors, and negotiating terms.