Emma Hosking supported multifamily investment research, underwriting, market analysis & business development through owner outreach.
What new knowledge or transferable skills did you develop?
My internship helped me develop both technical and interpersonal skills. Technically, I learned about CoStar (a commercial real estate database), research on multifamily properties, comparable property analysis, underwriting, market research, and maturing loan outreach. I learned how to research properties, understand investment opportunities, and relate financial information to real-world assets. I also improved my communication, sales, networking, organization, time management, persistence, and problem-solving skills. Cold calling and talking one-on-one with property owners forced me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to communicate professionally, deal with rejection, ask better questions, and be persistent.
What did you find most challenging about this internship?
One of the hardest parts of my internship was the cold-calling and owner outreach. It was intimidating at first to talk with people that I have never met before, especially experienced property owners. Not all calls were conversations, and many were rejections, unanswered questions, or people who weren't interested. Eventually I learned not to take rejection personally. I learned to concentrate on the next conversation. I grew more confident in thinking on my feet and communicating with confidence and in knowing that consistency is often more important than an immediate result. That experience taught me resilience and gave me the confidence I can step outside of my comfort zone and improve with repetition.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for the future?
The internship has been really helpful in deciding what I want to do after I graduate. I knew I wanted to do real estate before this experience but was still exploring what areas I was most interested in. I worked on multifamily investments, business development, financing, and investment opportunities and realized how much I love the combination of real estate, sales, analysis, and relationship building. Looking forward, I want to continue to grow my career in commercial real estate and find opportunities where I can continue to learn, develop relationships, and ultimately be a part of larger transactions.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for and begin their internship?
My best advice is to network before you think you are ready. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from professionals, ask questions, and put yourself in situations where you can learn. Your first opportunity may not be to fill out an application online. Building real relationships can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Once you land the internship, be ready to work, ask questions, show initiative, and learn from everyone around you. Even small tasks can teach you something valuable if you have the right attitude.