Student Organization Spotlight: Real Estate Society
Justin Strauss, President of the Real Estate Society.
As the first semester of the 2021-2022 academic year comes to an end, the Fowler College of Business is highlighting the Real Estate Society, a student organization that is making a difference both on campus and in the local community. After a virtual 2020-21 academic year, the Real Estate Society is transitioning back to in-person meetings. This year they are planning events with guest speakers and hosting case studies where students can gain first-hand experience in the industry. Justin Strauss (Junior, Finance), President of the Real Estate Society, describes the importance of getting involved on campus, how the organization helps students find internship opportunities, and more!
About the Real Estate Society
Q: What are the goals of your organization?
The goals for our organization are to allow like-minded, motivated students to collaborate, network, and increase their chances of future success within the real estate industry. We believe we can offer many opportunities outside of what is taught in school. Through our guest speaker series, case studies, and internship/job opportunities, we hope to create a much more comfortable and easier career path into a career in real estate.
Q: Why should students join your organization?
If students have the slightest interest in any form of real estate, I would highly recommend joining this club. The great thing about the Real Estate Society is that there are so many different members and varying ranges of knowledge, experience, and insight. If you are just trying to learn more about real estate or hoping to obtain internships, the Real Estate Society is a great group to connect with.
Q: What events, gatherings, and activities does your organization host?
Our club hosts guest speaker series with professionals in the Real Estate Industry. These guest speakers range from a variety of different industries within the real estate field. This large range allows our members to listen and learn more about potential fields they may be interested in pursuing. We also have case studies where we travel to construction sites, developments, and new projects to get first-hand experience out in the physical field. At these case studies, we talk with developers, construction managers, engineers, and more. In the Spring semester, we also host a career fair.
Q: When does your organization meet?
This semester, our organization has bi-weekly guest speaker meetings on Mondays from 5 pm - 6 pm at Templo Mayor (2nd floor of the Student Union) and case studies every other week on Fridays from around 10 am - 1 pm.
Pairing with GG Homes for Real Estate Socety's first case study of the year! For this case study, GG Homes proposed a question circulating around if they should flip, lease, or sell this potential home. Members grouped up to find the best possible solution and presented that solution to GG Homes at the conclusion of the case study.
Q: How does your organization connect with the community outside of SDSU?
Our organization is heavily involved with the community outside of SDSU. We have a very strong alumni base that stays in touch with our club. We do our best to directly link alumni and other people in the real estate field with our students. Also, we are constantly blasting out possible internship opportunities from local real estate companies to the members of our club. These real estate companies will send us these opportunities, and we will notify our members.
Q: How can a student get involved with your organization?
A student has two options in getting involved with our org. One option is simply attending our guest speaker meetings and networking within the club. The other option is to sign up to become a member. The benefits of a member include:
- The opportunity to attend case studies
- Gaining access to unique, industry-specific scholarships
- Receiving discounts for extended education and Real Estate licensing exam prep courses
- Networking with top professionals within the real estate indsutry
Q: What are your organization’s social media handles?
Website: Real Estate Society
Q: Anything else you’d like to add about your organization.
If you’re looking to get involved or get a sense of whether you would like to pursue a career in real estate, come to one of our meetings. We constantly have new people filing in every meeting.
Q & A with Real Estate Society President, Justin Strauss
Name: Justin Strauss
Major: Finance with a Real Estate Minor
Q: As a student leader involved with an organization at SDSU, can you share why you got involved and what your experience has been like so far?
I always knew I wanted to become more involved with real estate and found the Real Estate Society as a path to help me pursue these interests. I was very impressed with the multiple facets and avenues in the real estate industry. I saw that the Real Estate Society created a comfortable atmosphere for someone like me, who did not know too much about real estate coming into college. My experience with the Real Estate Society has been absolutely incredible so far. I have met so many great people, and it has allowed me to gain real-world experience within the field. The connections and experiences I have had so far have created a lot of opportunities for the future.
The Real Estate Society's 2021-2022 Executive Board.
Q: Are you involved in any other organizations on campus?
Beyond being the President of this organization, I am also one of the Associated Students Fowler College of Business Student Representatives. For this role, I sit on the UC Council for Associated Students and the Executive Board for the Fowler College for Business. I have really enjoyed this position thus far into the year and have learned a lot.
Q: What experience with your organization has been the most impactful so far?
I think just meeting so many great people has been the most impactful experience so far. I have met so many incredible people that have helped me become more successful and pursue my interests even further. RES has been a great networking tool.
Q: What has been your favorite event you’ve attended at SDSU? Why?
I think the SDSU Kawhi Leonard basketball game has been my favorite event I have attended at SDSU. The stadium was packed, and it was so great to see that school spirit.
Q: Why is getting involved on campus important to you?
Getting involved on campus is so vital to me because I think it opens a lot of doors for potential opportunities in the future. Also, it allows me to meet new people from different backgrounds and make genuine relationships. Becoming involved gives me a broader sense of potential avenues I may want to explore and helps me stay connected with the school.
Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at SDSU?
Get involved. Try to become comfortable with becoming uncomfortable.
Q: What is the best advice you have for future Fowler College of Business students?
The best advice I could give is to meet as many people as possible and join as many clubs as you can. I think oftentimes people tend to fall into the trap of being comfortable with a couple people and not having any desire to meet others. There are a lot of great people here at SDSU, do not be afraid to reach out to others and become involved. Also, reach out to professionals in the industry for shadow/internship opportunities. Experiences like these cannot be taught in school and are so valuable.
Real Estate Society members touring one of the tallest buildings in San Diego. At this case study, members were able to listen in on the project managers/construction engineers plans and received a tour of the entire building.
Q: Are you involved in any internship opportunities?
I have had a couple great internship opportunities! Throughout the fall semester of my junior year in high school, I was able to shadow a local residential real estate broker and learned a lot from this experience. This internship allowed me to gain a broad understanding of what residential real estate consists of. I was also able to see the day to day activities that a residential real estate broker goes through and was able to sit in and attend multiple open houses. During the summer after my freshman year, I was able to intern with a sales firm. This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern under Lee and Associates with an industrial commercial real estate broker. I did not know too much about commercial real estate, so obtaining this internship allowed me to gain an understanding on how to be a successful broker in the commercial real estate industry. All of these internship opportunities have helped me understand more about certain job fields and have helped me narrow down what I would like to do in the future.
Q: What are your plans following graduation?
I don't really have a set plan following graduation. Ideally, I think I would like to travel around Europe for a month after graduation and then jump right into a job in the field of real estate or sales. I plan on staying in Southern California, either right here in San Diego or moving back home to Orange County.
Q: What career aspirations do you have following your time at SDSU?
Following my time at SDSU, I hope I am able to jump into a career that I love to do and am successful in. I hope I can find a job that helps me provide for my family.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add about your time at SDSU/experience in your organization.
I have absolutely loved my time so far at SDSU and am really grateful I got into this school. It has provided me with endless opportunities and I have met a lot of great people. If you have the slightest interest in real estate or if you just want to meet some great people, join the Real Estate Society.
Q: Pancakes or waffles? Waffles
Q: Favorite band? The Lumineers
Q: Instagram or TikTok? Instagram
Q: Horror or comedy movie? Comedy
Q: Sunset Cliffs or La Jolla? Sunset Cliffs
Q: Pancho’s or Trujillo’s? Trujillo's
Q: Fun Fact? I was on The Price of Right and won a hammock and trip to the Virgin Islands.
