Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Students in the Master of Science in Land Development program at Texas A&M learned the latest news about Houston's real estate market and were matched with mentors from an organization representing the area's real estate community during a Nov. 11 conference.
Thirty students met mentors from the Houston Chapter of the Urban Land Institute during the 2010 Forecast Conference hosted by the ULI and the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M in the Hilton Americas Hotel in downtown Houston.
"The ULI mentors were drawn from a diverse group of property industry leaders who introduced the students to their network of industry colleagues," said MSLD student B.K. Newson.
At the conference, students heard about market forces in Houston and how they're driving investment and development at the Texas Medical Center and in the region's energy and transportation sectors. They also heard forecasts about the area's future from leading economists from Texas A&M, Rice University and Austin.
In addition to meeting their mentors, students had an opportunity to connect with more than 350 economists, business leaders, real estate specialists and developers, and listened to keynote speaker Joe Griffith, national real estate banking manager of JP Morgan Chase Bank, among other numerous speakers, including and two panel discussions, one focusing on the economy, another on the industry's outlook.
The students' attendance at the conference was aided by funds from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning and The Association of Former Students, which gave the Real Estate Development Association a $500 grant. REDA provides Aggie MSLD with enhanced leadership training, access to, and understanding of the real estate development industry.
After the conference, the MSLD students were joined by former students at a reception at Sambuca restaurant.
- Posted: Nov. 23, 2009-
