New Courses 

BSLW2210: Commerical Real Estate Market Analysis

Spring Semester I (January 19th - March 5th)

1 Credits

Wednesday at 4:30pm

Professor: Phil Mobley

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of analyzing commercial real estate (CRE) markets, highlighting the role of market analysts in shaping development, investment, and occupancy decisions. Students will explore the unique challenges of analyzing commercial real estate, including how it differs from other sectors. The course covers key components of market analysis, including economics, research, and communication, using real-world illustrations. It also employs practical exercises to introduce students to the skills, tools, and data sources that industry professionals depend on. Students will get a taste of what it means to synthesize quantitative and qualitative inputs into insights that inform
decisions for an array of real estate practitioners, from developers and investors to brokers and corporate strategists. By the end of the course, students will understand how market analysis drives value in the commercial real estate industry and be aware of the various career opportunities available to CRE market analysts. This course is best suited for students who have already been in the program for a year or two.

BSLW2700: Engaging the City: Real Estate and Large-Scale Development

Spring Semester I (January 19th - March 5th)

1 Credit

Friday's from 10:00-12:00pm

Professor: Tom O'Brien

This course provides a first-hand guided exploration of large-scale real estate development through the lens of a 162-acre mixed-use project. Students will examine how historical land use—from transportation and entertainment to highway infrastructure—shapes contemporary development opportunities and constraints. The course addresses the critical human element of real estate, emphasizing relationship-building, partnership development, and stakeholder collaboration as foundational to project success. Students gain practical knowledge of capital markets and financing structures, evaluate climate change impacts and coastal resilience strategies in planning, and gain insight into the complexities of construction processes and union relationships. Through this integrated approach, students learn to navigate the technical, financial, environmental, and interpersonal dimensions of transforming underutilized parcels into vibrant, resilient communities.

Existing 3 Credit Courses 

BSLW1145: Real Estate Development 

3 Credits

Monday/Wednesday 12:00 - 1:15pm

Professor: Edward Chazen

This course employs various teaching and learning methods: class lectures; videos of interviews with experts and about illustrative projects; case study discussion; guest lectures; team-based virtual tours of Boston neighborhoods that have been transformed by large-scale real estate development; and, a capstone project of teams preparing a development plan for an actual site in the Boston areas. This course is focused on what real estate development is and what it means to be a real estate developer. Students will gain an understanding of the process of real estate development, including design and construction; how developers engage with the public sector and the surrounding community to obtain approval for a development; how projects are financed; and, other important elements that contribute to completing successful real estate projects. Also learn about the legal aspects of developments; the ways that development is a catalyst for neighborhood improvement and local economic growth; and, trends in sustainable development.

ECON/BSLW 2000: State of Affordable Housing in the States

3 Credits

Monday: 4:30 - 6:50PM

Professors: David Price & Amy Schectman

How does housing affect the lives of Americans? Where you live determines your access to schools, quality of healthcare, fresh food, clean air, parks and recreation, affordable credit, and even how long you are likely to live. This course explores concepts of housing policy and planning at the national, state, and local levels. It examines programs and policies used to subsidize housing for millions of Americans and help them gain access to a decent place to live. Topics will be considered from multiple perspectives including housing finance, design, community planning, inequality, operations management, and sustainability. We will explore the historical and economic context of U.S. housing and discuss the barriers that low-income families face that affects their access to decent housing. The course will be divided into three sections: history, policies, and today's issues. Students will explore some of the most recently developed programs and how they fit into effective community revitalization. These programs will be evaluated in class discussions and group presentations.

BSLW: 1145 Introduction to Real Estate Law

3 Credits

Tuesday 4:30 - 6:50pm

Professor: Teresa Cella 

This course is an introduction to commercial real estate law. The
course examines the process inherent in real estate transactions from a legal and functional viewpoint. It covers issues relating to acquisitions, dispositions, ownership, financing, and leasing of commercial properties.The course also examines the legal aspects of relationships involved in real estate transactions, including those between buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants, and borrowers and lenders. The course will follow a property acquisition and financing from the letter of intent stage through closing with an emphasis on the most commonly negotiated aspects of a purchase and sale agreement, the due diligence process (including an examination of title, survey, and zoning matters as well as lease review), real estate financing, and closing logistics. Taking a hands-on approach and with expertise shared by guest speakers, students will gain insight into how commercial real estate transactions come together.

MFIN2207: Real Estate Finance

3 Credits

Tuesday/Thursday 3:00 - 4:15pm

Professor: Edward Chazen

This course focuses on how capital is applied to debt and equity financing of income-producing real estate. The course content covers private debt and equity and public securities markets for real estate finance. The course format includes lectures, case study discussions, financial modeling exercises, guest speakers, REIT stock analysis, discussion of selected readings and simulation of negotiations. The course covers real estate finance from the perspective of the users of capital (developers and property owners) and the sources of capital (lenders and equity investors).
The primary student outcomes are the ability to value commercial property; understand risks; how to structure a financing of commercial real estate; know the diverse sources of capital in the real estate industry and analyze, discuss and present a professional financing for debt and equity.

BSLW2208: Urban Action Lab - Advancing Real Estate Solutions (2 Sections)

There is also a section Thursday, with Professor Neil McCullagh.

3 Credits

Tuesday's or Thursday's from  9:00am - 12:00pm 

Professor: Matt Littell

Urban Action Lab is a semester long class that provides students with first hand experience within the field of real estate and urban action, working on projects that advance affordable housing and access to opportunity. Students pursue research projects in partnership with mission driven organizations from across the City of Boston. Each project is completed in collaboration with a partner organization and are selected based on their potential for high-impact contribution to the organization. Project components include research, evaluation, interviewing, and writing. Students will work in close collaboration with partner agencies and fellow students. The class will meet once per week and will occasionally require students to attend meetings off-campus. 

BSLW2299: Real Estate Field Projects

3 Credits

Tuesday/Wednesday 9:00 - 10:15AM or Thursday from 10:30 - 11:45AM

Professor: Edward Chazen

Each team will work under the supervision of the Instructor, with weekly team meetings to review the work plan, progress toward identified goals and practicing several presentations that form an important part of the learning experience. There will be three field projects planned. This course is a complement to in-class learning and provides an experiential learning component to the real estate education at CSOM. The course consists of teams of 4-5 students each working on a field project for a real estate/developer investor, not-for-profit organization or government agency. The field projects are "real world" real estate projects that involve extensive data collection/analysis,interviews with a range of experts and others that can influence the conclusions and recommendations of the team, and presentations to management of the sponsoring organization. The field projects typically include development proposals for a property; re-development plans for an existing property; and, real estate market research to assist an investor considering expansion into new geographic markets.

Existing 1 Credit Courses 

BSLW2020: Real Estate Development in Practice

1 Credit

Friday, 10:00 - 11:30AM

Professor: Sean McReynolds 

Real Estate Development in Practiceis a focused, one-credit course designed to give students a practical understanding of real estate development. This course delves into the critical stages of development, from site selection and due diligence to project completion, ensuring students grasp the intricacies of bringing a real estate project to fruition. Emphasizing market analysis, the course provides students with exposure to the evaluation of market dynamics, trends, and economic factors that influence development decisions. Financial analysis is a core component, where students see how financial models, cash flow analysis, and investment potential are analyzed. Additionally, the course offers an in-depth exploration of local market knowledge, helping students understand specific regions' unique characteristics and regulatory environment.Real Estate Development in Practice is a gateway for students to develop knowledge and interest in development and is a springboard to other Real Estate Classes.

ECON2216: Real Estate Colloquium II

Spring Semester II (March 15 - May 6th)

1 Credit

Friday's, 10:00 - 12:00PM

Professor: Taylor Perkins 

Real Estate Colloquium II - Innovation Field Study provides first-hand experience touring innovative projects, buildings, neighborhoods, and factories that define real estate's future.The course will explore critical debates within the industry by exploring the city and region with leaders and professionals working to change the face of our cities and communities. Students will explore how innovation strives to meet contemporary challenges. Topics will include office-to-residential conversion, retail and revitalization, climate crisis mitigation, modular construction, and infrastructure. This course offers students an immersive experience beyond theoretical concepts and a view into the fundamentals of many different topics and career paths.The course will feature six 3-hour field visits, with each student attending three.Field visits will include an orientation lecture, a group debrief, discussion, and reflection.Students will attend an opening and closing lecture in person at Boston College. They will also be required to submit written reflections after each field visit, and a final paper. The Corcoran Center will provide transportation to each field visit via minibus.