OPT Real Estate Jobs
Real estate jobs on OPT span brokerage support, property management, market analysis, and transaction coordination. Most roles require active work authorization, and STEM OPT extensions are rare in this field. Your 12-month standard OPT window gives you enough runway to establish yourself and pursue long-term sponsorship.
See All OPT Real Estate JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 353+ Real Estate jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 353+ Real Estate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Real Estate roles.
Get Access To All JobsOver the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.
Job Description
Position Summary
This Associate will be primarily taking on asset management responsibilities for multi-tenant office and shopping center properties within the AREIT (Ares Real Estate Investment Trust) portfolio. Responsibilities include supporting the oversight of the day-to-day operations of each assigned asset including property operating and capital expenses, third-party providers, accounts receivable, lease provisions, financial analysis, and general support of senior asset management personnel. Such responsibilities directly affect the key operations of the business. There will likely be additional work helping with the strategic plan and operations of these asset types in closed-end vehicles with JV relationships in addition to REO assets.
Essential Duties
- Perform valuation and sensitivity analysis (Argus and Excel) and recommendations for potential leasing transactions and redevelopment / repositioning opportunities.
- Review, audit and summarize third-party appraisal reports.
- Work with asset management personnel to ensure all leases are financially structured to maximize profitability for monthly GAV models while minimizing risk through financial modeling and analysis relative to underwriting, budget and market conditions.
- Partner with senior asset management team members on day-to-day operations and leasing execution, with primary focus on Office & Retail equity assets and the flexibility to support JV relationships and debt REO assets as portfolio needs evolve.
- Leverage AI tools to automate recurring workflows and improve the accuracy, timeliness and consistency of reporting, analysis and operational processes.
- Ensure accurate and timely submittal of management reporting on the portfolio: review of monthly third-party reports as well as assisting in the compilation of internal asset management portfolio reports and valuations. Conduct research and compile market data and industry commentary to support sector-level insights and strategic decision-making.
- Execute the annual budget process, including the preparation and completion of annual business plans and related revenue and expense budgets, marketing plans, and valuation models.
- Analyze financial performance, identifying opportunities to increase revenue and optimize expenses and capital expenditures.
- Travel to property sites approximately 20% of the time to support operational oversight and strategic initiatives.
- Responsible for assisting the disposition and acquisition team on the sale of assets, including valuations of the assets, due diligence tasks and collection of any documents pertinent to the sale.
- Professionally represent Ares to the broader real estate community (e.g., brokers, property managers, contractors and other service providers).
- Effectively balances competing priorities, working on multiple deals and/or projects simultaneously while managing expectations with stakeholders.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree with undergraduate coursework in business, finance, accounting; with a strong understanding of real estate finance principles
- Demonstrates strong collaboration skills and a commitment to team success, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment
- 2-4 years applicable work experience preferred
- Financial background in real estate or finance preferred
- Office or retail real estate experience preferred
- Proficiency in Argus Enterprise; Argus certification a plus
- Proficiency in Excel including lookups, index match, pivot tables
- Outstanding academic credentials
- Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and create real estate documents including, but not limited to, LOIs, RFPs, property offering memorandums, market reports and tenant leases
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Advanced PowerPoint and Word skills preferred
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed
Reporting Relationships
Principal, Real Estate Equity
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.
$100,000.00 - $125,000.00
The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.
Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.
There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.
Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.
Job Description
Position Summary
This Associate will be primarily taking on asset management responsibilities for multi-tenant office and shopping center properties within the AREIT (Ares Real Estate Investment Trust) portfolio. Responsibilities include supporting the oversight of the day-to-day operations of each assigned asset including property operating and capital expenses, third-party providers, accounts receivable, lease provisions, financial analysis, and general support of senior asset management personnel. Such responsibilities directly affect the key operations of the business. There will likely be additional work helping with the strategic plan and operations of these asset types in closed-end vehicles with JV relationships in addition to REO assets.
Essential Duties
- Perform valuation and sensitivity analysis (Argus and Excel) and recommendations for potential leasing transactions and redevelopment / repositioning opportunities.
- Review, audit and summarize third-party appraisal reports.
- Work with asset management personnel to ensure all leases are financially structured to maximize profitability for monthly GAV models while minimizing risk through financial modeling and analysis relative to underwriting, budget and market conditions.
- Partner with senior asset management team members on day-to-day operations and leasing execution, with primary focus on Office & Retail equity assets and the flexibility to support JV relationships and debt REO assets as portfolio needs evolve.
- Leverage AI tools to automate recurring workflows and improve the accuracy, timeliness and consistency of reporting, analysis and operational processes.
- Ensure accurate and timely submittal of management reporting on the portfolio: review of monthly third-party reports as well as assisting in the compilation of internal asset management portfolio reports and valuations. Conduct research and compile market data and industry commentary to support sector-level insights and strategic decision-making.
- Execute the annual budget process, including the preparation and completion of annual business plans and related revenue and expense budgets, marketing plans, and valuation models.
- Analyze financial performance, identifying opportunities to increase revenue and optimize expenses and capital expenditures.
- Travel to property sites approximately 20% of the time to support operational oversight and strategic initiatives.
- Responsible for assisting the disposition and acquisition team on the sale of assets, including valuations of the assets, due diligence tasks and collection of any documents pertinent to the sale.
- Professionally represent Ares to the broader real estate community (e.g., brokers, property managers, contractors and other service providers).
- Effectively balances competing priorities, working on multiple deals and/or projects simultaneously while managing expectations with stakeholders.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree with undergraduate coursework in business, finance, accounting; with a strong understanding of real estate finance principles
- Demonstrates strong collaboration skills and a commitment to team success, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment
- 2-4 years applicable work experience preferred
- Financial background in real estate or finance preferred
- Office or retail real estate experience preferred
- Proficiency in Argus Enterprise; Argus certification a plus
- Proficiency in Excel including lookups, index match, pivot tables
- Outstanding academic credentials
- Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret and create real estate documents including, but not limited to, LOIs, RFPs, property offering memorandums, market reports and tenant leases
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Advanced PowerPoint and Word skills preferred
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed
Reporting Relationships
Principal, Real Estate Equity
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.
$100,000.00 - $125,000.00
The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.
Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.
There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.
See all 353+ OPT Real Estate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Real Estate Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Real Estate
Target roles with a clear degree connection
Your OPT must be directly related to your major. A finance or business degree supports analyst and acquisitions roles. An urban planning degree fits property development. Matching your major to the role protects your authorization and strengthens future sponsorship cases.
Focus on corporate real estate over individual brokerage
Large commercial firms, REITs, and property management companies are far more likely to sponsor visas than independent brokers. These employers have HR infrastructure and prior experience navigating H-1B visa petitions, making them more realistic sponsorship candidates after your OPT concludes.
Avoid commission-only structures on OPT
Commission-only roles create authorization risk. Your OPT requires paid, qualifying employment. Salaried or guaranteed-draw positions at established firms provide the documented employment history you need for status maintenance and any future visa sponsorship petition.
Track your OPT end date against licensing timelines
Many real estate roles eventually require a state license, which can take several months to obtain. Plan your exam and application timeline so licensing doesn't conflict with OPT expiration or any H-1B cap-subject filing window you're working toward.
Build relationships with employers who have filed LCAs before
Employers who have previously filed Labor Condition Applications have already navigated the process. Prioritizing these firms when applying signals that sponsorship won't be a brand-new operational burden, which meaningfully increases the likelihood of a positive conversation.
Frame your international background as a business asset
Real estate firms active in cross-border investment or serving international buyer markets genuinely value multilingual professionals. Positioning your background as client-facing value, not just cultural familiarity, gives employers a concrete business reason to invest in your long-term sponsorship.
Real Estate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do real estate jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your field of study. Positions in property analysis, asset management, real estate finance, or transaction coordination typically qualify for students with degrees in business, finance, economics, or urban planning. Commission-only sales roles at independent brokerages can be harder to document as qualifying employment, so salaried positions at established firms are lower risk.
Are real estate jobs STEM OPT eligible?
Most real estate roles are not STEM OPT eligible because the field itself is not on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. However, if your degree is in a STEM field, such as data science or computer science, and you're applying for a real estate technology or quantitative analytics role at a qualifying employer, STEM OPT may apply. Confirm your degree CIP code with your DSO before relying on a 24-month extension.
Will real estate employers sponsor an H-1B after OPT?
Sponsorship is most realistic at commercial real estate firms, REITs, property management companies, and real estate investment arms of larger financial institutions. Independent brokerages almost never sponsor. Roles in acquisitions, asset management, real estate finance, and market research are more likely to qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B standards than general leasing or sales agent positions. You can browse sponsorship-friendly real estate employers on Migrate Mate.
Can I work as a real estate agent on OPT?
You can work in a real estate agent capacity on OPT if the role is salaried, directly related to your degree, and with an eligible employer. However, purely commission-based independent contractor arrangements are problematic for OPT compliance. State licensing requirements also apply regardless of your immigration status. Consult your DSO about how your specific arrangement will be documented before accepting an offer.
What types of real estate roles are most common for OPT students?
OPT students most commonly enter real estate through analyst roles at investment firms, financial modeling positions at REITs, market research at commercial brokerages, and property management support at large residential operators. These roles align well with business, finance, and economics degrees, carry a lower risk of compliance issues compared to commission-based sales positions, and appear more frequently among employers with prior H-1B sponsorship history.