MPlan Planning with Professional Placement

This unit will introduce students to the role of the real estate asset manager, primarily from the perspective of property investment and portfolio management.  It will cover both the strategic aims and the tactical approaches that are used in the pro-active asset management of a real estate portfolio. 

The course introduces some of the main investment strategies adopted by active investment funds and provides a methodology to analyze them.

Principles and techniques of asset management are considered in the lectures and then discussed in the context of real properties.

Meanwhile, the course studies classical portfolio theory and standard asset pricing models at an introductory level. 

• to introduce the principles of strategic investment and asset management
• encourage informed debate over different investment strategies and styles of asset management
• to explore the tactics used to pro-actively manage real estate assets
• to encourage an inquisitive, critical and forward-looking approach to problem-solving and develop students’ ability to anticipate consequential effects of their decisions in investment and asset management

A range of teaching and learning methods will be adopted with conventional lectures used to introduce topics in a structured manner. There are opportunities for students to discuss the ideas in person as well as online.

As noted in the Programme Specification, all course material will be available online. Formative feedback will be given through Q&A, discussion and interactive activities.

The VLE system will provide a virtual place to continuously hold discussion among students as well as between students and tutors. Students can also use the VLE system as a joint learning tool through FAQ section. Substantive written feedback on your assignments will be provided through the VLE. 

• Understand and apply macro strategies (asset allocation) as well as micro strategies (asset selection)
• Understand and apply classical portfolio theory to real estate investment, and integrate the investment with a risk attitude
• Explain the implications of management decisions for real estate asset value and ESG impact

• Demonstrate a solid understanding of the active asset managment industry and major strategies
• Critically evaluate information, make considered judgments, and produce innovative and credible solutions to a problem

• Explain and apply the concepts of perfromance evaluation of asset management strategies
• Explain and apply the concepts of portfolio construction and risk management by evaluating the risk and return of the portfolio

• Demonstrate the importance of attention to detail
• Demonstrate sound ability to communicate ideas and arguments concisely, using appropriate language for the target audience

An individual critical report (3,000 words) - 100%

Detailed feedback on summative assessments will be provided via Blackboard. This will be in written or audio format.

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Edwards, B.W and Naboni, E. (2013) Green buildings pay: design, productivity and ecology 3rd ed. Abingdon: Routledge

Haynes, B. P., Nunnington, N. and Eccles, T.  (2017).  Corporate real estate asset management: strategy and implementation.  Oxford: Elsevier

Johnson, G., Whittington, R., Angwin, D., Regner, P., & Scholes, K. (2013)  Exploring Strategy Text & Cases. 10th edn.  Harlow: Pearson Education UK.

Jowsey, E. (Ed.) (2014) Real estate concepts: a handbook. London: Taylor & Francis

PEDERSEN, LASSE HEJE. Efficiently Inefficient: How Smart Money Invests and Market Prices Are Determined. Princeton University Press, 2015. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1287knh. Accessed 16 Feb. 2023.

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Z. Bodie, A. Kane, A.J. Marcus, and J. Ravi, Investment: Asia Global Edition, McGraw-Hill, Latest edition