Published: July 23, 2024

Two Leeds faculty are set to deliver instruction in the Commercial Real Estate Certificate program.


Koelbel Building with the Flatirons in the background

The Executive Certificate in Commercial Real Estate from Leeds Executive Education returns in fall 2024 with updates to accommodate the changing needs of program participants. We redesigned the curriculum with input from faculty and CU Real Estate Center board members to enhance the integration between the three courses within the program.

As part of curriculum changes, the previous Fundamentals in Finance course will change to an Intro to Real Estate Investing course. This six-week course will offer live online instruction for two hours each week, beginning September 3, 2024. The course will be taught by Dr. Christophe Spaenjers, professor of finance at Leeds, faculty director of the CU Real Estate Center, and academic director of the Master鈥檚 in Real Estate (MSRE). This course gives students the financial acumen to make comfortable investment decisions to analyze and compare loans and leases, conduct investment analysis of income-generating properties, and gain a better understanding of real estate investment trusts (REITs).听

鈥淭he goal of the class is not just to help students succeed in residential and commercial real estate investments, but to also provide tools and knowledge that will help in any future personal real estate and mortgage market decisions,鈥 said Spaenjers.

After Intro to Real Estate Investing concludes, we will offer Intro to Real Estate Law, beginning October 15, 2024. This six-week course will be taught by Deanne Stodden, a teaching assistant professor of finance at Leeds who brings a background in law and real estate as the managing editor of the Colorado Bar Association/CLE Colorado Real Estate Practice books. Intro to Real Estate Law will offer a comprehensive understanding of contract law, titles and closings, and other legal issues that pertain to real estate.听

Stodden describes the course by saying 鈥渘on-lawyers in the real estate industry need to be familiar with the laws that guide leases, contracts, conveyances, and financing. This class aims to provide students with the basics of real estate law that will allow them to navigate successful real estate transactions while staying within the bounds of the law.鈥澨

Each of the introductory courses is eligible for CE credits through the state of Colorado. It is highly recommended to complete the Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate course as a prerequisite, unless you already have a good understanding of commercial real estate fundamentals.听

If you are interested in investing in real estate or building pathways and career opportunities in commercial real estate, we encourage you to register for these courses at only $750 per course. Through interactive coursework and rigorous discussion with your peers, you will build your network of emerging business professionals and real estate investors.