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“I work for a premier real estate investment bank and REFM's program on real estate modeling has been an invaluable tool that I can go back to... - S. Binswanger, The Binswanger Co.

News Archive

  • August 25, 2010 - Bulkeley Banks Joins REFM In Multi-Faceted Executive Role
    • Arlington, VA – August 25, 2010 – Real Estate Financial Modeling, the global leader for real estate analysis solutions announced today that Bulkeley Banks has joined the company as Financial Modeling and Marketing Director, as well as Instructor for webinars.

      Mr. Banks holds a Masters in Professional Studies in Real Estate from Georgetown University, where he served as the Finance Co-Chair on the Student Advisory Board in Real Estate.

      "Working for REFM and helping them to grow is a phenomenal and unique opportunity," said Banks,"the chance to be on board with the highest quality solutions provider in such a multi-disciplinary role is amazing."

      "Bulkeley is a highly talented professional," said Bruce Kirsch, Principal. "His analytical and teaching abilities are only surpassed by his diligence and drive to succeed, and REFM is thrilled that he is on our team."

      Prior to joining the company, Mr. Banks worked at the University of Chicago’s Evolution and Ecology Lab analyzing genetic variation in botany.  He also holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago, where he was awarded the Herman S. Dunlap Scholarship.

      About Real Estate Financial Modeling

      Real Estate Financial Modeling, based in Arlington, VA, is the best in class real estate financial modeling and training solutions provider for the global commercial real estate industry. REFM customers include a NYSE-listed REIT and top investors and developers.

      Contact:
      Bruce Kirsch
      Principal
      REFM
      (703) 577-4110
      bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com

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  • August 10, 2010 - Victor Svilik And Samuel Freshman To Speak At LA Training
    • Arlington, VA – August 10, 2010 – REFM founder and principal Bruce Kirsch announced today that Los Angeles real estate industry veterans Victor Svilik and Samuel Freshman will be the lunch keynote speakers at REFM's Project-Specific Financial Modeling for Partnership-Based Investments training at the Westin Bonaventure on Friday and Saturday, September 24th and 25th.

      Mr. Svilik is a Founder and Managing Principal of QVT Mount Auburn Capital LP, which invests in real estate assets and loans throughout the US.   A graduate of Harvard Law and Business Schools who is also a developer and licensed general contractor, Mr. Svilik will address current trends in institutional transaction partnership structures over lunch on Friday the 24th.

      Mr. Freshman is President of Standard Management Company and founder of the law Firm of Freshman, Marantz, Orlanski & Klein, now the Century City office of K & L Gates. He lectures and writes extensively on real estate, is the general partner of  hundreds of million dollars of real estate investments, and author of Principles of Real Estate Syndication. A graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Law School, Freshman will address advantages, structuring and recent  trends in syndication on Saturday the 25th.

      "REFM is thrilled to be able to offer such high-caliber speakers to its Los Angeles seminar in-person and virtual attendees", Mr. Kirsch said. "The participants will glean significant insights from these two respected industry leaders."

      For more information on the limited-seating event, visit www.getrefm.com.

      Real Estate Financial Modeling is the market leader in real estate financial modeling training for partnership-based investments.

      Contact:
      Bruce Kirsch
      bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com
      2055 15th Street North, Suite 203
      Arlington, VA 22201
      (703) 577-4110

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  • August 03, 2010 - REFM To Exhibit At 2010 ULI Fall Meeting And Urban Land Expo
    • Arlington, VA – August 3, 2010 – REFM announced today that it would be exhibiting at the 2010 ULI Fall Meeting and Urban Land Expo from October 12th through the 15th at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. REFM will be located in Booth #330.

      REFM's exhibit will include multiple interactive product demonstration stations, and the company's principals will be present to answer questions.

      To view the Expo Floor Plan, visit: http://www.ulifall.org/exhibitors/floor-plan.  To learn more and sign up for the Meeting and Expo, visit: http://www.ulifall.org.

  • July 20, 2010 - REFM's 2-Day Partnership Modeling Training Praised By Attendees
    • Arlington, VA - July 20, 2010 - Bruce Kirsch, Founder and Principal of REFM, announced today that REFM's 2-Day Intensive Training session on July 16th and 17th received rave reviews from attendees.

      The session was entitled "Transaction-specific Modeling for Partnership-Based Investments", and was focused on intermediate and advanced Excel-based financial modeling techniques specific to the financial structuring of partnerships and partitioning of cash flows through preferred return and waterfall promote structures for profit sharing.  The training also included a highly-acclaimed presentation on partnership structuring by Loren Balsam, Managing Director of PRP Real Estate Investment of Washington, DC.

      One attendee stated "This class provides the insight into real estate modeling that no textbook or classroom could do," while another noted that "the networking experience with other real estate developers, professionals and academics afforded the opportunity to build rewarding peer relations and build on each other's experiences and techniques."

      Mr. Kirsch noted "The 2-Day Intensive was a phenomenal session in which the advanced Excel techniques taught were found immediately useful by the experienced professionals in attendance."

      REFM will next take this training seminar to the west coast.  Real Estate Financial Modeling, based in Arlington, VA, is the leading Excel-based real estate financial analysis solutions and training provider.

  • July 01, 2010 - REFM To Train Incoming Graduate Students At Cornell
    • Arlington, VA - July 1, 2010 - REFM's Bruce Kirsch announced today that Real Estate Financial Modeling will train incoming Masters in Professional Studies students in Real Estate at Cornell University in August. The Cornell Master’s Program in Real Estate is a comprehensive, two-year professional graduate degree that draws top students from around the world.

      "REFM was honored to have been invited by Cornell to train its bright, competitive incoming students" said Mr. Kirsch. "REFM looks forward to delivering the skills-based program in August."

      REFM is the leading Excel-based real estate financial analysis solutions and training provider, and is led by founder Bruce Kirsch.

  • June 07, 2010 - REFM Surpasses 1,000 Account Holders
    • Arlington, VA - June 7, 2010 - REFM's Bruce Kirsch announced today that Real Estate Financial Modeling's Member base has surpassed 1,000 Account Holders since REFM's launch only nine months ago.

      "This is an exciting milestone since growth has been predominantly organic in nature" said Mr. Kirsch. "We look forward to signing up our next thousand Members in the months to come."

      REFM is the leading Excel-based real estate financial analysis solutions provider, and is led by founder Bruce Kirsch.

  • April 27, 2010 - REFM To Deliver Third Webinar For The Urban Land Institute
    • Arlington, VA - April 27, 2010 - REFM's Bruce Kirsch announced today that REFM will be delivering another Professional Development Webinar for the Urban Land Institute.  The Basics of Real Estate Finance: Part II Webinar, a successor to the Part I webinar in April, will take place on June 4, 2010 at 1:30 PM Eastern.  The Webinar will focus on teaching the topics and concepts of permanent financing payment schedule calculations, refinancings, residual land valuation and future Net Operating Income calculation, with specific attention to how they manifest themselves in Microsoft Excel.  To sign up for the Webinar, visit www.uli.org.

  • April 20, 2010 - Ehud Mouchly To Train REFM Students On The West Coast
    • Arlington, VA – April 20, 2010 – REFM founder and principal Bruce Kirsch announced today that the two Apartment Development Financial Modeling training sessions to be held in May at the CFA Society in San Francisco will be taught by California real estate veteran and University of Southern California adjunct professor Ehud Mouchly.  Mr. Mouchly will also instruct future REFM west coast sessions.

      Mr. Mouchly is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Policy, Planning, and Development (SPPD) where he teaches Advanced Real Estate and Financial Modeling in the Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program.  Mr. Mouchly is also the owner of READI, LLC (Real Estate Asset Development & Investments). He has more than 30 years of experience in development, redevelopment and financing of sustainable infill projects, mixed-use development (MXD) projects, master planned communities (MPC), workforce housing communities and employer-assisted housing projects.

      “The REFM team was thrilled when Ehud agreed to serve as an Instructor for REFM’s west coast training operation. He is an extremely talented and sought after teacher with an unparalleled real estate resume to boot” Mr. Kirsch said.

      Mr. Mouchly was previously Vice President and General Manager of UniDev, LLC’s West Coast Office, focusing on the design, development, financing, and management of workforce housing communities. Earlier, Mouchly worked with SunCal Companies as a member of the master planned communities’ acquisition, entitlements and start-up team; General Manager of Anaverde (formerly City Ranch), KB-Home’s 2,000-acre, 5,000-unit in Palmdale, CA; Principal and Co-Developer of a 160-acre commercial MXD in San Joaquin County, CA; managing director in the Real Estate Group of Price Waterhouse; founder and president of a national real estate consulting company; developer/builder of residential and retirement communities.

      The two upcoming REFM sessions in California are on May 14th and May 15th.  More information may be found on the REFM Training & Events web page.

      Contact:
      Bruce Kirsch
      bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com
      2055 15th Street North, Suite 203
      Arlington, VA 22201
      (703) 577-4110

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  • March 25, 2010 - REFM To Hold Classes In Northern California
    • Arlington, VA – March 25, 2010 – After delivering a sold out session in southern California in January 2010, Real Estate Financial Modeling founder Bruce Kirsch announced today that REFM will offer its first in-person training sessions in northern California on May 14th and 15th in San Francisco.
       
      The training seminar to be delivered, which will be held at the CFA Society of San Francisco’s Program Center in the financial district, focuses on Excel-based financial modeling for mixed-use apartment building development transactions. 

      “Historically, REFM’s virtual attendance Webinars have attracted many participants from northern California, so it was a natural next step to offer live training for this market as well” Mr. Kirsch said.

      Seating is limited for the open-to-the-public training sessions, and preference is given to CFA Institute Charter Holders and Candidates, who must purchase their tickets through the CFA Society of San Francisco website.  Tickets for all others may be obtained online at www.realestatefinancialmodeling.com.   

      Real Estate Financial Modeling is the premier Excel-based financial modeling solutions provider for the real estate professional and academic communities.  REFM was founded in 2009 by Wharton MBA and real estate entrepreneur Bruce Kirsch.

  • March 12, 2010 - REFM To Hold Second Class In Los Angeles
    • Arlington, VA - March 12, 2010 - After selling out the Davidson Conference Center at the University of Southern California in January 2010, Real Estate Financial Modeling founder Bruce Kirsch announced today that REFM will return on Thursday, April 8th to give its highly acclaimed Excel-based financial modeling training again.  

      The popular training seminar, which will be held at 9:00 AM at the Davidson Conference Center, focuses on Excel-based financial modeling for mixed-use apartment building development transactions.  

      “Since REFM launched in September 2009, we have received a steady stream of training inquiries from real estate professionals and students in southern California.  Our success in January confirmed that REFM’s training is in high demand in southern California” Mr. Kirsch said.

      Real Estate Financial Modeling is the premier Excel-based financial modeling solutions provider for the real estate professional and academic communities.  REFM was founded in 2009 by Wharton MBA and real estate entrepreneur Bruce Kirsch.  

  • March 11, 2010 - REFM To Deliver Second Webinar For The Urban Land Institute
    • Arlington, VA - March 11, 2010 - REFM's Bruce Kirsch announced today that REFM will be delivering a second Professional Development Webinar for the Urban Land Institute.  The Basics of Real Estate Finance: Part I Webinar will take place on April 1, 2010 at 1:30 PM Eastern.  The Webinar will focus on teaching the topics and concepts of the Time Value of Money, Discounted Cash Flow and Internal Rate of Return, specifically as they relate to real estate transactions and how they manifest themselves in Microsoft Excel.  To sign up for the Webinar, visit www.uli.org.
       

  • March 09, 2010 - Massey Knakal Partner Shimon Shkury To Speak At REFM Event
    • Massey Knakal Realty Services
      275 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor         
      New York, NY 10016             
      March 9, 2010               

      For more information contact:
      Shannon Krause, Public Relations Coordinator
      212.696.2500, x7793
      skrause@masseyknakal.com

      After selling out The Williams Club in its first appearance in New York last October, financial modeling solutions provider Real Estate Financial Modeling (REFM) is returning by popular demand to New York on Friday, April 9th.   REFM has tailored the agenda for the New York market by teaming with Massey Knakal Realty Services to provide attendees with the most up to date local multifamily market statistics and metrics over breakfast.  Massey Knakal Partner Shimon Shkury will be the keynote speaker of the event.

      A native of Israel, Mr. Shkury entered the real estate industry in 2002, and after only 18 months in the industry, he was named a partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services. Leading the company’s expansion into Upper Manhattan and The Bronx, he has been involved in the sale of nearly $1.5 billion of commercial properties.

      Bruce Kirsch will lead the training portion of the event.  Mr. Kirsch is the founder and principal of REFM, and instructs on real estate finance both for the Urban Land Institute and as faculty at Georgetown University.  A highly-acclaimed trainer, Mr. Kirsch previously worked in commercial brokerage and real estate investment in New York and Washington, DC.

      The limited-seating event will take place on Friday, April 9th, 2010 at The Williams Club, 24 East 39th Street, New York. 

      The Agenda is as follows:

      7:30 AM to 9:00 AM – Networking Breakfast and Market Presentation – Cost: $50.00
      Keynote Speaker: Shimon Shkury, Partner, Massey Knakal Realty Services
      Topic: Spring 2010 State of the New York City Multifamily Sales Market

      9:30 AM to 1:30 PM – Excel-based Financial Modeling Training with Case Study: Acquisition and Renovation of a New York Multifamily Asset – Cost: $295.00
      Instructor: Bruce Kirsch, Founder and Principal, Real Estate Financial Modeling
      Training Session attendees will be given a fully-functional Excel model prior to the session that they may put to immediate use for their own transaction analyses.

      For more information and to sign up, visit www.getrefm.com or call Real Estate Financial Modeling at (703) 577-4110.

  • February 17, 2010 - Bruce Kirsch Named To Georgetown University Real Estate Faculty
    • Arlington, VA - February 17, 2010 - REFM founder and principal Bruce Kirsch announced today that he has been named a Faculty member in real estate at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.  Mr. Kirsch joins a distinguished group of real estate professionals, government officials and academics who teach in the Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate program.  Mr. Kirsch will begin his role by instructing Foundations of Real Estate Finance during the summer 2010 term beginning in May.

  • January 19, 2010 - Product and Training News
    • Arlington, VA - January 19, 2010 - Today REFM founder Bruce Kirsch announced the following news about REFM's Products and Training:

      - There is now a Premium Version of the Mixed-Use Apartment/Multi-Family Development Pro-Forma
      Customizable Excel Model.  This version includes the enhanced functionality of 10 Sensitivity Tables, a Gantt Chart and Soft Cost Curves.

      - REFM has earned CFA Continuing Education Accreditation for its Mixed-Use Office/Industrial Building Development Training Course.

      - There are now three Interactive Webinars available from REFM on weekdays:

         1. Introduction to the Real Estate Business
         2. Microsoft Excel for Real Estate Bootcamp
         3. Real Estate Finance Bootcamp

         For full descriptions and the current schedule, visit the REFM website Training & Events page.

  • December 28, 2009 - REFM Announces First West Coast Training Date
    • Arlington, VA – December 28, 2009 – Real Estate Financial Modeling founder Bruce Kirsch announced today that REFM will be bringing its highly acclaimed Excel-based financial modeling training to Los Angeles on Saturday, January 23, 2010.  REFM has previously delivered its sold-out training sessions throughout the U.S. mid-Atlantic and northeast. 

      The popular training seminar, which will be held at 9:30 AM at the Davidson Conference Center on the University of Southern California campus, will focus on Excel-based financial modeling for apartment building development transactions. 

      “Since REFM launched in September, we have received a steady stream of training inquiries from real estate professionals and students in southern California.  It was an easy decision to offer REFM training in Los Angeles” Mr. Kirsch said.

      Seating is limited for the January 23rd open-to-the-public training session.  Tickets may be obtained online at www.realestatefinancialmodeling.com.   

      Real Estate Financial Modeling is the premier Excel-based financial modeling solutions provider for the real estate professional and academic communities.  REFM was founded in 2009 by Wharton MBA and real estate entrepreneur Bruce Kirsch. 

      Contact:
      Bruce Kirsch
      bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com
      2055 15th Street North, Suite 203
      Arlington, VA 22201
      (703) 577-4110

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  • December 14, 2009 - News From REFM - December 2009

    • News From REFM - December 2009

      - REFM has signed a major public U.S. REIT as an REFM Excel Models customer

      - REFM has been hired by Georgetown University to deliver real estate finance and Excel Bootcamps for its Masters program students in January

      - REFM has completed multiple financial modeling consulting engagements, and is currently taking on more clients. Contact bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com with your project specifications.
       
      - REFM will deliver a live Webinar for the Urban Land Institute in January.

        Webinar: “Demystifying the Excel Pro-Forma – What It Is and How You Can Begin to Master It”
        Monday, January 11, 2010, 1:30 P.M. EST to 3:00 P.M. EST

      - New REFM Products Now Online:

        - Office/Industrial Building Development “Back of the Envelope” Excel Model  Free
        - Office/Industrial Building Development Excel Model, with Video Tutorial - $675 Standard / $75 Academic
        - Office/Industrial Building Development Case Study - $675 Standard / $75 Academic
        - Apartment/Multi-Family Building Development Financial Modeling Video Tutorial - $195 Standard / $55 Academic
        - Office/Industrial Building Development Financial Modeling Video Tutorial - $195 Standard / $55 Academic

      - REFM has been accepted into the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Approved-Provider Program for Continuing Education.  The REFM Apartment/Multi-Family Module, both in the Live and Online formats, is eligible for 3.5 Hours of CFA Continuing Education Credits.

      - New website features!

         - For our growing International customer base and audience, Google Translate is now installed on the top-right corner of every page of the REFM site

         - Top-notch Assumption Data Sources are now available through the site.  Let us know if you feel an important one is missing and we will add it to the list!

         - The REFM Events Calendar is now online

           - Note that we are now giving live Online Product Demonstrations every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 12:30 PM ET.  RSVP now to bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com for the GoToMeeting link and Meeting ID #.

  • November 16, 2009 - REFM To Deliver Webinar For The Urban Land Institute
    • Arlington, VA – November 16, 2009 – Real Estate Financial Modeling founder Bruce Kirsch announced today that REFM will deliver a live Professional Development Webinar for the Urban Land Institute on January 11, 2010.  The title of the webinar is “Demystifying the Excel Pro-Forma: What It Is and How You Can Begin To Master It”, and it will take place from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM EST.  Seats are limited and must be purchased through the Urban Land Institute.

      In the Webinar, REFM will demystify the pro-forma by breaking it down into its essential components, analyze the pieces individually in easy-to-understand language, and then re-assemble them into the original whole.

      The relationships between the constituent parts will be explained so that participants will intimately understand the entire spreadsheet and its various functions. Participants will get an Excel-based pro-forma to review prior to the session so that they may prepare their questions in advance of the webinar.

      Professionals and students who want to improve or want to become experts in Excel-based financial modeling should attend.

      Attendee Takeways will include:

          * Understanding of the time value of money (discounted cash flow) model
          * The major components of the pro-forma, including:
                - Sources and Uses of Funds Sheet
                - Cash Flow Sheet
                - Capitalized Valuation Sheet
                - Returns Metrics Sheet
          * “Cardinal Rules” of modeling with Microsoft Excel
          * Keyboard Shortcuts

      Real Estate Financial Modeling is the premier Excel-based financial modeling solutions provider for the real estate professional and academic communities.  REFM was founded in 2009 by Wharton MBA and real estate entrepreneur Bruce Kirsch. 

      Contact:
      Bruce Kirsch
      bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com
      2055 15th Street North, Suite 203
      Arlington, VA 22201
      (703) 577-4110

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  • November 11, 2009 - REFM Becomes A CFA Institute Continuing Education Provider
    • Arlington, VA - November 11, 2009 - REFM announced today that after only two months in business, it has been granted program-level participant status in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Approved-Provider Program for Continuing Education. The CFA Institute encourages continuing education to help its members develop professional expertise, build their businesses, and stay on top of a rapidly changing investment industry.  REFM was recognized for its high-quality programming in its selection as an Approved-Provider.

      REFM's Excel-based Apartment Financial Modeling content, both in the live and online formats, has been certified for 3.5 hours of Continuing Education credits.  Other CFA CE accreditations for REFM content are forthcoming in the next few months.

  • October 28, 2009 - Urban Land Institute Philadelphia Sponsors REFM Training
    • Arlington, VA - October 28, 2009 - The Urban Land Insitute Philadelphia District Council has sponsored REFM's November 14th Live Group Training Session that will be held at The Wharton School. The Session will cover Excel-based Financial Modeling for Apartment/Multi-Family Building Development, the same topic that attracted over 70 Professional and Student attendees in New York just last weekend. Attendees do not need to be ULI Members, but tickets to the session must be purchased through the ULI Philadelphia District Council Events page at this link: http://philadelphia.uli.org/Events/Upcoming%20Events/81261019.aspx.

  • October 25, 2009 - REFM Training Session Packs The Williams Club
    • New York - October 25, 2009 - REFM packed The Williams Club in Midtown Manhattan Saturday with its Apartment/Multi-Family Development Financial Modeling Training.  More than 70 New York Tri-State Area professionals and students attended the seminar, which was taught by REFM founder Bruce Kirsch.

      At the end of the 4-hour session, Mr. Kirsch announced that the REFM Office/Industrial Building Development Module would be released in early November prior to the Urban Land Institute Fall Meeting.  Copies may be reserved by emailing bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com.

  • September 22, 2009 - A Student Of The Real Estate Game Product Review
    • Product Review: Real Estate Financial Modeling (REFM) Launches Video Tutorials - A Student of the Real Estate Game by Joe Stampone on September 22, 2009.

      My foray into blogging has afforded me a number of interesting and exciting opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to me. For example, I was recently contacted by Bruce Kirsch, founder of Real Estate Financial Modeling (REFM), to review his unique financial modeling video tutorial service. Before I get into my assessment, I want to state that this is an entirely subjective review and I have no vested interest in the success of the product. My only intent with this blog is to help my readers grow and progress as students of real estate.

      With that said, Bruce’s service fills a gaping void in the marketplace. REFM offers informative, detailed and affordable video tutorials intended to teach both students and professionals financial modeling skills. As the commercial real estate industry continues to evolve, it is more important than ever to posses advanced financial modeling skills. In an industry devastated by the recession of late there exists an ever increasing demand for innovative analytical skills and I foresee Bruce’s services to be a crucial component in meeting these growing demands.                        

      Currently, the only video tutorial available on REFM is an apartment/multi-family development module, but in the near future one will be able to choose between office/industrial development, hotel development, condo development, and single family detached house/town home development.

      Here’s the deal - Each module contains the following downloads:

      1.  Excel-based financial models for the development of the real estate product type of one’s choice
      * Tutorial version and Presentation version
      * Both models are 100% unlocked, annotated and fully customizable
      * Models include presentation-, bank- and investor-ready Exhibits, including two equity return waterfall structures

      2.  3-hour long digital Video Tutorial with closed captioning and chapter and sub-chapter navigation control
      * The Video Tutorial will teach the customer in explicit detail how each line in the Model was built so that one may customize the model to suit his or her needs
      * The module is broken down into 6 videos to make it more manageable

      3.  A 75-100 page searchable Audio Transcript of the audio track of the Video Tutorial.

      *10% Discount with purchase of 3 or more Modules
      * Prices are $165 standard and $45 academic

      Now that the details are out of the way, I want to share my experience with the product and its ease of use. The tutorial methodically walks through the excel model line by line, detailing each calculation and assumption. There were times where I got lost in the video, but being able to pause/rewind and go back into the model made easy for me to re-orient myself. This is a key feature because in the live excel modeling seminars I have attended to date, I’m hesitant to have the teacher stop and re-explain certain things. Bruce’s product allows me to learn at my own pace.

      I am also a big fan of the searchable audio transcript. After completing the video tutorial, I went back to explore the model in further detail. Whenever I was confused, I could simply search the audio transcript and figure out exactly how the model worked. Many times after an excel training course I feel comfortable for a short period of time, but after awhile I begin forget certain lessons. The audio transcript alleviates such an issue.

      I’ve taken excel modeling courses through both the NYU Real Estate Institute and professional companies, and the skills I learned in REFM’s video tutorials surpassed those I learned in the formal seminars.

      I strongly recommend REFM’s video tutorials and believe it equips students with the training necessary to enter the real estate game.

      On a side note, Bruce is teaching a training session in Midtown NYC on 10/24 and is offering a reduced price for NYU students. To register, simply visit www.realestatefinancialmodeling.com, follow the steps to create an Account, and then email bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com to let Bruce know you have created an Account so he can update your status to include Academic pricing. Once you receive an email back from Bruce, add the module to your cart, input the coupon code at checkout (contact me for the coupon code eligible for NYU students only) and you’re all set!

  • September 09, 2009 - REFM To Exhibit At 2009 ULI Fall Meeting And Urban Land Expo
    • Arlington, VA – September 22, 2009 – REFM announced today that it would be exhibiting its Product Modules and Case Studies at the 2009 ULI Fall Meeting and Urban Land Expo from November 4th through the 6th, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. REFM will be located in Booth # 306.

      REFM's exhibits will include multiple interactive product demonstration stations, and the company's principals will be present to answer questions.

      To view the Expo Floor Plan, visit: http://www.urbanlandexpo.org/exhibitors/floorplan.cfm.  To learn more and sign up for the Meeting and Expo, visit: http://www.urbanlandexpo.org/.

  • September 08, 2009 - REFM Launches To Meet Growing Demand In Real Estate
    • REFM Launches to Meet Growing Demand in Real Estate for Fundamentals-Based Analytical, Investment and Educational Resources

      WASHINGTON, Sep 22, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Arlington, VA-based Real Estate Financial Modeling (REFM) officially launched this week to meet the growing demand in the real estate professional and educational realms for new and improved fundamentals-based, quantitative real estate development financial modeling resources.

      With real estate professionals and students worldwide returning to conservative underwriting standards, there is now a strong increase in demand for innovative analytical, investment and educational resources to help the real estate community better analyze and present both their distressed and non-distressed transactions in this rigorous way.

      REFM’s products and services include:

       - Excel-based Financial Models and accompanying Video Tutorials
       - Case Studies
       - Live Group Training Sessions
       - Consulting.

      Unique to REFM’s offerings is the highly detailed learn-at-your-own-pace Video Tutorial component.  In providing this element, REFM not only empowers its customers with the ability to customize Excel-based Financial Models to their particular needs, but also saves university professors and students valuable class time for more nuanced teaching and learning of these critically important technical skills.  Additionally, a REFM Case Study is already on a syllabus at the University of Southern California, and 12 other major universities worldwide are currently evaluating the Case Study product.

      “Now, more than ever, meticulous quantitative analysis of real estate transactions is critical,” stated Bruce Kirsch, Principal of REFM. “Commercial real estate professionals investing in both distressed and non-distressed transactions have purchased REFM’s products to arm themselves with razor-sharp technical knowledge and analytical skills, as have real estate students, so that they can operate at the highest level from day one on the job. The strength of the REFM platform has been highly beneficial to those who have engaged it.”

      Real Estate Financial Modeling was founded by Wharton MBA and real estate developer and entrepreneur Bruce Kirsch.  REFM aims to be the global premier provider of Excel-based financial spreadsheet models, financial modeling training and education, and financial modeling consulting for real estate development transactions of all types.

      Real Estate Financial Modeling
      Bruce Kirsch
      703-577-4110
      bkirsch@realestatefinancialmodeling.com

      Copyright Business Wire 2009