This article draws from the insights shared during a recent IENYC Real Estate Club event, where industry leaders came together to reflect on one of the most enduring—and debated—questions in the sector: is the American Dream through real estate still possible?
The conversation brought together voices from across the real estate ecosystem, including Barack Alberto, National Real Estate Operations Project Manager at Rolex, who offered a rare perspective on corporate-owned real estate and long-term portfolio strategy; Barry Finkelman of Savills, who shared a tenant-representative view on market dynamics, financing shifts, and the resurgence of owner-occupied office space; alongside professionals spanning development, finance, and advisory roles deeply embedded in the New York market.
Together, their experience painted a nuanced, pragmatic, and ultimately optimistic picture of real estate in 2025, and of New York City as a living classroom for those determined to build their future within it.
For generations, New York City has symbolized the American Dream: ambition, reinvention, and the belief that effort can translate into opportunity. In 2026, that promise is often questioned—by rising interest rates, regulatory complexity, shifting work patterns, and global uncertainty.
And yet, for those inside the industry, New York remains something else entirely: the greatest classroom on Earth.
What makes the city exceptional is not that it is easy… but that it is honest. Every deal, every zoning constraint, every financing challenge forces professionals to confront reality quickly. In doing so, New York accelerates learning in a way few places can.
One of the clearest takeaways from the panel was deceptively simple: there is no such thing as a single New York real estate market.
Office, residential, hospitality, logistics, retail—each asset class operates within its own logic. Even within the same neighborhood, two buildings can face entirely different futures depending on tenancy, capital structure, regulatory exposure, and timing.
This is precisely why New York City remains such a powerful training ground. Success here requires moving beyond headlines and asking sharper questions:
In New York, surface-level knowledge is never enough. Depth is the real currency.
Today’s real estate cycle presents real challenges. Loans originated at historically low interest rates are resetting. Financing conditions remain selective. Construction costs continue to pressure feasibility.
For some, this creates hesitation. For others, it creates opportunity.
Across the city, assets are trading below previous valuations. Companies are reconsidering long-term ownership rather than short-term leasing. Developers are focusing less on speed and more on fundamentals.
Real estate, at its core, is an entrepreneurial discipline. It rewards professionals who can hold two ideas at once: caution in the present and confidence in the future. Optimism alone is not enough—but without it, nothing gets built.
A particularly compelling perspective emerged around corporate real estate—an often overlooked side of the industry.
Beyond investment returns, real estate plays a critical role in enabling how organizations function: housing teams, supporting logistics, reducing operational friction, and embedding sustainability into long-term decisions. Office buildings, service centers, and infrastructure are not just assets; they are platforms for performance and purpose.
For students, this reframes the industry. A real estate career does not have to follow a single path. Impact, scale, and technical rigor can, and often do, coexist.
For those at the beginning of their journey, the panel delivered a message that was both encouraging and demanding.
Real estate is open—but it is not passive. It favors people who are adaptable, curious, and willing to build broad skill sets. The most resilient professionals are rarely specialists in only one dimension. They understand finance, design, operations, regulation, and people—and how those elements interact.
Three lessons stood out clearly:
1. Build range, not just expertise
The wider your technical and analytical toolkit, the more valuable you become in complex environments.
2. Learn from practitioners, not only theory
Mentors, internships, and exposure to live projects accelerate understanding faster than any textbook.
3. Treat New York City as a sandbox
Every block, building, and transaction contains lessons—if you pay attention.
The American Dream in 2026 looks different than it once did. It is less linear, more global, and undeniably more complex. But complexity does not eliminate opportunity—it rewards preparation.
Real estate remains one of the most powerful platforms for shaping cities, careers, and long-term impact. And New York, with all its contradictions, continues to be the place where ambition is tested, refined, and—sometimes—fulfilled.
For those willing to learn deeply, think long-term, and engage with the city as it truly is, the classroom is still open.
At IE New York College, students don’t just study real estate. They engage with it directly—through industry dialogue, real-world exposure, and a city that constantly challenges assumptions.
Because here, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Located in the heart of the city, IENYC connects students directly with industry leaders, real-world challenges, and a global community shaping the future of business, real estate, and innovation. If New York is the ultimate classroom, IE New York College is where you learn to navigate it with purpose.
Explore more at IE New York College here.
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