Breaking into real estate with REFA

For college students interested in commercial real estate, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out where to begin. The Real Estate & Finance Association focuses on guiding students interested in the real estate industry and providing them with resources. 

As internship and job application deadlines have been getting moved up earlier, many students are forced to apply before even taking a real estate class. REFA prepares students by helping them understand the commercial real estate industry, gain experience and build relationships before graduation or their junior summer. The group is student‑led and open to all majors, exposing students to the wide range of career paths available in commercial real estate.

Part of making this happen is connecting students with professionals and alumni, fostering relationships that could lead to mentorships.

Zander Iacono, President of REFA, understands how difficult it is to navigate the industry without a clear roadmap. Iacono originally studied marine biology at the University of Miami, but after his first semester, he quickly realized the field wasn’t for him.

Having a background in real estate through family, he decided to switch to the business school and give real estate a chance. He immediately started networking and doing his own research and landed an internship that summer. Upon returning, he joined REFA as a sophomore with the goal of learning as much as possible while helping other students navigate an industry that can initially be difficult to understand.

“I was always interested in the debt side of commercial real estate,” Iacono said. “But joining really showed me the breadth of the industry,” explaining how his curiosity grew once he got involved.

The organization’s programming helped guide Iacono as he moved into leadership. As president, he has focused on hosting structured education events for new members. These sessions introduce students to internship timelines, professional development, and key industry sectors —including debt, equity, development, and capital markets — helping them identify the career paths that best align with their interests. 

The group also offers interview preparation and résumé workshops designed for those who may not have taken real estate or business school coursework yet but are already expected to apply for internships.

Guest speaker events are a core part of REFA’s calendar, including an annual visit from UM alum Brian Horner of BridgeInvest, who discusses bridge lending — the same niche Iacono explored during his first- and second-year student summers.

At the end of each fall semester, REFA hosts its State of the Market panel, which brings together five to six professionals from across South Florida’s commercial real estate landscape. Speakers from debt, development, brokerage, capital markets, and more share their outlook on where the market is headed and what students should be paying attention to.

For students unsure of where to start, Iacono’s advice is simple. “Start reaching out to people; find out what they are working on. As a college student, you really have a free pass.”

He stresses how getting informed quickly can clarify a student’s direction.

“Within that first month of REFA, I’ll have a student come up to me and say, ‘I really enjoyed hearing from one of the speakers you brought in. I think I want to pursue development now,’” he said, explaining how exposure to industry professionals can help students discover which areas of real estate interest them most.

This is what REFA offers, according to Iacono: turning an unstructured, word-of-mouth process into an accessible community that brings opportunities directly to students. So, for students who feel behind or unsure of their path, they don’t have to climb the learning curve alone.

“Listen to people, even if they are not working in the specific area you think you are interested in; you can learn so much just for listening,” Iacono said. “The next step which really separates successful REFA members is what you do after you listen. Do you follow up, do you read more, do you start to follow that market?”

For those who make it through the competitive application process and resonate with REFA’s mission, the organization offers ways to explore the industry through speaker events, structured education sessions, interview prep, and direct access to professionals across the commercial real estate industry.

The early exposure REFA provides is particularly valuable for students seeking opportunities in commercial real estate, allowing them to approach recruiting with a clearer understanding of the industry, more connections to tap into and a stronger foundation from which to begin their careers.

As Iacono put it, the first step is simple: “Get involved. REFA was built to make sure students don’t have to figure it out alone.”