The Changing Nature of Real Estate Asset Management

Whilst much attention is focused on real estate development, the 'in use' period is the longest part of the property lifecycle. Real estate asset management starts from the acquisition of a property and aims to 'add value' during the holding period. Traditionally the focus has been directly on the numbers: what is the income, what is the capital growth? Today, leading asset managers are focused on customer, place and ESG. What does this actually mean in practice: what are they doing and why? Is there any evidence that these aspects lead to increased financial return?

Professor Selma Carson has over 25 years experience in the real estate industry in the UK, as a director of private investment/development companies and with CBRE, after initially training as a Chartered Surveyor with the Valuation Office, a Government agency.  In 2009, she moved into Higher Education and, in 2013, joined the University of Manchester to establish a real estate department.

As Programme Director for MSc Real Estate in Manchester, she has established a thriving course from which graduates go on to successful property careers across the UK and internationally.  Her research interests are focused around ‘making buildings better for business’ and the role of professional bodies in the 21st century, linked to her involvement with the RICS as a regional board director and chair of APC assessment panels.