Commercial Investment Real Estate Winter 2020 | Page 40

CCIM CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT
By Nicholas Leider
MEETU BHATNAGAR
M
Meetu Bhatnagar
eetu Bhatnagar is a real estate
agent based in Irving, Texas, cur-
rently pursuing her CCIM desig-
nation. The president of JMD Acquisitions,
she took a unique route to commercial real
estate. After receiving her Ph.D. in organ-
ic chemistry, Bhatnagar began investing
in real estate in 2010. Six years later, she
received her license in Texas, where she
specializes in investment properties and
daycares, though she is pursuing multifam-
ily deals.
Bhatnagar has received the Interna-
tional Sterling Society Award from Coldwell
Banker, which honors individuals in the top
17 percent internationally. She spoke with
Commercial Investment Real Estate maga-
zine to discuss her journey toward earning
the CCIM designation.
CIRE: CAN YOU SUMMARIZE YOUR EX-
PERIENCES, BOTH PERSONAL AND PRO-
FESSIONAL, THAT LED YOU TO SEEK THE
CCIM DESIGNATION? WHAT WAS THE
“AHA MOMENT” WHEN YOU KNEW THIS
WAS GOING TO BE YOUR CAREER PATH?
BHATNAGAR: I started investing in real
estate in 2010 as a part of my dream to
be an entrepreneur. I worked on the ac-
quisition of a preschool for 200 kids with
a value-add opportunity and successfully
turned it around quickly. I wanted to have
multiple locations, so I decided to pursue
my real estate license so that I could do
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COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE
extensive due diligence. Commercial real
estate was always my passion, and I was
determined to provide the best service to
my clients. Pretty quickly, I was among
the top three producers in my office. Be-
cause of this, I received a scholarship for
emerging broker training from my com-
pany, Coldwell Banker Commercial. When
I went to Los Angeles for the training, I
first heard about CCIM Institute from the
instructor. Learning how the designation
would help me be seen among top recog-
nized leaders in commercial real estate was
my “aha moment.”
CIRE: WHY DID YOU ENROLL IN CI 101?
WHAT FACTORS LED TO TAKING THAT
FIRST STEP?
BHATNAGAR: I have a background in
research and analytics. But really, I am
a continuous learner, so I believed that
CI 101 would enhance my financial analyt-
ical skills. I figured I would become com-
fortable doing complex financial analyses,
making better investment decisions, and
providing the best advice to my clients.
With all those considerations in mind, I
decided to take my first step and enrolled
in CI 101.
CIRE: HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PUT YOUR
EDUCATION TO USE? HOW HAS THE DES-
IGNATION CURRICULUM IMPACTED YOUR
PROFESSIONAL ABILITIES?
WINTER 2020