Ilitch School welcomes Mark Habel, adjunct professor of finance

I have 40 years of experience in real estate in nine states, including as Chief of Housing Programs for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the Michigan Office. I also have been a multifamily underwriter, a commercial and residential real estate appraiser, a consultant, director of a nonprofit housing corporation, and CEO and CFO of multiple nonprofit boards. I have an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan.  

What are your primary teaching interests?

Real Estate.

What are your primary research interests?

At this time, I am not doing research with the goal of publishing. I subscribe to and have contributed to publications that publish research. 

Tell me about your background in Technology?

Spreadsheet programs I have written have been used in Federal Government Contracts. I am competent in Excel and in several real estate software programs, including Argus Enterprise. 

Why did you come to the Ilitch School of Business?

In order to teach real estate. For nine years I informally and formally have mentored students in the Ilitch School of Business who want to learn about real estate. 

What makes you passionate about business education?

The instruction, mentoring, and advice that I have received from experienced experts have been crucial in my accomplishments. I am especially grateful for their help early in my career.

What is one thing you wish all your students would do?

All business school graduates should know the fundamentals of real estate: the terms of description and the methods of analysis and valuation. Real estate is the largest investment category in the country. 

What are you excited about seeing in Detroit?

I hope for successful redevelopment of those areas which have been losing improved properties and population for decades.  

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