North Hosts Inaugural Real Estate Business Case Competition
North Seattle College’s Real Estate Department successfully hosted its first Real Estate Business Case Competition, the Accessory Dwelling Units Affordable Housing Challenge, bringing together students from multiple academic disciplines to apply classroom knowledge to a real-world housing issue.
The competition challenged students to develop creative, data-driven solutions to an affordable housing case, emphasizing critical thinking, collaboration, and professional presentation skills. Faculty and staff were excited to see students translate theory into practice while navigating the complexities of today’s housing market.
Collaborative, Real‑World Learning Experience
The case competition was developed by Dr. Crews Lyles, Jr. and Mark Potter from North’s Business and Real Estate Department. Their collaboration resulted in a rigorous and engaging experience that mirrored the demands students can expect in the real
estate industry.
Students were placed into teams of two to four and provided with a rubric to guide their initial presentations. Each team prepared a formal presentation, most using PowerPoint, to outline their proposed solution. Following the first round, three teams advanced to the finals.
Adapting to Change Under Pressure
In the final round, teams faced a realistic industry twist designed to reflect how market conditions and project assumptions can shift unexpectedly. With only one hour to prepare, students had to analyze added information, revise their strategies, and deliver an updated presentation.
This phase of the competition tested participants’ flexibility, problem-solving abilities, and professional readiness, offering a
valuable preview of real-world decision-making in real estate and development.
One standout moment was the return of a team that had previously competed in the Inaugural International Business Case Competition. Applying feedback from their earlier experience, the team demonstrated significant growth and earned first place in this year’s competition.
Industry Professionals Give Back
The Real Estate Department was supported by 12 judges, all active professionals in the real estate industry. Among them was a graduate of the Residential and Commercial Property Management Bachelor Program, who returned to mentor and support
current students.
Judges provided expert feedback, industry insights, and encouragement, helping make the competition a meaningful and
memorable learning experience.
Competition Winners and Awards
All winning teams received cash prizes in recognition of their hard work and dedication:
- First place: Sofia Jun, Susanna Wu, and Ryan Komba.
- Second place: Paulson Vienmanapun and Kate Vo.
- Third place: Jafar Abdulridha, Quang Vo, and Jordan Watley.
Reflecting on their success, the first-place team shared that one thing that made them stand out was dressing for the occasion, noting that in business and the professional workforce, first appearance can either make or break you.
Looking Ahead
The Real Estate Department is thrilled with the success of its inaugural competition and looks forward to the next International Business Case Competition that will be hosted in the spring by NSC Business Bachelor program. The department hopes to see even more students participate, gain hands-on experience, and receive professional feedback that prepares them for future careers.