This is an exciting, news-focused beat, covering commercial real estate and the residential property market. The successful candidate will be a strong self-starter with the ability to juggle competing demands from several desks while building a wide network of contacts ranging from property bankers to developers, brokers and policy experts.
Property markets are still struggling to adjust to a higher interest rate environment, which has exposed over-leveraged assets and broken business models in a sector that prospered in the long era of rock-bottom rates.
Pressure is building on investment managers, particularly major private capital groups, who have been unable to sell big assets and return cash to investors. The $4.5tn global office market faces an uncertain future, with many of the world’s biggest investors exposed.
This beat includes diving into the murky world of London’s high-end residential market, building contacts to break news on secretive deals involving colourful characters from billionaire business figures to politically exposed international buyers.
The beat also affords opportunities for coverage of hot-button political topics including housebuilding, as well as for international coverage beyond the core UK market. There is scope for smart and selective coverage of global players from New York to continental Europe.
This is a role which lends itself to collaboration, particularly with private capital and deals reporters in London and New York, the Lobby and banking teams.
Key duties
- Cultivate a deep and varied network of sources in the property industry to generate a steady stream of scoops
- Write with authority on global themes and overseas markets
- Unearth the personalities behind the sector and introduce them to our readers with eye-catching tales
- Cover the listed property companies with flair, while also keeping abreast of the housing market and government policy
- Work with other members of the financial services team and other reporters
- Produce simple charts and identify opportunities to collaborate with Visual and Data Journalism team
- Weekend shifts are required as part of the team rota
Who we are looking for
We are looking for a fluent writer with the ability to work with data and corporate balance sheets, but who also has a flair for colourful personality-led stories and human tales that will bring the beat to life. They will need to keep on top of market-moving news while generating a steady stream of scoops and feature ideas, and working with others in the FT’s global network of correspondents.
There is potential for overseas travel, and plenty of scope to write for different sections of the FT in addition to the news pages, such as the Big Read, Wealth, House & Home, and the FT Magazine.
Please submit your application by the end of the day, 19 March 2025.
To apply, go here.
