How Jonathan Andres Is Building a Real Estate Career Path Through Persistence
by The School of Business
January 6th 2026
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Building a Strong Foundation
Jonathan Andres is a senior at Portland State University, studying Communication Studies and pursuing a minor in Real Estate Property Management. As part of his undergraduate studies, Academic Director, Michael Havlik helped Jonathan secure a summer internship with Greystar, a real estate property management company. Jonathan also received a $1,000 scholarship from Multifamily Northwest, which covered the one-credit course fee associated with the program. Reflecting on these experiences, Jonathan says, “These opportunities gave me hands-on knowledge and professional connections that really laid the foundation for my career in real estate.”
Hands-On Experience at the Port of Portland
He is currently interning at the Port of Portland in the Department of Community Impact. His role involves project planning for community events, forums, and webinars, as well as developing surveys to gather qualitative data from the community. Jonathan explains, “I get to collaborate with internal teams and external partners to help the Port engage with the public and support local small businesses, which is incredibly rewarding.”
Lessons from Greystar
Before joining the Port in Fall 2025, Jonathan gained experience at Greystar in leasing, community management, and marketing, which he highlighted during his interview panel for the Port internship. He notes, “Building meaningful connections at Greystar was key to helping me secure my year-long internship at the Port, and it taught me the value of networking and professional relationships.” He will continue in this role until graduation in June 2026, after which he plans to reenter the real estate industry.
Advice for Fellow Students
Jonathan encourages undergraduate students to “make those connections, and do your reps for panel and informational interviews.” He emphasizes that growth often happens when stretching beyond what one feels prepared for. Jonathan began his internship search about a year and a half ago, completing over 50 interviews with sales, marketing, and real estate organizations, learning along the way that patience and persistence are key.