BUILDING YOUR FUTURE: Real Estate & Development Courses for those exploring a career change.
The best online source of Real Estate information to use in your daily life or future career change.
Hello I am MD3, which is a nickname, moniker and short for my formal name of Michael Joseph Donovan III. I am sharing my 3+ decades of experience as a licensed Architect, Broker, General Contractors with a Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) from the University of Southern California. Now it is time to learn something new...
Wh0 is this Academy for?
• Aspiring Real Estate Professionals
Recent college graduates and career changers looking to break into real estate, development, or investment with the proper knowledge and strategy.
• Industry Insiders Ready to Level Up
For example, Architects, Real Estate Agents, and Construction Professionals who want to transition into development, broaden their expertise, or unlock new career opportunities.
Why Learn from MD3?
1) Elite Education & Global Perspective
He earned my Architecture degree from USC, a Top-10 program, graduating towards the top of his class. As part of USC’s first class to study abroad, he spent half a year immersed in Italy and Europe, exploring and learning from the world’s most iconic architecture.
2) Decades of Hands-On Experience
Over 10 years designing and building theme parks, resorts, hotels, and casinos worldwide for industry giants like Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studios, and Landmark Entertainment Group taught him how to bring bold visions to life.
3) Master’s in Real Estate Development & High-Level Leadership
With his Masters of Real Estate Development (MRED) from USC Price School of Policy, he advanced to Vice President of Development at RTI Properties, overseeing multi-state real estate projects in 12 states.
4) Real-World Experience Across Every Real Estate Sector
He has worked on a diverse array of projects and properties, giving students practical insights into all major asset classes:
5) Licensed Across the Entire Industry
For over 32 years, he has been a California state-licensed:
6) Respected Educator & Mentor
He has been a mentor for hundreds and hundreds of college students and have been invited as a guest lecturer at USC, UCLA, and Pepperdine, sharing insights with top students and future industry leaders.
Why This ACADEMY is Right for you?
1) Bite-Sized, Impactful Lessons
No fluff, just concise, 30-60-minute video lessons packed with real-world insights across Real Estate, Design, Development, Brokerage, and Construction. Each session, led by MD3, is structured for maximum clarity and retention, featuring high-quality visuals and narration. You will learn key insights from his real-life stories of his successes and failures, so that you don’t make the same mistakes.
2) Master’s-Level Knowledge Without the Price Tag
Learn directly from MD3, a 30+ year industry veteran with expertise spanning architecture, construction, and real estate development. With a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) from USC, one of the nation’s top programs, you’re gaining insider knowledge typically reserved for elite graduate programs.
3) Taught by a Respected Industry Expert
MD3 has been invited to guest lecture at top universities, including:
✅ University of Southern California (USC)
✅ University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
✅ Pepperdine University
Now, you get that same high-level instruction, without the university price tag.
4) Customize Your Learning Experience
With 17 specialized courses, you can choose exactly what you need to learn based on your goals. Plus, our three flexible membership levels ensure you get the education that fits your career path.
5) Affordable, Self-Paced Learning for Real Estate Success
MD3 Academy brings graduate-level education to you, without the five-figure tuition or years in a classroom. Our program saves you time and money, giving you a fast track to real estate understanding at a fraction of the cost.
Don’t waste years figuring it out on your own, get the knowledge, strategy, and confidence to succeed in real estate today.
How will you Benefit by joining the MD3 Academy?
1️) Shortcut Years of Trial & Error
Learn in months what takes most people years to figure out through real-world experience. Get insights from a seasoned Architect, Broker, and General Contractor with 35+ years in the industry.
2️) Practical, Actionable Knowledge
No fluff, no theory overload, just real-world strategies you can apply immediately to land deals, manage projects, and confidently navigate zoning, entitlements, and construction.
3) Gain the Confidence to Assess Any Deal
By mastering this information, you'll know the right questions to ask and how to analyze brokerage deals that come your way effectively. Learn from his mistakes, so you don’t have to make them yourself.
4) Flexible, On-Demand Learning
Busy schedule? No problem. The 17 expert-led courses are available anytime, anywhere, so you can learn at your own pace without disrupting your work or personal life.
5) Insider Industry Secrets
Gain access to behind-the-scenes knowledge that top developers, builders, and investors use to maximize profits and minimize risks. This is the knowledge gatekeepers won’t share!
6) A Cost-Effective Investment in Your Future
For a fraction of the cost of traditional real estate programs, you get expert guidance that can help you land better deals, avoid costly mistakes, and level up your career faster.
MD3 Academy
Real Estate Development Courses?
THE USE OF LAND
1 - The Role of the Real Estate Developer
2 - How do we use Land in America?
3 - The Development of Land
FUNDAMENTALS of REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
4 - Planning, Zoning & Entitlement
5 - Community & Government Relations
6 - Capital, Finance & Investing
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
7 - How to Build a House Step by Step
8 - Residential Development - SINGLE FAMILY (Intermediate Course Only)
9 - Residential Development - MULTIFAMILY (Intermediate Course Only)
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
10 - Commercial Development Process (Intermediate Course Only)
11 - Retail, Restaurant & Mixed-Use Development (Advanced Course Only)
12 - Office and Industrial Development (Advanced Course Only)
13 - Hospitality, Hotel & Resort Development (Advanced Course Only)
GETTING your DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DONE
14 - Working with Project Consultants (Advanced Course Only)
15 - Construction & Project Management (Advanced Course Only)
16 - Sales, Brokerage & Contracts (Advanced Course Only)
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALITIES
17 - Sustainability Part ONE (Advanced Course Only)
18 - Sustainability Part TWO (Advanced Course Only)
What to expect?
Here are a sample of 3-5 minute video clips showcasing what you can expect to see when you purchase a membership to view any of my 18 presentations. Take a look for yourself.
Restaurant, Retail and Mixed-Use Development
How to Build a House. Step by step.
Capital, Finance and Investing in Real Estate
MEMBERSHIP PRICES
Start Today! Choose Your Plan Below.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a comparison, UCLA Extension fees start at $895 for one class.
Simple, MD3 is not an expert on this topic. In the Real Estate Finance course, he does cover all aspects of this topic but he purposely does not drill down deep because he does not have that as a focus of his experience and past career.
No. MD3 Academy does not offer any type of certificate program at this time.
No. MD3 Academy is not affiliated with any college or university of higher learning. Our courses are meant to be for general knowledge of each topic that we present.
No. These courses are meant to be for General Knowledge and/or as a first stepping stone toward a possible new career or business. The more you know, the better qualified you will be to take those next steps towards your new goals.
Most likely not because there is so much more for you to know and learn in the high stakes, high risk, and high reward worlds of Development and Investing, but you could easily view this as your first investment in yourself as you start to explore those career and business options.
Yes, he does. Please reach out directly to him at MD3properties@gmail.com to discuss his hourly rate and schedule a time to chat one-on-one.
What People that know MD3 have to say..
Professor Robert Keller
UCLA Extension Program, Real Estate
“Since development is considered the plum job in the real estate industry, MD3’s lectures always stir excitement in the classroom. MD3 has never failed to deliver content with his graphics and subjects and, more importantly, is he able to enliven his slides by drawing on his 30 plus years in architecture, construction, brokerage, development, construction, and project management. In sum, after 25 years of teaching and having hosted dozens of guest speakers, MD3 is my top pick. I’m sure that his own Real Estate Development and Construction courses will be even more thorough and educative.”
Doug Cooper
DreamWorks Executive/UCLA Extension Student
“Learning from MD3 is like drinking from a fire hose - and I mean that in the most positive way possible. The density of knowledge imparted per minute cannot be overstated. MD3's rich experience on a multitude of commercial and residential development projects is unmatched. Just when you're feeling overwhelmed with all the information, MD3 makes himself available to stop and answer questions, deftly illuminating the complex dependencies and challenges that this kind of work can offer. I felt like I learned more in a 2-hour lecture from MD3 than entire semester's in other classes.”
Giovanni Miranda
USC Grad, ASU MBA
“I highly recommend MD3 as a mentor for anyone interested in construction, real estate, or architecture. His comprehensive understanding of the entire building process, from planning to selling, is truly exceptional. MD3's responsiveness and willingness to answer questions, even during late hours, sets him apart. Learning from him has been incredibly valuable.”
Perry Schroeder
Real Estate Developer
“I have known MD3 for 15 years and collaborated with him on numerous real estate development projects. His architectural know-how and real estate development experience provide him with a well-rounded and unique perspective into the industry. Upon hearing about the creation of the educational academy I thought it was a fantastic idea and couldn’t think of anyone better suited to spearhead the effort to share his breadth and depth of industry knowledge. You could learn a lot from him.”
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