EL PAÍS English · 20 Sep, 04:00 · Business briefing

The Mormon church is expanding its real-estate empire across the United States: ‘They’re opportunists in a very calculated way’

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is significantly expanding its commercial real estate holdings across the United States.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is significantly expanding its commercial real estate holdings across the United States. Reports indicate the organisation is acquiring properties with a highly calculated, opportunistic strategy, leveraging its substantial financial reserves. This move positions the church as a major institutional investor in the property market, diversifying its assets beyond traditional religious infrastructure. For professionals, this highlights the growing influence of non-traditional capital sources in commercial real estate, suggesting a shift in market dynamics where large religious entities are becoming key players in urban development and property investment strategies.

Employer demand for AI in Real Estate skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This expansion signals a shift in commercial real estate dynamics, where institutional investors with long-term horizons are altering market liquidity. You should focus on skills in property valuation and institutional finance to understand these moves. Professionals in commercial real estate, corporate finance, and legal compliance must pay close attention, as transaction volumes involving such entities may rise. A smart professional would deepen their expertise in regulatory frameworks governing religious organisations and large-scale asset management. Consider upskilling in financial modelling to analyse investment trends or studying compliance protocols. Understanding how non-profit entities operate within commercial markets will give you a strategic edge in negotiations and risk assessment.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI in Real Estate, Finance and Accounting, Compliance And Governance and Risk Management Strategies — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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