Eller Trio Takes Home $15K in 2021 Meritage Residential Real Estate Competition

For the 2021 Meritage Residential Real Estate Competition, hosted every year in the Eller College of Management, finance students were asked if a proposed $15,000 tax credit for first time buyers is a good idea.

Each team had 15 minutes to present during the April 16 Zoom event, followed by a five-minute round of question and answers.

This year’s winning team was comprised of Rory Cunningham ’22 BSBA (Finance), Sai Vishwanathan ’23 BSBA (Finance) and Shane Lombardo ’23 BSBA (Finance), who took home a $5,500 prize.

Teams that placed second and third won $4,000 and $3,000 respectively and fourth and fifth place won $2,500.

The panel of judges for the competition was made up of professionals from various companies including Long Realty, HSL Properties and Nova Home Loans. Steve Hilton ’83 BSBA (Finance), executive chair for Meritage Homes, was not only a judge but has also been a long-time sponsor of the competition.

“Our annual Meritage competition is an incredible event,” says Rick Sias, Finance Department Head and Tyler Family Endowed Chair in Finance. “Our students interact with and receive input from a veritable who’s who of the Arizona real estate industry. We are so fortunate that Eller alum Steve Hilton continues to drive this event forward and look forward to returning in-person next year.”

The 2021 Meritage Challenge was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the college is planning on returning to a live in-person format in 2022.

The Meritage Residential Real Estate Competition consists of student teams from the financial real estate class and students in the real estate researching and reporting on a current real estate issue and then presenting their findings to a panel of industry professionals.