About
Jim Costello is a New York–based commercial real estate economist and Chief Economist at MSCI Real Assets. With more than three decades of experience, he specializes in analyzing the intersection of government economic data and private real estate performance. His work focuses on helping industry leaders understand market trends, risk, and asset values through clear, data-driven insights.
Costello began his career managing a team of Census workers during the 1990 Census, an experience that shaped his understanding of how economic data is collected and applied. He later worked in government and transitioned to the private sector with CBRE before joining Torto Wheaton Research, where he spent nearly 20 years developing analytical frameworks widely used across the industry.
In 2015, he joined Real Capital Analytics, which was later acquired by MSCI, where he continues to play a key leadership role. Throughout his career, Costello has advised policymakers, including during the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He is actively involved in the industry as President of the Real Estate Research Institute and frequently contributes to academic and professional communities through speaking and research.
