UTEP Faculty Profiles

Main Content

Zifeng Feng

Assistant Professor
Economics and Finance

Office Building: Business Administration Building
Office Room: Room 206
Phone: (915) 747-5376
Email: zfeng@utep.edu

Bio

Dr. Zifeng Feng is an Assistant Professor of Finance at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), specializing in real estate, corporate finance, and the application of Generative AI tools. Recognized globally for his contributions, the Journal of Real Estate Literature (JREL) ranked him among the top 10 real estate scholars from 2021 to 2023. In 2022, he received the William N. Kinnard Young Scholar Award from the American Real Estate Society. Dr. Feng also serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management and as an Academic Editor for PLOS One.

Awards and Honors

Ranked 3th globally for real estate research productivity (2020–2024) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (03/01/2025-03/31/2025)
Ranked 4th globally for real estate research productivity (2019–2023) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (12/01/2023-12/31/2023)
Ranked 8th globally for real estate research productivity (2018–2022) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (12/01/2022-12/31/2022)
Manuscript Prize Winner, American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting - American Real Estate Society (10/01/2022-10/31/2022)
Kinnard Young Scholar Award - American Real Estate Society (04/01/2022-04/30/2022)
Ranked 7th globally for real estate research productivity (2017–2021) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (12/01/2021-12/31/2021)
Manuscript Prize Winner, American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting - American Real Estate Society (10/01/2021-10/31/2021)

Education

Ph D in Finance, Florida International University (2019)
MS in Real Estate, Florida International University (2014)
MBA in Business Administration, Jinan University (2011)
BA in Public Administration, Peking University (2005)
AA in English Education, Guangdong Teachers College of Language and Arts (2001)

Publications

Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT in Finance Research: Opportunities and Challenges. Financial Innovation. 11 93 (2025), Zifeng Feng, Gangqing Hu , Bingxin Li, Jinge Wang .
A First Look at Financial Data Analysis Using ChatGPT-4o. Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 18 2 (2025), Wen-Hsiu (Julia) Chou, Zifeng Feng, Bingxin Li , Feng Liu.
Investment and Capital Investment in Commercial Real Estate: Case of REITs. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 70 2 (2025), Zifeng Feng, Hardin G. William.
Analyzing the Impacts of Property Age on REITs and the Reasons Why REITs Own Older Properties. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 70 2 (2025), Zifeng Feng, Joseph Ooi, Zhonghua Wu.
REIT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Compensation in the New Era. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 69 4 (2024), Zifeng Feng, William G. Hardin, Zhonghua Wu.
Founder CEOs and ESG International Review of Economics &Finance 94 (2024), Erik Devos, Zifeng Feng, Linh Thompson, Zuobao Wei.
Holding onto the Past: Old Homes, Post-Move Housing Consumption, and the Great Recession. Journal of Real Estate Research. 46 2 (2024), Xun Bian, Zifeng Feng, Zhenguo Lin, Yingchun Liu.
Household Income Growth and Firm Valuation: Evidence from REITs. Journal of Real Estate Research. 46 1 (2024), Zifeng Feng.
Founder CEOs and ESG International Review of Economics and Finance 94 July (2024), Hendrik Devos, Zifeng Feng, Linh Thompson, Zuobao Wei.
Firm Reaction to Geopolitical Crises: Evidence from the Russia-Ukraine Conflict. Journal of Financial Research. 46 S1 (2023), Md Asif Ul Alam, Hendrik Devos, Zifeng Feng.
ESG Disclosure, REIT Debt Financing and Firm Value. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 67 3 (2023), Zifeng Feng, Zhonghua Wu.
Introducing “Focused Firms”: Implications from REIT Prime Operating Revenue. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 67 3 (2023), Zifeng Feng, Peng Liu.
Commercial Real Estate Returns and Innovation Journal of Real Estate Research. 45 3 (2023), Xun Bian, Hendrik Devos, Zifeng Feng.
Empowering Beginners in Bioinformatics with ChatGPT. Quantitative Biology. 11 2 (2023), Evelyn Shue, Li Liu, Bingxin Li, Zifeng Feng, Xin Li, Gangqing Hu.
How Does Local Economy Affect Commercial Property Performance? The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 65 3 (2022), Zifeng Feng.
Local Economy, Asset Location and REIT Firm Growth. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 65 1 (2022), Zifeng Feng, Zhonghua Wu.
Rewarding a Long-Term Investment Strategy: REITs. Journal of Real Estate Research. 44 1 (2022), Zifeng Feng, William Hardin, Chongyu Wang..
Employee Productivity and REIT Performance. Real Estate Economics. 50 1 (2022), Zifeng Feng, William G. Hardin, Zhonghua Wu.
How Does Information Asymmetry Affect REIT Investments? Cost of Capital, Performance, and Executive Compensation. Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management. 27 1 (2021), Zifeng Feng.

Presentations

Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume Chicago, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume DC, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume Asheville, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume New Orleans, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Commercial Real Estate Returns and Innovation (2022), Volume Milan, Xun Bian, Hendrik Devos, Zifeng Feng.

Grants

No info available.

Current/Future Courses

Term	Course	Section
Fall 2025	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	13356
Fall 2025	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	13381
Summer 2025	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	33241

Past Courses

Select Term:

Term	Course	Section	Syllabus
Fall 2025	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	13356
Fall 2025	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	13381
Spring 2025	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	27144	Syllabus
Spring 2025	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	25588	Syllabus
Fall 2024	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	13792	Syllabus
Fall 2024	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	13820	Syllabus
Summer 2024	FIN 4325 - International Finance	32022
Spring 2024	FIN 4312 - Current Issues in Banking	26926	Syllabus
Spring 2024	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	23994	Syllabus
Spring 2024	CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance	23928	Syllabus
Spring 2024	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	26851	Syllabus
Fall 2023	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	14604	Syllabus
Fall 2023	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	14642	Syllabus
Summer 2023	FIN 4325 - International Finance	33491
Spring 2023	FIN 6399 - Finance Dissertation II	25767
Spring 2023	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	24507	Syllabus
Spring 2023	CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance	24426	Syllabus
Fall 2022	FIN 6399 - Finance Dissertation II	18955
Fall 2022	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	18946	Syllabus
Fall 2022	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	19003	Syllabus
Summer 2022	FIN 4325 - International Finance	33925
Summer 2022	FIN 5325 - International Financial Mgmt	35743
Spring 2022	CRE 4301 - Commer'l R. Estate Finance	26371
Spring 2022	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	26499
Fall 2021	CRE 4302 - Commerc'l Real Estate Invest	19027	Syllabus
Fall 2021	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	19007	Syllabus

Course Evaluations

Term	Course	Section	Evaluation
Spring 2025	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	27144	Evaluation
Spring 2025	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	25588	Evaluation
Fall 2024	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	13792	Evaluation
Fall 2024	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	13820	Evaluation
Summer 2024	FIN 4325 - International Finance	32022	Evaluation
Spring 2024	FIN 4312 - Current Issues in Banking	26926	Evaluation
Spring 2024	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	23994	Evaluation
Spring 2024	CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance	23928	Evaluation
Spring 2024	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	26851	Evaluation
Fall 2023	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	14604	Evaluation
Fall 2023	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	14642	Evaluation
Summer 2023	FIN 4325 - International Finance	33491	Evaluation
Spring 2023	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	24507	Evaluation
Spring 2023	CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance	24426	Evaluation
Fall 2022	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	18946	Evaluation
Fall 2022	CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments	19003	Evaluation
Summer 2022	FIN 4325 - International Finance	33925	Evaluation
Summer 2022	FIN 5325 - International Financial Mgmt	35743	Evaluation
Spring 2022	CRE 4301 - Commer'l R. Estate Finance	26371	Evaluation
Spring 2022	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	26499	Evaluation
Fall 2021	CRE 4302 - Commerc'l Real Estate Invest	19027	Evaluation
Fall 2021	FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets	19007	Evaluation

Bio

Awards and Honors

Ranked 3th globally for real estate research productivity (2020–2024) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (03/01/2025-03/31/2025)
Ranked 4th globally for real estate research productivity (2019–2023) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (12/01/2023-12/31/2023)
Ranked 8th globally for real estate research productivity (2018–2022) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (12/01/2022-12/31/2022)
Manuscript Prize Winner, American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting - American Real Estate Society (10/01/2022-10/31/2022)
Kinnard Young Scholar Award - American Real Estate Society (04/01/2022-04/30/2022)
Ranked 7th globally for real estate research productivity (2017–2021) - Journal of Real Estate Literature (12/01/2021-12/31/2021)
Manuscript Prize Winner, American Real Estate Society Annual Meeting - American Real Estate Society (10/01/2021-10/31/2021)

Ph D in Finance, Florida International University (2019)
MS in Real Estate, Florida International University (2014)
MBA in Business Administration, Jinan University (2011)
BA in Public Administration, Peking University (2005)
AA in English Education, Guangdong Teachers College of Language and Arts (2001)

Publications

Unleashing the Power of ChatGPT in Finance Research: Opportunities and Challenges. Financial Innovation. 11 93 (2025), Zifeng Feng, Gangqing Hu , Bingxin Li, Jinge Wang .
A First Look at Financial Data Analysis Using ChatGPT-4o. Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 18 2 (2025), Wen-Hsiu (Julia) Chou, Zifeng Feng, Bingxin Li , Feng Liu.
Investment and Capital Investment in Commercial Real Estate: Case of REITs. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 70 2 (2025), Zifeng Feng, Hardin G. William.
Analyzing the Impacts of Property Age on REITs and the Reasons Why REITs Own Older Properties. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 70 2 (2025), Zifeng Feng, Joseph Ooi, Zhonghua Wu.
REIT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Compensation in the New Era. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. 69 4 (2024), Zifeng Feng, William G. Hardin, Zhonghua Wu.

Presentations

Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume Chicago, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume DC, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume Asheville, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Climate Risk Information and Homeowners' Insurance Premium Rates (2023), Volume New Orleans, Chia-Chun Chiang, Zifeng Feng.
Commercial Real Estate Returns and Innovation (2022), Volume Milan, Xun Bian, Hendrik Devos, Zifeng Feng.

No info available.

Current/Future Courses

Term

Fall 2025

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

13356

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2025

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

13381

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2025

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

33241

Syllabus

Past Courses

Select Term:

Term

Fall 2025

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

13356

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2025

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

13381

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

27144

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

25588

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2024

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

13792

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2024

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

13820

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2024

Course

FIN 4325 - International Finance

Section

32022

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2024

Course

FIN 4312 - Current Issues in Banking

Section

26926

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2024

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

23994

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2024

Course

CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance

Section

23928

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2024

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

26851

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2023

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

14604

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2023

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

14642

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2023

Course

FIN 4325 - International Finance

Section

33491

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2023

Course

FIN 6399 - Finance Dissertation II

Section

25767

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2023

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

24507

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2023

Course

CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance

Section

24426

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2022

Course

FIN 6399 - Finance Dissertation II

Section

18955

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2022

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

18946

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2022

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

19003

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2022

Course

FIN 4325 - International Finance

Section

33925

Syllabus

Term

Summer 2022

Course

FIN 5325 - International Financial Mgmt

Section

35743

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2022

Course

CRE 4301 - Commer'l R. Estate Finance

Section

26371

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2022

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

26499

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2021

Course

CRE 4302 - Commerc'l Real Estate Invest

Section

19027

Syllabus

Term

Fall 2021

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

19007

Syllabus

Term

Spring 2025

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

27144

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2025

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

25588

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2024

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

13792

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2024

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

13820

Evaluation

Term

Summer 2024

Course

FIN 4325 - International Finance

Section

32022

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2024

Course

FIN 4312 - Current Issues in Banking

Section

26926

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2024

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

23994

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2024

Course

CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance

Section

23928

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2024

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

26851

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2023

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

14604

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2023

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

14642

Evaluation

Term

Summer 2023

Course

FIN 4325 - International Finance

Section

33491

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2023

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

24507

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2023

Course

CRE 4301 - Real Estate Finance

Section

24426

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2022

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

18946

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2022

Course

CRE 4302 - Real Estate Investments

Section

19003

Evaluation

Term

Summer 2022

Course

FIN 4325 - International Finance

Section

33925

Evaluation

Term

Summer 2022

Course

FIN 5325 - International Financial Mgmt

Section

35743

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2022

Course

CRE 4301 - Commer'l R. Estate Finance

Section

26371

Evaluation

Term

Spring 2022

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

26499

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2021

Course

CRE 4302 - Commerc'l Real Estate Invest

Section

19027

Evaluation

Term

Fall 2021

Course

FIN 3325 - Money & Capital Markets

Section

19007

Evaluation

FACULTY PROFILES

Quick Links

Zifeng Feng

FACULTY PROFILES

Zifeng Feng

Bio

Education

Scholarly and Creative Activity

Grants

Courses

Course Evaluations