CREF is a term that might have different meanings depending on the context in which it is being used. It could refer to a commercial real estate finance company, a non-profit organization, or even a type of investment fund. If you're seeking alternatives to the term, you might want to consider using words like "financing," "investment," "capital," or "funding." Other synonyms for the word CREF could include "commercial property financing," "loan services," or "real estate investment funds or funds that invest in commercial real estate properties." At the end of the day, the word CREF can be interchangeable with many terms in the real estate and finance industries, so knowing the context in which it's being used is key.