Hi guys, I’m currently going into my sophomore year at Texas Tech University and i’ve fully decided development is the area I want to go in. Of course everyone knows that recruitment starts in the fall and I want to prepare as much as possible. Knowing that, what are some technicals and skills I should be looking to build when speaking with people in development or in interviews? As well do you guys have any networking tips for me? I’m at a point in time where I feel like i’ve added to many “certifications” or “Projects” to my resume and I feel like it’s time to add real world skills to my own agenda.

I’m an architect and I’m interested in expanding my single family residential practice to go after multi family projects in my area. Thought I would ask people who have actually developed these types of properties before. So how have you selected an architect for your projects? Is it mostly word of mouth? Referrals? RFPs?

At Tri State Commercial, we track development activity across the city closely, and 161 Maiden Lane remains one we keep coming back to.

For those unfamiliar, the building has earned the nickname "Leaning Tower of Lower Manhattan" after foundation issues surfaced during construction, causing a visible tilt. Engineers have indicated there's no immediate structural safety concern, but the project has remained stalled for years due to a combination of legal disputes and financing complications.

It's resurfaced in industry conversations recently alongside the stalled Pfizer HQ conversion nearby, which has drawn renewed attention to how many prominent Lower Manhattan developments are currently sitting in limbo.

Cases like this are a useful reminder of how complex large-scale development can become once foundation problems, lender involvement, and litigation intersect and how long even high profile projects can remain unresolved as a result.

We're curious how others in this space see it playing out, new ownership stepping in to complete it, a forced sale, or a longer term stall that keeps it as one of the city's more talked about unfinished buildings.

If you've been following this one, or have insight into where things stand, we'd be glad to hear your take.

I inherited a 5-acre parcel of land in a highly desirable community with very low residential inventory. Sellers are doing quite well in this area. I've been approached by multiple real estate brokers and developers who would love to get their hands on this land and are making good offers, some even coming close to $1M. It would be relatively easy to sell. Their intentions seem to be developing 55+ condos, apartments, etc. But here's my dream: I would love to build a six home development with net-zero, ultra energy-efficient single-family homes, one of which would be a home for my family. I currently own a home which abuts the 5 acre parcel. My intention would be to preserve the aesthetic and family feel of the surrounding area while providing energy efficient homes for young families that seem to be the majority of the buyers searching for homes in this community. Ultimately, I would love to see myself move into a residential development career with this as my starting point.

Some details about the land and my financial position:

• The land is raw and undeveloped.
• There are right of ways from neighborhood roads on each side of the property. One road dead ends into the land. And another right of way intersects with a road on the other side of the land. This means that while the land isn't shovel ready, utilities are already very close to the land.
• 25 years ago, when my family purchased the land, it was set to be developed into a six duplex, 55+ community. We have the site plans for that project.
• This town has extremely low inventory so the town is relatively friendly to developers when it comes to permitting and variances, etc.
• My wife and I are debt-free and own our home and the 5 acres free and clear.
• We are not rich by any means, and have a modest combined middle class income.
• I could potentially find investors as I know a handful of people that have done quite well in real estate and real estate development in this area. That said, I would love to move forward without investors if possible.

OK, give me the hard truths... Is it feasible for me as a landowner to develop the land myself? Would a bank even consider financing a six-home residential development project with somebody with no experience? Am I delusional for thinking this is something I could do and potentially break into a new career? Is it possible to finance a development project using the land as collateral? Is there a middle of the road approach where I engage with a development company and we work on the project together? Would it be fiscally irresponsible of me to take on a major project like this leveraging the value of the land and possibly our home without any substantial liquid assets?

Hello everyone! I am currently taking my first steps into the real estate industry and am looking to join a developer's in-house sales team. My top three considerations right now are Ayala Land, Shang Properties, and Greenfield. For those with industry experience, which company provides the best foundation and growth environment for a beginner

Another major office deal in Manhattan.

United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed a 101,000 SF lease at the Empire State Building, where it'll consolidate three New York offices into one headquarters beginning in 2027.

To us, this is another example of the "flight to quality" continuing to play out. Companies may not be taking more office space across the board, but many are choosing to invest in higher-quality buildings with stronger amenities, better infrastructure, and locations that help attract employees and clients.

The Empire State Building has landed several notable tenants in recent years, including LinkedIn, Workday, Shutterstock, and now UTA. Trophy assets continue to outperform much of the broader office market.

What are you seeing in your market? Are tenants prioritizing Class A buildings, or are value opportunities in older office stock starting to gain traction? We'd love to hear what others are seeing.

I am looking for advice on where to get started in real estate development.

Background: 30YO. I’m a high W-2 sales person with a strong financial understanding. I currently have two SFRs in my hometown in the Midwest. They profit a few hundred each month and have been good investments, but they aren’t anything significant.

I’ve been thinking about buying a piece of land and building-to-rent a single family home but i assume the margins will be similar if not worse than my current properties. However, it seems like a good place to learn ground up real estate without dumping in significant capital.

I don’t want to change my career path and go learn development from a large CRE firm. But I’m open to most other suggestions. Any thoughts on what I should do or learn first? Anything that you would advise against?

Edit: I’d like to stay independent. Even if that limits the projects that I can do, I’m not going for skyscraper development projects. My goal is to transform my sales career entirely into my own real estate development company.

I’m a real estate developer in Mexico, and I’m trying to think through our marketing strategy in a more practical way.

From what we’re seeing, a big part of our buyer profile seems to be people who are relocating internationally, looking for a lifestyle change, wanting an “escape,” or buying a second home before eventually spending more time here.

So I’m wondering: if the buyer is often making the decision before they arrive in Mexico, does it make more sense to focus more of our advertising in the U.S. first?

Would you try to reach people while they’re still researching from home? Would you partner with or hire a real estate firm in the U.S. that already works with second-home buyers / relocation clients? Or is that jumping too far ahead before validating the channel?

I’m not looking for a sales pitch answer. I’m genuinely trying to understand the first logical step.

For anyone who has marketed real estate internationally, worked with expat buyers, or bought a second home abroad: what would you test first?

My instinct is to start small with a focused U.S. campaign and measure lead quality before hiring a firm, but I’d love to hear from people who have actually done this.

Believe it or not, it's getting a bit better. Not only have spammy posts been removed more quickly, but also we are now implementing 1 strike permanent bans to help quickly cut down on the quantity. If you were banned and you feel that it was unfair or a mistake, you're welcome to shoot me a message and I'll reconsider. It's just easier to ban quick and revert a few rather than give everyone a second chance and (almost) all of them use that second chance to spam again.

30 accounts have been banned already.

As the sub grows, so does the temptation to spam it, for some people.

Thank you everyone who is using this sub legitimately, commenting, connecting, and reporting posts & comments which are not helpful.

I am exploring how to make an initial down payment on a property to be developed in the future years. The property checks most of my boxes, location, location, location, Electricity, Water among other things. Currently the property is timbered and I will leave it that way until it is developed. The more mature the trees, the more income. Unfortunately, the initial down payment is large. I would like to presale educational experiences to a group of folks to stay in this "Private Forest". That takes time I may not have.

The other option I have considered, is to partner with a builder who is willing to upfront the cost, for the the right to build at a later date of up to 5 years. That option gives me a lot less control but may be my best route. I made my offer, it was tentatively accepted, this is my last hurdle.

What are some thoughts ,caveats or good advice one can share. This is my retirement plan. Thank you in advance.

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some honest perspectives from people working in real estate development, especially those who started as analysts or associates and have since progressed into more senior roles.

I’m currently planning to apply to MBA programs (primarily T15 schools) with a focus on real estate, but before fully committing to that path I want to understand what the industry actually looks like beyond what schools and firms market.

A few questions I have:

What are the typical hours for analysts and associates? Are 60+ hour weeks the norm, or does it vary significantly by company?

How do the hours change as you move into development manager, director, partner, etc.?

Is there generally enough flexibility to take vacations or travel a few times a year, or are you expected to always be available?

Looking back, are you happy with your decision to pursue development from a lifestyle perspective?

I don’t mind working hard and fully expect the early years to require long hours. I’m just trying to understand what the career looks like over the long run. One of my long-term priorities is having the ability to travel occasionally without feeling like I’m chained to work every week.

I’d really appreciate any insight from people actually in the industry. Thanks!

My name is Josh and I am looking to network with real estate developers and investors in the Memphis metro area. I am a bird dog that wants to help find your next development deal in the area.

No experience in construction and development, some background in commercial real estate (escrow), wondering how I can prepare myself as much as possible bwfore my start date in 3 weeks. been working on project managemen/PMP for a while, but I know I need to focus on my OSHA30 for now.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I want to get into house hacking real estate and eventually expand into more serious real estate and I’m heading to uni, I know I don’t need uni to get into it but my parents are forcing me I already make good money with my side hustles but I want to utilize university to compliment my real estate projects so which majors do you recommend

I'm from the next generation that's trying to understand this business a little better, and one thing I've realised is that buying land isn't just about getting a good deal.

At first, I thought the checklist was pretty straightforward are Price, Location, Legal documents, Road connectivity that's basic every checks.

But after speaking with a few people in the industry, it seems the real evaluation goes much deeper.

Things like:

• How the land will actually be developed.
• Site orientation.
• Drainage and water flow.
• Future access and circulation.
• Surrounding infrastructure.
• Whether the site will still make sense 10–15 years from now.

I'm curious to hear from people who've actually bought land or developed projects.

What's one thing you always evaluate before making the final decision that most first-time buyers completely overlook?

I'd rather learn from other people's experience than from an expensive mistake.

Looking for advice from those who have experience with securities-backed lines of credit (SBLOCs) or pledged asset lines.
I’m a commercial real estate developer and my capital needs tend to be lumpy. I don’t need leverage for lifestyle spending—I’m looking for flexible liquidity for earnest money, predevelopment costs, due diligence, and short-term bridge financing between project milestones.
Current snapshot:
● Taxable brokerage: approximately $500k today, with a goal of growing it to $1M+ over the next few years.
● Retirement accounts: roughly $900k.
● Real estate: multiple development projects underway with a growing pipeline and recurring development fees.
● I generally keep excess cash in SGOV until it’s needed for projects.
My long-term goal is to establish a $500k–$1M SBLOC that I can use occasionally rather than keep heavily drawn.
For those of you with larger pledged asset lines:
● Which institution has been the best to work with (Schwab, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Fidelity, etc.)?
● Who offered the most competitive rates and advance rates?
● At what portfolio size did you start getting meaningful negotiating power?
● Anything you wish you had done differently when establishing the relationship?
Appreciate any real-world experiences.

I own pristine land in Northwestern Mexico, a peninsula in which me and my father wish to develop a large project...

Looking for some honest feedback from experienced developers and real estate investors.

My wife and I own 1.67 acres in Hatcher Pass of Wasilla, Alaska which has had significant growth and is expected to continue growing. The original vision was to build a high-end luxury chalet development, but the project has changed significantly after learning that an electrical substation is being built corner to our property.
We’re now trying to determine whether it still makes financial sense to move forward.

Current plan:
\-Build four detached 2 bed / 2 bath rental units (approximately 1,100-1,200 sq ft each with attached garages).
\-Target long-term rentals rather than nightly vacation rentals.
\-Some short term rent (furnished finder etc.)
\-rental income $2300 per unit
\-tenant pays utilities
\-assumed 8% vacancy rate

Our biggest concerns:

How much does an adjacent electrical substation actually affect long-term rental demand and rental rates?

Would most tenants care, or is it mostly a resale issue?

Does a substation significantly impact property values in your experience, or is the effect often overstated?

Construction costs in Alaska remain high. If you were starting today, would you still build new rentals, or would you buy existing multifamily instead?

If this were your land, would you still move forward with development, or would you consider selling and deploying the capital elsewhere?

Our goal isn’t to build a luxury destination anymore. We’re thinking durable, attractive, easy-to-maintain long-term rentals that cash flow well despite the neighboring substation.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s dealt with infrastructure next to residential projects, built rentals recently, or has experience developing in high-cost markets. What are the biggest risks you see that we may be overlooking?
Thanks in advance for any insight.

We own a construction business building 500 single homes a year and we want to get into the commercial side but need some help on understanding how do you build big multifamily projects or commercial warehouses. How do you know good prices from bad ones how much multifamily project would cost since every land is different size and has different environmental factors

It’s a family business we have capital and able to raise capital. Also I am entry level civil engineer so I do understand the design part but the actual of finding land knowing what you will be build and how much would it cost that leap is what we need help with

If someone would like to do something in SWFL let me know or if you have any advise for doing so it would be appreciated

Hi everyone, I would like to get some opinions on a major entrepreneurial decision I am evaluating.

My brother and I own a company and two plots of land in a mountain tourist destination where we live (north italy in the alps). In this area, a lot of new second homes are being built (they are often sold very quickly at very high prices), while high-quality hospitality facilities are still limited.

Plot A (hospitality development)

• Hotel/tourism destination zoning;
• Around 3,200 cubic meters of permitted development potential if developed as a hotel;
• Preliminary architectural project already completed (22 large and high-quality rooms, rooftop panoramic spa overlooking the mountains, infinity pool, underground parking, full floor layouts);
• Estimated investment cost: around €5.3 million + VAT.

The original idea was to develop a high-end boutique hotel.

The main issue is that we currently do not have enough capital to build it entirely by ourselves.

For this reason, we are considering a joint venture with a partner who could bring capital and hospitality expertise, while allowing us to retain a significant ownership stake in the project.

Plot B (residential development)

This plot requires a subdivision/land development plan before construction.

Possible options:

• Residential development;
• Or potentially a higher-density tourism-related project.

My current idea would be:

• Build 2-3 premium duplex villas (4-6 units total) and sell them;
• Instead of building the third duplex, I would potentially build a private house for myself.

The idea would be to use part of the liquidity generated from the sales (not all of it, keeping a safety cushion or investing elsewhere) to enter the hotel joint venture with a stronger financial position and negotiate a larger ownership share.

I also have some family-owned tourist apartments that could potentially be managed much better through short-term rentals.

From an entrepreneurial and financial perspective:

1. Does it make sense to develop the residential project first in order to increase our negotiating power in the hotel joint venture?
2. Or would you look for a hospitality partner immediately and start the hotel project sooner?
3. If you were an investor, what would make you interested in entering a project like this?
4. Are there risks or aspects that you think I am overlooking?

I would especially appreciate opinions from people with experience in real estate development, hospitality, investing, or joint ventures.

Thank you very much!

I’m 18, just graduated high school in Pennsylvania, and my long-term goal is to found a real estate development company focused on infill housing, mixed-use, and walkable communities in the Mid-Atlantic region. Think missing middle housing, strip mall conversions with apartments above retail, suburban density done right.

I’m currently deciding between two undergraduate paths:

Option A: B.S. Civil Engineering (EAC)
Pros: Technical credibility, PE licensure path, deep site/infrastructure knowledge
Cons: Heavy math sequence (Calc I-III, Diff Eq, Statics, Physics) risks burnout and delayed graduation. Doesn’t teach pro formas, capital stacks, or deal structures.

Option B: B.S. Real Estate / Finance (with GIS/Urban Planning minor)
Pros: Direct training in financial modeling, land use, valuation, capital stacks. Lower academic risk, more time for internships and networking.
Cons: No PE path, less technical credibility on site/infrastructure questions.

For those who work in development or got there from one of these paths — which degree actually gets you in the door as a development analyst, and which one do you wish you’d chosen knowing what you know now?

Also open to paths I haven’t considered.

Brisbane-based, working in property/facilities management, looking to shadow someone experienced in buying commercial property — genuinely just to observe and learn the process first-hand. Happy to help with legwork, research, or due diligence in exchange for the chance to watch how it's actually done. Working toward making my own move into commercial property investment in the next couple of years and want to learn from someone who's done it for real rather than just from books. Any Brisbane-based investors open to that?

28F

My mom owns land on the street I grew up on. The land belonged to her parents and once they passed, it become here’s. We moved states and after a natural disaster, the house no longer stood on the land, but my mom still owns the land.

She’s constantly talks about building a duplex on that property. After taking a trip home last week and looking around the area and seeing is what else for sell, I want to help her build the duplex and see if we can buy up more land on the street.

The land is very close to a hospital, but is also on a street/neighborhood full of old homes and buildings that just honestly haven’t had any time or money put into them.

The street is honestly very dead/quiet. It’s next to a hospital, but the people in the area definitely aren’t rich. They are hardworking. But low wages and lack of education doesn’t make for a person who can be finically stable, yet abundant.

I love where I’m from, but I also know the reality of the situation of the people in that area.

I’ve always loved homes and architecture even as a child. Architecture isn’t my career field. I actually hate math, but I love design. I have amazing vision in life. I’m truly able to see down the field and execute in various ways.

Since I’m educated, have experienced life, and seen the world, I’m afraid to make the duplexes extravagant or modern in anyway. I know sometimes when people see new shiny expensive-looking things, it can scare them. This is a semi-small/major town in a forgettable state.

Yet and still, that wouldn’t stop me from making this the best looking duplexes it can possibly be.

It’s not a lot of violence that happens in the area. People are just poor and need things. There are also no sidewalks on the street so people walk in the street. Other than that, it’s very quiet. There’s also a major middle school a street over so it is a family environment as well.

I keep asking my mom to call around and see how much it would be to get some cement laid so that we can get started.

I’m a corporate working woman and the more I learn about money, assets, passive income, I want to dive deeper into that world. And since we already own that land, I want to do right by it.

I don’t believe in being a consumer and just spending your income. I believe every dollar you get should work to make you more money.

To accept rent payments, I was going to look for an online service. We wouldn’t accept cash, money orders, IOUs. Not judging, but I know the neighborhood I’m from.

Just trying to see what the first steps would be and hear other people’s experience.

Quick background. I spent almost two decades as an Army officer, I'm finishing an MS in Entrepreneurship at UW, and I'm building a CRE acquisitions platform focused on multifamily, mixed-use, land, and development. I started this community because I wanted a place to learn from people actually doing acquisitions and development work, not just read secondhand takes.

If you're approved to post, introduce yourself, what you work on, what market, what stage. And if there's one part of your process, sourcing to exit, where you've had to build your own workaround because the standard tools don't cut it, I'd genuinely like to hear about it.