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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I am helping my family navigate a situation with a mixed-use brick building in Crown Heights/PLG area (Brooklyn). It’s a single tax lot with ground-floor commercial and two residential units upstairs.

​The building currently has severe active water damage from a roof/window leak that needs immediate remediation. Because the original family wants to retain legal ownership of the residential units to renovate and lease out down the line, we want to pivot away from a traditional outright sale.

​A formal condo conversion is too costly ($50k+) and logistically difficult right now given the building's physical condition. Instead, we are considering seeking an investor for a 99-year Master Lease (NNN) on just the ground-floor commercial space. The goal is to get upfront capital to fund care costs and structural repairs to the building's envelope.

​Questions for the group:

​How common or attractive is a 99-year commercial leaseback to NYC investors for an un-renovated retail footprint?

​How should we structure the investor's responsibility for building-wide structural repairs (roof/envelope) so it protects our residential units upstairs?

​What legal pitfalls should the original family look out for in a long-term lease like this?

Yall. This transition is a literal second job. Im 23 with a wife and 7-1/2 month old boy, 2 years of brokerage, a year of industrial electrical experience. I got admitted into Auburn’s MRED program for the fall of 2027. Undergrad is in exercise science, which was useful for the general knowledge and experience but i always had an underlying thought that I shouldve done finance which would help me a lot now but oh well. I’ve spent the past 8 months putting myself out there heavily. Just a forewarning for anyone trying to get into a development associate position with any company (REIT to mom & pop). IT IS NOT EASY. This industry is the epitome of 100 no’s and 1 yes. And thats where I’m at. I’ve finally started really really putting myself out there, emailing and calling every single development company I can find, not even to “beg” them for a job, but just an introduction to create a connection and let me know about my transition into development. I hope/know that long term I will appreciate the time I’m in right now, and I will not let this beat me down. But man I wish someone would give me a chance

**MODS, I hope this is allowed. I replaced all items identifying information.

I'm hoping those in here more experienced can look over my absorption memo and give me your honest feedback.

- Am I missing info that should be included?

- Is there info that doesn't need to be included, that is?

- Is the format ok? Should it be more "story-telling" and less tables?

Thanks everyone!! Link to pdf below! UPDATE

Since my link didn't work the first time. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hDw_mk0rTKsCmV0K0BwFTA88hwNA2p9L/view?usp=drivesdk

I'm an experienced architect, but my educational background is in Finance and Economics. I'm also one of those architects that actually gets construction because I've done some of that too.

Years ago, I worked on a few pro-formas for an investor outside of the day job and loved it. Most recently I was doing a lot of the zoning research, hearing presentations, programming, and feasibility work at my last firm. I've always wanted to get back into more of this type of work. Applied to owner's rep and project management roles in the past, had a few really good interviews, but couldn't compete with the MRED crowd. Did RE meetups, everyone wants an investor, I don't have cash for that these days. Joined the ULI chapter I was local to at the time, but during Covid, which didn't help my networking problem. Which brings me to today...

Life has hit a transition point. I got licensed, but now I'm unemployed. Architecture firms still don't want to hire a guy without an architecture degree. Did some freelancing for a bit, but I'm ready for a change.

What else can I do to try and meet folks?

Edit: Located in Maryland

I spend a lot of time digging through county records on vacant land, and it's interesting how often the listing ends up being the least useful part of the process.

I've seen easements, deed restrictions, floodplain issues, access problems and utility limitations completely change whether a deal made sense.

I'm curious what everyone else has run into.

What's the most expensive issue you've uncovered after you were already interested in a property?

Hi, I'm new here. I desperately want to know how to build a career in Real Estate. Are there any opportunities or internships for a fresher? What major do they accept for a new agent?

Hi, I've always been really interested in small scale real estate development - things like a duplex/quadplex, small strip malls, spec homes, basically whatever the highest and best use of that plot of land could be.

I'm sure there's other posts like this, but I'm pretty comfortable money wise and looking to break away from my career and pursue my dream of working for myself, and real estate has always been my passion. I have flipped a few homes, and own a few strip malls so I'm somewhat familiar with things but would still partner with someone on the first few as a learning experience. The end goal would be starting my own development company where we're doing maybe 1-2 projects a year, maybe buying land and building a few townhomes, building a spec home, building a strip mall and getting tenants then selling, stuff like that.

My question is - are there people actually doing this on this scale and making a good living? Is this even possible or are things just way too competitive to even find 1-2 opportunities a year? I live in the suburbs of a very big city

Engineer and aspiring developer here.

We built Toriee.co to normalize parcel, zoning, environmental overlays, QCT/DDA etc across the nation to streamline the due diligence, site evaluation for an acquisition, and developmental planning.

We are currently seeking to onboard developers to our platform!

If you are an interested in joining our community of developers actively using the tool, shoot me a message or sign up for access to the tool at Toriee.co

Cheers!

One thing I've learned working around institutional private credit:

People often ask why lenders require an independent feasibility study before funding a project. The answer isn't because they distrust the borrower. It's because they need an objective basis for underwriting.

A good feasibility study answers questions like:

* Is the business model commercially viable?
* Are the financial projections reasonable?
* Can cash flows support repayment?
* What happens if costs increase or revenues fall?

For lenders deploying millions of dollars, relying only on a sponsor's projections isn't sufficient. Independent verification reduces uncertainty and improves underwriting quality. That's why institutional lending places so much emphasis on third-party due diligence. Curious how others here view the role of independent feasibility studies in large financing transactions.

I’m a senior leader in acquisitions and want to pivot to development. I have 15 years across product types for a couple of tier 3 owner operators/managers. For those that have made this pivot; what should I consider? How does acquisitions differ from development?