What’s the First Step Before You Buy Land for Development?
ASK:
I found a property that looks promising. Should I make an offer now, or do more homework first?
ANSWER:
Before writing an offer, pause. The first step in any development deal is feasibility. You need to know if the land can actually support what you want to build.
At I&D Consulting, we specialize in early-stage due diligence that prevents costly mistakes down the line. We’ve seen too many people jump into a purchase only to get stuck or hit costly roadblocks when zoning, utilities, or entitlements don’t line up.
That’s why we’ve built a repeatable operating system to evaluate sites before your money ever goes hard. Our process includes:
- Reviewing zoning and land use regulations to confirm allowable uses
- Identifying entitlement requirements that could delay or derail the project
- Checking utility access, capacity, and connection fees
- Mapping a clear path from concept to approval. Including key players and deal hurdles.
This isn’t guesswork. It’s a real system built from nearly 20 years of development experience. When our team runs a feasibility sprint, we give you clear answers, fast:
Can you build here? How long will it take? What’s going to get in your way?
Whether you’re on your first deal or your fiftieth, don’t skip this step. A clear operating system on the front end saves time, money, and momentum down the road.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Don’t fall in love with land until you know it’s feasible to build
- Zoning, utilities, and entitlements can stall or kill a project. Check them early
- Our team brings a proven system to run feasibility fast and map your real path to approvals
People Also Ask
1) What’s included in a development feasibility study?
A typical feasibility review includes zoning verification, entitlement path outline, site constraints, utility availability, ballpark soft and hard costs, and key stakeholder timelines. At I&D, we turn this into a clear roadmap from raw land to approval.
2) Can I make an offer before doing feasibility?
You can and sometimes you’ll need to, depending on the market. We recommend structuring offers with feasibility and due diligence periods that give you time to properly evaluate the deal before money goes hard. That way, you can control the site without overcommitting.
3) What’s the biggest red flag to look for when buying land?
Lack of utility access, zoning misalignment, or unclear entitlement requirements. These issues can delay or derail a project. The earlier we can flag hurdles, the less time and money it takes to overcome them.
