What Investors Actually Care About in Early-Stage Development Deals ASK: What are investors really evaluating when a deal is still in feasibility or entitlements? ANSWER: In the earliest stages of development, investors are not underwriting returns. They are underwriting the developer. When permits have not been issued and construction has not started, projections are still […]

How to Decide Between Buying Land, Ground Leasing, or Partnering ASK: I have a site opportunity. How do I decide whether to buy the land, ground lease it, or partner with the landowner? ANSWER: How you control land is one of the most consequential decisions in development. It determines who carries risk, who controls outcomes, […]

When Infrastructure Costs Should Kill a Deal and When They Shouldn’t ASK: Infrastructure costs are high. How do we know whether to walk away or move forward? ANSWER: Infrastructure costs are a normal part of development. The real question is not whether they exist, but whether they create value that can be supported in the […]

How to Coordinate Dry Utilities When Providers Won’t Talk to Each Other ASK: Why is coordinating power, gas, and telecom so difficult? ANSWER: Dry utilities operate independently. Each provider has its own contractors, schedules, and standards. Without coordination, routing conflicts arise. Trenches are reopened. Schedules slip. Costs increase. None are responsible for coordinating with each […]

What Developers Miss About Easements Until It’s Too Late ASK: We assumed access and utilities were fine. Why are easements suddenly an issue? ANSWER: Easements are rarely visible during site tours. They live in title reports, recorded documents, and survey notes that many teams review too late. Developers often conflate physical access with legal access. […]