Ground-up CRE Development
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Ground-up Development
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Site search → entitlements → construction → stabilization
Office
Industrial
Retail
Multifamily
Manual workload — grouped by family
~582h
total · 156 checkpoints
▶
Capital stack & JV closing
~70h · 12% · 12
▶
Underwriting
~58.5h · 10% · 12
▶
Design & architecture
~55.5h · 10% · 8
▶
Lease & financial review
~50h · 9% · 10
▶
Site & civil engineering
~46h · 8% · 12
▶
Financial modeling
~36h · 6% · 12
▶
Entitlements & approvals
~35h · 6% · 7
▶
Lease-up & marketing
~29.3h · 5% · 9
▶
Stabilization & permanent financing
~22h · 4% · 5
▶
Preconstruction & GC selection
~20h · 3% · 5
▶
Construction draws & monitoring
~20h · 3% · 6
▶
Site sourcing & control
~19.5h · 3% · 9
▶
Comps & market
~18h · 3% · 6
▶
Title, zoning & survey
~17.5h · 3% · 8
▶
Other
~16h · 3% · 10
▶
Legal review
~15h · 3% · 3
▶
Permits & buyout
~15h · 3% · 5
▶
Physical & building inspection
~14.3h · 2% · 5
▶
Construction execution
~8h · 1% · 1
▶
Reviews & summaries
~7h · 1% · 4
▶
Sourcing & screening
~3.5h · 1% · 2
▶
Closeout & turnover
~3h · 1% · 1
▶
Coordination
~2.3h · 0% · 3
▶
Data prep
~45m · 0% · 1
1
Site search & control
development pipeline
Subtotal
~43h
·
18 tasks
~13h
Market & submarket targeting
↗
·
Define product type (Class A trophy, boutique, medical, life-science, BTS)
2h
·
Target CBD, urban node, or suburban office park
1.5h
·
Office-using employment growth and tenant demand
1.5h
·
Direct vs. sublease vacancy and absorption trend
3h
·
New supply pipeline within 3-mile radius
2h
·
Land basis benchmark per buildable SF
3h
~14h
Site identification
↗
·
Broker land listings and off-market parcels
1.5h
·
Corporate disposition / surplus campus opportunities
4h
·
Adaptive reuse / teardown candidates
2h
·
Public RFP and TOD / opportunity zone sites
3h
·
Anchor-tenant build-to-suit RFP responses
2h
·
Drive-the-market and scout reports
1.5h
~16h
Site control
↗
·
Letter of intent to seller
2h
·
PSA with long DD / entitlement / preleasing period
5h
·
Free-look period and extension options
2h
·
Earnest money structure and at-risk schedule
3h
·
Right-of-entry for studies
2h
·
Option / rolling option agreements
2h
2
Feasibility & pro forma
Subtotal
~111.5h
·
31 tasks
Office
Office development feasibility hinges on preleasing — typically 50–70% preleased before construction loan close. TI / LC reserves and tenant credit drive yield-on-cost.
~20.5h
Highest & best use study
↗
·
Zoning yield (FAR, height, setbacks, parking)
2h
·
Massing, floorplate efficiency, and core ratio
5h
·
Parking ratio (per 1,000 SF) and structured trade-off
3h
·
Mixed-use overlay (retail / residential podium)
1.5h
·
Construction type and cost implication
3h
·
LEED / WELL / sustainability targets
6h
~19.5h
Market study & rent comps
↗
·
Achievable face rents and effective rents ($/SF NNN or gross)
3h
·
TI allowance and free-rent concession environment
4h
·
Competing pipeline delivery schedule
4.5h
·
Tenant demand pipeline (broker survey)
2h
·
Lease-up velocity benchmark (SF/quarter)
3h
·
Stabilized occupancy assumption
3h
~24.5h
Hard & soft cost estimate
↗
·
Conceptual hard costs ($/SF GBA)
3h
·
Site work, demo, and offsite improvements
4h
·
Structured / below-grade parking allowance
3h
·
TI allowance and lease commission reserves
4.5h
·
A&E fees, permits, impact, and tap fees
4h
·
Financing carry, interest reserve, and contingency
3h
·
Developer fee, escalation reserve, and overhead
3h
~19h
Pro forma & returns
↗
·
Stabilized NOI net of TI / LC amortization
4h
·
Untrended yield-on-cost vs. market cap rate spread
3h
·
Development margin (cost vs. value)
3h
·
Levered IRR and equity multiple
3h
·
Hold / refi / sale exit scenario
3h
·
Sensitivity: rents, TI, lease-up, exit cap
3h
~28h
Capital stack outline
↗
·
LTC / LTV target and senior loan sizing
5h
·
Mezzanine or preferred equity layer
5h
·
Anchor-tenant credit enhancement (BTS)
3h
·
LP / co-GP equity check size
5h
·
Recourse vs. non-recourse expectation
5h
·
Construction-to-perm vs. mini-perm structure
5h
Feasibility test
Pencil + preleasing path?
No →
Drop site or restructure as BTS.
3
Entitlements & anchor preleasing
Subtotal
~107.5h
·
32 tasks
~27.3h
Land-use & zoning
↗
·
Pre-application meeting with planning staff
45m
·
Rezoning, PUD, or variance strategy
2h
·
Conditional / special use permit
5h
·
Plat / subdivision and lot consolidation
5h
·
TIF, abatement, or incentive district pursuit
5h
·
Design review / architectural review board
5h
·
Traffic and parking study
4.5h
~25h
Anchor tenant preleasing
↗
·
Anchor RFP and tour package
2h
·
Letter of intent with anchor tenant
1.5h
·
Test-fit and space planning iterations
3h
·
Lease negotiation (term, rate, TI, options)
6h
·
Credit review and guaranty structure
1.5h
·
Subordination / SNDA framework
6h
·
Coordination with construction lender preleasing covenant
5h
~22.5h
Environmental & site studies
↗
·
Phase I ESA (and Phase II if recommended)
4.5h
·
Geotechnical and soils report
3h
·
ALTA / topographic survey
3h
·
Wetlands and floodplain delineation
4h
·
Cultural resources / historic review
4h
·
Stormwater / SWPPP concept plan
4h
~20h
Utilities & infrastructure
↗
·
Will-serve letters (water, sewer, power, gas)
4h
·
Capacity / impact fee estimates
4h
·
Offsite improvement requirements
4h
·
Telecom / fiber redundancy (carrier diversity)
4.5h
·
Easement and ROW dedications
2h
·
Backup power / generator coordination
1.5h
~12.8h
Title & legal
↗
·
Title commitment and exception cure
6h
·
CC&Rs, REAs, and easement review
1.5h
·
Mineral rights and subsurface review
1.5h
·
Property tax abatement / PILOT pursuit
1.5h
·
Entity formation and JV documentation
45m
·
Anchor lease execution
1.5h
Approvals + preleasing
Entitled & anchor signed?
No →
Re-design, re-market, or release the site.
4
Design & preconstruction
Subtotal
~91.3h
·
21 tasks
~38.8h
Design progression
↗
·
Programming and floorplate lockdown
5h
·
Schematic design (SD) — 30%
9h
·
Design development (DD) — 60%
9h
·
Construction documents (CD) — 100%
6h
·
MEP, structural, civil, and curtain wall coordination
6h
·
Anchor tenant TI design coordination
45m
·
LEED / WELL / Energy Star certification path
3h
~30.5h
GC selection & GMP
↗
·
GC prequalification and RFQ
4h
·
Preconstruction services agreement
4h
·
Trade scoping and bid leveling
4h
·
Subcontractor prequalification and bonding
4h
·
Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) negotiation
6h
·
Value engineering log and acceptance
4.5h
·
Construction contract (AIA A102 / A133) execution
4h
~22h
Permits & buyout
↗
·
Building permit submittal and plan-check cycles
3h
·
Grading, demo, foundation, shell, and TI permits
3h
·
Permit and impact fee payment schedule
4h
·
Long-lead procurement (curtain wall, elevators, switchgear)
3h
·
Owner-direct purchase strategy (sales tax)
3h
·
Builder's risk and OCIP / CCIP insurance
3h
·
Performance & payment bonds in place
3h
5
Construction financing & equity close
capital stack execution
Subtotal
~73.3h
·
14 tasks
~33.3h
Senior construction loan
↗
·
Construction lender selection (bank, debt fund, life co)
7.5h
·
Term sheet — LTC, rate, recourse, completion guaranty
4.5h
·
Preleasing covenant and burn-down structure
5h
·
Lender third-party reports (appraisal, PCA, plan & cost review)
2.3h
·
Loan documents and draw mechanics
5h
·
Interest reserve sizing and re-balancing tests
3h
·
Mini-perm or forward-takeout commitment
6h
~40h
Equity & JV closing
↗
·
LP equity term sheet and IC approval
3h
·
JV operating agreement and waterfall
5h
·
GP co-invest funding
7.5h
·
Subscription documents and capital call mechanics
7.5h
·
Completion / carry guaranty allocation
4.5h
·
Anchor lease conditions precedent satisfied
5h
·
Closing escrow, title pro forma, and funding flow
7.5h
Capital stack closed
Cleared to break ground?
No →
Re-bid stack, recapitalize, or pause.
6
Construction & TI delivery
Subtotal
~76.3h
·
20 tasks
~31.5h
Site & shell construction
↗
·
Mobilization, SWPPP, and site logistics plan
3h
·
Mass grading, utilities, and foundations
4h
·
Vertical construction and structural milestones
8h
·
Curtain wall / building envelope and weatherization
3h
·
MEP rough-in and special inspections
9h
·
Elevator, life-safety, and BMS commissioning
4.5h
~20.5h
Owner controls & reporting
↗
·
Monthly draw package review and lender approval
4h
·
Owner's rep / construction monitor inspections
4h
·
RFI, submittal, and change-order tracking
3h
·
Schedule float and critical-path review
3h
·
Buyout savings vs. contingency burn report
3h
·
Risk register and mitigation log
3h
·
Monthly investor / lender / anchor reporting
30m
~24.3h
Tenant improvement delivery
↗
·
Anchor TI design, permit, and construction
45m
·
Spec suite program for prospect tours
4.5h
·
TI cost tracking vs. allowance
30m
·
Tenant move-in coordination and FF&E
6h
·
Substantial completion and punch list
4.5h
·
Certificate of Occupancy (TCO / CO)
5h
·
As-builts, O&M manuals, warranties, lien releases
3h
7
Lease-up & stabilization
Subtotal
~79.3h
·
20 tasks
~20.3h
Marketing & leasing
↗
·
Branding, naming, and signage package
3h
·
Marketing brochure, website, and tour videos
4.5h
·
Listing broker engagement and co-broker fee
2.3h
·
ILS syndication (CoStar, LoopNet, CommercialEdge)
4.5h
·
Spec suite tours and prospect pipeline tracking
3h
·
Tenant rep broker outreach and events
3h
~32h
Lease execution
↗
·
LOI negotiation and tenant credit review
4h
·
Lease form and TI / LC budget approval
6h
·
Test-fit and space planning
3h
·
Lease execution and SNDA / estoppel
6h
·
Tenant move-in and amenity onboarding
3h
·
Renewal pipeline and rollover planning
4h
·
Occupancy and economic occupancy tracking
6h
~27h
Stabilization & permanent loan
↗
·
DSCR, occupancy, and lease burn-off tests
2h
·
Trailing 90 NOI for permanent loan sizing
3h
·
Permanent loan / life-co takeout
4h
·
Construction loan payoff and release of guaranties
4h
·
Refi cash-out distribution to equity
4h
·
Hold vs. sale decision (merchant build vs. core)
6h
·
Disposition / brokerage engagement (if sale)
4h
Stabilized?
Refi, hold, or sell?
Sell →
List for sale; merchant-build exit closes the cycle.
Closing table
Deed recorded · Funds released · Keys transferred · Ownership conveyed