A veteran construction contractor details the steps to take and the order in which to take them to profitably transform raw land into lots for housing. This guide covers every key phase of the land development process as well as essential business practice fundamentals.

Primer for use by engineering schools and their students, and will provide real estate industry professionals with the practical tools to realize quick positive project results and the ability to implement these tools immediately on the job.

Properly planned and visualized, large-scale developments can be successfully constructed, whether as master planned communities, planned unit developments, or new towns. Fundamentals of Land Development provides an in-depth approach to the design, planning, and development of large land areas into comprehensively designed communities. This book provides in-depth discussions of the full range of development tasks involved in any large development project, from site and land use selection, market analysis, preparing the land use plan and impact statements, to getting approval from the municipality and community, permitting and approval, scheduling and cost management, and the basics of engineering systems and design. Developers and other stake-holders will find guidance on such issues as: • How real-world development is driven by profits, and how team members can maximize profits while developing creatively and responsibly • Site selection and acquisition • Entering the growing business of retirement (active adult) community development Illustrated with real-world case studies drawn from the authors own experience, Fundamentals of Land Development is a practical manual for developers looking to improve the profitability of their projects and gain a better understanding of what all team members undertake in a project of this size and complexity.

In today’s world of investment hype and unpredictable stock market fluctuations, there is still one asset you can count on: land. Ralph Pisani and Robert Pisani were both adjunct faculty members of the Wharton School of Business, where they taught real estate development. Now, with this easy to understand and informative guide, anyone can begin to invest in the development of valuable real estate. How to Be a Successful Developer is a complete sourcebook for all your questions about how to succeed in land development, from the factors you should consider when looking at properties, to financing, zoning procedures, and much more—all in clear concise terms which anyone can understand.

R. Dodge Woodson uses his years of experience as a builder and land developer to compile this unique checklist and forms book covering the day-to-day business practices of the residential land developers and the construction community. All forms and checklists will also be available in customizable Word and PDF format from companion website. Contents: Researching Profitable Properties * Doing the Demographics * Zoning Matters * Flood Zones and Flood Plains * Wetland Issues * Road Considerations * Leftover Lots * Timber Tactics * Budgeting Your Money * Selecting Partners * Beating the Bank * Organizational Skills That Win • Selecting Your Professional Team * Contractual Terms and Offers * Dealing With Property Owners * Working With Real Estate Brokers * Site Inspections * Plans and Specifications * Putting Work Out to Bids * Sales Projections * Insurance Needs * Working With Subcontractors * Watching Your Workers * Beating Your Budget * The Exit Plan

Explaining how finances drive each decision in the real estate development process, this helpful industry guide recognizes the complexities and significant risks of each project and illustrates how to reconcile conflicting elements to ultimately achieve success. A 36-year real estate development veteran, author Charles Long shares the practical information and personal insights that he has gained over the course of his career, and weaves relevant real world examples into the text, helping to clarify the principles necessary to effectively manage a project in today’s financial landscape. Ideal both for those starting out in real estate development and experienced professionals who want to learn the theory behind the practice, this book offers a different perspective on making the monetary decisions that are involved in property development projects.