Richard Levy, M.Arch, PhD, was formerly Professor of Planning at the University of Calgary, Canada, where he taught courses in urban planning and real estate development for 26 years. He currently teaches in the College of Business at the University of Rhode Island.

Table of Contents

Preface

Organization of this Book

Chapter 1: Introduction to Real Estate Development and Finance

What is Real Estate?

What Determines Value?

Learning from History

Boom Bust Economies

When Communities are in Decline

The Road to Recovery

Too Much of a Good Thing

The Two Big Questions in Real Estate Development

Supply Side of the Equation

Supply Constraints

Geographical Constraints on Supply

Zoning, Bylaws and other Planning Controls

The Case of the Unreasonable Seller

The Case for Climate Change

The Demand Side of the Equation

The Demographics of Urban Development

Demand and Supply in a Changing Technological Landscape

Financial Factors

Lending

Measuring Demand

Competitiveness

Building the Team

Chapter 2: An Introduction to Financial Analysis

Risk and Reward

Risk Free Rate

Measuring Return

Sharpe Ratio

After Tax Rates of Return

Proforma

Cash Flow, Profit and Loss.

Income

Expenses

Rates of Return

Debt

Borrower and Lender

Loan Mechanics

Debt, Depreciation and Cash flow Statement

Leverage

Balance Sheets

Assets and Liabilities

Cautions

Chapter 3: Model Building and Real Estate Development

Models and Decision Making

What is a Model?

Issues in Model Building: The Practice of Model Building

Model Building and Statistics

Data and Curve fitting: When relationships are Non-linear

Appraisal Models

Dynamic Models

Two Big Questions in Real Estate Development

Spatial Modeling of Land Values

Gravity Models and Retail

Transportation Modeling

Urban Land Use Models

Building Models and the Need for Data, A Practical Approach

Conclusions

Chapter 4: Financial Modeling

Introduction

Cap Rates

Time Value of Money

Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return

Applying Theory to Practice

Sensitivity Analysis

Case Study - Multi-Family Development: The Value of Forecasting

Scenario1: Business as Usual

Scenario 2: Optimistic Projection

Scenario 3: Level property values.

Scenario 4: Sudden Decline in Property Values

Scenario 5: Sudden Decline in Property Values with no Recovery

Scenario 6: Reinvestment in the Property from Excess Cash Flow

Scenario 7: Negative Return

Scenario 8: Negative return, accompanied by a reduction of mortgage rates

Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 5: Marketing Analysis

Market Analysis: Supply, Demand, and Geography

Market Study and the Real Estate Development Process

Concept development

Design and Marketing

Marketing Studies, Planners and Government officials

Investors and Lenders

Buyers and Tenants

Role of Consultants

Market Research: Basic Principles and Techniques

Market Area: Drawing the Boundaries

Residual Demand

Population Projection and Cohort Models

Demand, Affordability and Residential Development

Case Study: Condo Apartment Development

Introduction

Site and Location

Demographics

Competition

Residual Demand Estimates

Creating a Marketing Program

Retail

Commercial Office Space

Clients and Landlords

Summary and Conclusion

Chapter 6: The Planning Process

The Planning Process

Introduction

Getting Started

Land Use Control, A Brief History

Zoning Defined

Zoning is Never Perfect

What is Wrong with Zoning?

Architectural Guidelines and Historic districts

Americans with Disabilities Act

Subdivisions

Planning Process: Getting to a Successful Conclusion

Hiring a Consultant

Enlisting the Media

Case Study: Inner City Development Project

Background

Site

Development Options

Scenario Evaluation: Design Review

Step 1: First Meeting with Planners

Step 2: Second Meeting, Bringing the Architect into the Process

Step 3: Review of the Development Application

Step 4: Review of the Revised Proposal

Step 5: Meeting the Community

Step 6: Second Revised Plans

Step 7: Meeting the Community to Review the Revised Plans

Step 8: Project Revaluation

Step 9:.Starting Over?

Lessons Learned

Chapter 7: Real Estate and the Law

Introduction

Foundations and Principles of Private Property

The law and Real Estates: Statues, Common Law and Regulations

Collective Ownership of Property

Right of Use

What is a Fixture?

Water Rights

Mineral Rights

Air Rights

Forms of Ownership

Fee Simple or Fee Simple Absolute

Life Estate

Co-ownership

Joint tenancy with right of survivorship

Tenancy in Common

Community Property

Tenancy by Entirety

Condominium

Cooperatives

Ownership and the Investment Community

Sole Proprietorships

Partnerships

Ventures

Corporations

Limited Liability Partnerships

Limited Liability Companies

S Corporations

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)

Real Estate Transactions, Agents and brokers

Mortgages

Secondary Market

Construction Loans

Real Estate Closings, Land title and Registration

Trasnfer of Property

Land Registration

Leases

Eviction

Construction Contracts

Chapter 8: Design and Construction

A Team of Experts

Site Planning, Massing and Space Planning

Mastering the Art and Science of Construction

Technology and the Modern Building

Building from the Ground Up

Foundation Design

Structural Systems

Structural Systems: Concrete, Steel or Wood

Wood Construction

Concrete

Steel

Exotic Structures

Historic Restoration and Preservation Projects

Heating, Cooling and other Building Systems

Managing the Design Process

Chapter 9: Project Management

Introduction: Why do I need Project Management Skills?

Time, Budget and Performance

Project Management Defined

Application of Project Management to Real Estate Development

Bidding Process

Design/Build: A Different Approach

Construction Phase

Scheduling and Resource Management

Project management Teminology

Network Analysis

Lags and Network Analysis

Gantt Charts

Project Management Software

Project Management with Microsoft Project: Renovation of an Office Building

Crashing a Project

Project Evaluation and Control

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Project Termination

Index