Development Deal
A Development Deal is a real estate project where property is improved or transformed to increase its value. This could mean building new structures on empty land, renovating existing buildings, or converting property from one use to another (like turning an old warehouse into apartments). Real estate professionals use this term to describe the entire process of taking a property from its initial state through planning, construction, and final completion. Similar terms include "ground-up development," "real estate development project," or "property development venture."
Examples in Resumes
Managed a $10M Development Deal for a mixed-use retail and residential complex
Successfully closed 5 Development Deals in emerging market areas
Led negotiations for a Real Estate Development Deal involving multiple stakeholders
Secured financing for a Property Development Deal valued at $25M
Typical job title: "Real Estate Development Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Real Estate Development Managers
Professional Organizations
Networking Platforms
Industry Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: Can you walk me through how you evaluate a potential development deal?
Expected Answer: A strong answer should cover market analysis, financial feasibility, zoning requirements, construction costs, potential returns, and risk assessment. They should mention experience with actual deals and specific metrics they use.
Q: Tell me about a challenging development deal you managed and how you overcame the obstacles.
Expected Answer: Look for candidates who can describe complex problem-solving, stakeholder management, and successful project completion. They should demonstrate leadership and crisis management abilities.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors do you consider when analyzing the financial viability of a development deal?
Expected Answer: Candidate should discuss construction costs, market rates, financing options, expected returns, and timeline considerations. They should show understanding of basic financial metrics.
Q: How do you manage relationships with contractors and other stakeholders in a development project?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in coordinating multiple parties, maintaining schedules, managing expectations, and solving interpersonal conflicts.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic steps involved in a development deal?
Expected Answer: Should be able to outline the fundamental stages: site selection, due diligence, planning, financing, construction, and completion/sale or lease-up.
Q: What research do you conduct before recommending a development opportunity?
Expected Answer: Should mention market analysis, demographic research, competitor analysis, and basic financial calculations.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of real estate development process
- Market research and analysis
- Project coordination
- Basic financial calculations
Mid (2-5 years)
- Project management
- Stakeholder coordination
- Financial analysis
- Contract negotiation
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex deal structuring
- Risk management
- Team leadership
- Strategic planning
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic real estate financial metrics
- Lack of experience with local zoning and building regulations
- Poor communication or negotiation skills
- No knowledge of construction management basics
- Unable to demonstrate experience with stakeholder management
