Recommended Books/websites For Newbie?
I've been interested in building/developing land for years, and I have some good ideas that could pay off. My problem, I don't know a thing about the actual building/developing part (my ideas are design, materials, etc). I do know a nice guy from my church who actually can plan subdivisions (its his job) and he told me he could take care of some of the county paperwork for me, besides me needing to really sit down and talk to this guy, how do I really get submerged into this more so I can find out if its really for me? Are those $150 books on amazon worth it? What books/websites do you recommend? I live in the Atlanta metro area, which has 4 of the top 10 fastest growing counties in the nation, so this market has the growth, I'm just worried about how hard it will be to break into. Can I join my local homebuilders assoc without being a builder? I think in GA you can be a builder with just a business license. :-o
Thanks!
Ginnie [ Edited by godiva on Date 04/12/2004 ]
If you're thinking about land for investment, there are 2 somewhat separate avenues:
1. Developer
This is someone, not necessarily a builder, who takes a property and enhances the value of it by doing something. Something that will allow the property to be used differently. This could be getting subdivision approvals, zoning approvals (special exception or conditional uses), zoning variance, change of zoning. You wouldn't have to be a builder to do this and your buyers could be end users or builders.
2. Builder
Those who stick the shovel in the ground and construct homes and buildings.
If you want to start collecting information about land investing, I suggest you do some research here in the Forums and Articles. Due diligence is very important with land because most of what the buyer needs to know is not visible or self evident. Zoning ordinance, subdivision & land development ordinance, utility, FEMA, soils maps -- these are just some of the tools.
Whether you choose being a developer or builder, you're likely to need a good civil engineer, real estate attorney, wetlands consultant, environmental consultant and more members of the team as the site dictates.
I, too, have an interest in this. Can anyone recommend good manuals, books, courses, etc. for those looking into the development side of things?
Take a look at Nancy's Product. click on the Shopping Cart icon under her post.
thanks Nancy!
I am not at the development stage of my RE career but in preparation I have been carefully plotting a path. Some good books/resources that I have read and am looking into are:
Managing a Development Company---gives insight into the operations of development companies. Author: The Urban Land Institue
Residential Land Development Practices--gives general insight on more of the residential land development process and not a detail by detail analysis. Still a good read for us beginners.
The Urban Land Institute website is also a good resource for classes and information.
Hope this helps.
K.Blue
I want to be a builder when I grow up too. Maybe I'm wrong but it's not as easy as picking a book up and doing it. And if it is I have been reading the wrong books
I have building experience but it's getting the phone to ring for the sold jobs. And if you think you're going to do it via specs, you better have deep pockets or access to someone who does. And if you find the person with deep pockets send them my way so I can make us both some money :-D Sorry, I guess I am just a little pessimistic today 