Development consulting

Development consulting from feasibility to funded plan.

The most expensive decisions on a project are made before anything is built. Development consulting is the work of testing those decisions while they are still cheap to change.

Short answer

Real estate development consulting evaluates whether a site and program can work — physically, legally, and financially — and defines the path to get there: due diligence, entitlements, budget, schedule, and delivery structure.

Feasibility, before the money moves

  • Site screen: zoning, setbacks, critical area lines, wetlands, flood zone, access, utilities
  • Program test fit against the physical and regulatory envelope
  • Order-of-magnitude budget including site work, which is where coastal projects break
  • Schedule reality check on entitlements and permitting for that specific jurisdiction
  • Pro forma stress test — what happens at a slower absorption or a higher rate
  • A written risk register with owners assigned to each item

Lowcountry specifics that change the math

Coastal South Carolina adds layers that inland pro formas ignore: OCRM critical area jurisdiction, marsh buffers, base flood elevation and fill, stormwater detention on flat sites, and utility capacity that varies block to block. Any of them can move a project's cost by a range larger than the developer's fee.

Deliverables

  • Feasibility memo with a clear go, no-go, or go-with-conditions
  • Due diligence tracker aligned to your contract's inspection period
  • Development budget and cash flow, structured for a lender
  • Delivery strategy: contract type, phasing, and team structure

Common questions

Can you evaluate a site before I put it under contract?
Yes. A pre-contract screen is faster and narrower than full due diligence, and its purpose is to keep you out of deals where the site's constraints make the program impossible at your basis.
Do you work on small projects?
Yes. Infill lots, small commercial buildings, and single-asset projects benefit disproportionately from early feasibility work, because the owner usually has less margin to absorb a surprise.

Test the deal before you commit to it.

Tell us where the project stands. We'll respond within one business day — with next steps, or a candid reason it isn't the right fit.

Request a consultation