Helping Real Estate Developers Turn Vision into Value – A Year in Review

By Daniel Kaufman

This year has been a full throttle ride — working with smart real-estate developers across land acquisition, zoning & entitlements, cost reduction, value engineering and subcontractor networks. I spend most days knee-deep in zoning maps, procurement spreadsheets, blueprint revisions and builder punch-lists… and though I’m busy, I’m always happy to help.

Here’s a summary of how I’ve been delivering for developers this year — from raw land to realized margin.

1) Finding the Right Piece of Land for Townhomes & Apartments

One of the first steps in any development is securing the right parcel. Early this year I worked with a developer focused on suburban infill townhomes. Together we:

1. scouted several 10-acre sites in growth markets where rents and absorption looked strong
2. modelled unit count, circulation, parking, storm-water constraints
3. landed on a 9.8-acre site that allowed 72 townhomes with strong frontage and amenity potential
4. negotiated the purchase with an LOI, due-diligence timeline and a deposit structure that matched our risk tolerance

The result: the developer now has control of a site that checks the boxes for unit count, regional demand, cost to build, and future exit or hold strategy.

2) Zoning a Commercial Property from Commercial Use to Residential / Mixed Use

1. worked with the city planning department to understand current zoning (commercial) and what overlay or zoning change would be required
2. prepared the application package including site plan, traffic and parking study, and stakeholder outreach
3. negotiated with the planning commission for a conditional use permit and rezoning to allow the residential portion
4. once the zoning was secured, the client was able to move forward confidently with lenders and architects

This work leveraged my experience navigating entitlement risk so the client didn’t over-pay or get stuck in a long lag time.

3) Entitlement Upgrade: Moving a Parcel from 1 Unit/Acre to 10 Units/Acre

Entitlement uplift can make a big difference in project IRR. One deal this year: a raw parcel zoned at one unit per acre in a semi-rural suburb. We:

1. commissioned a market study showing demand for multifamily in the area
2. worked with the township to understand their comprehensive plan, infrastructure triggers (roads, sewer, schools)
3. collaborated with civil engineers to show that the site could accommodate 10 units per acre with clustered design, shared amenity, storm-water management
4. submitted the zoning change / PUD amendment, did the hearings, and secured permission for 100 units on the 10-acre parcel rather than just 10

That 10× increase in density turned what would have been a modest garden-apartment project into a mid-scale multifamily community — dramatically improving the developer’s pro-forma and lender appetite.

4) Reducing Construction Costs by Better Procurement & Value Engineering for a Townhome Project

Cost control is always top of mind. In a recent townhome project I led value-engineering and procurement efforts where:

1. early design drawings were simplified: downsized mechanical chase, streamlined exterior envelope, optimized unit mix and stacking
2. switched from custom millwork to semi-custom where appropriate, negotiated bulk pricing with key trades (roofing, drywall, HVAC)
3. leveraged my subcontractor network to get competitive bids early, locked in material pricing, shared risk through integrated contracts
4. as a result, the developer achieved ~15% cost savings off budget compared to the original estimate

That 15% margin improvement can mean the difference between a 12% IRR and an 18% IRR — or a deal that gets financed vs one that sits.

5) Leveraging My Network of Subcontractors to Drive Savings & Schedule

Having built up relationships across architecture, engineering, general contractors and subcontractors, I bring buyers and developers a vetted network that can move quickly, hit quality standards and lock favorable terms. Some highlights:

1. invited three trusted GC firms to price the same scope — created competition and made sure we locked the best terms early
2. managed change-order risk by keeping drawings tight, securing pricing before committing on long-lead items
3. coordinated pre-construction meetings with trade leads so we hit milestones on time and avoided idle days

The outcome? A development timeline that stayed on track, a budget that delivered, and a partner network that’s proven for future projects.

Why It Matters

In the world of development you’re juggling land cost, entitlement risk, zoning time, construction schedules, market demand, financing and exit mechanics. I bring a holistic lens:

1. spotting land with upside potential
2. guiding through zoning and entitlement hurdles
3. optimizing design to cost realities
4. tapping procurement and networks so you build smarter
5. aligning all of it so your deal closes, builds and delivers margin

Whether you’re doing townhomes, mid-rise apartments, conversions or mixed-use, I can help you reduce risk, streamline execution and maximize value.

Let’s Talk

Yes — I’m busy. But I’m always happy to help. If you’re a developer looking for a partner who understands the full stack (land + entitlements + design + procurement + construction) and can bring you into deals or help rescue one, let’s connect.

Daniel Kaufman

📞 341-217-2580

📧 daniel@kaufmanredev.com

🌐 www.danielkaufmanre.com

Drop me a note and let’s explore how we can turn your next project into value.