Development Dead For The Foreseeable Future

I work for a development shop as a development manager. Most of our projects are infill top 10 markets. Our deals are 6.5% yields in cost, which we all know just doesn’t do it today. Every institutional equity shop has said they are pencils down. I feel like these deals will not get capitalized until the 10 year falls back down to 3.50%. We have already laid of 25% of our staff to date and I am concerned these layoffs will continue if these deals don’t break ground. Is anyone else thinking of getting out of development? Or do you think we’ll be out of this by 2025?

11 Comments
 

why has land not materially re-price yet and rents not widened out?

Land and expenses will come down. It just won’t happen for 6-18 months, so shit will be sloooooow until then. Once land sellers realize they can’t win the lottery every time and subcontractors and material suppliers realize they can’t buy a new F250, boat, and lake house with every deal and are facing the need to lay off 90% of their staff, their prices will come down. 
 

It all just takes time. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 
Most Helpful
CRE

why has land not materially re-price yet and rents not widened out?

Land and expenses will come down. It just won’t happen for 6-18 months, so shit will be sloooooow until then. Once land sellers realize they can’t win the lottery every time and subcontractors and material suppliers realize they can’t buy a new F250, boat, and lake house with every deal and are facing the need to lay off 90% of their staff, their prices will come down. 
 

It all just takes time. 

In the Southwest USA, land equates to 8-11% of TDC vs construction which is usually around 70-75%. A 50% haircut on land isn’t even enough to justify current costs of construction, and good luck finding a land seller to take anywhere near a 50% haircut. We have underwritten deals where land at $0 doesn’t justify dev risk as 6%+ yield targets for institutional capital renders most opportunities as too thin. Hard costs needs to either fall, or rents need to take off. I don’t anticipate cap rates will compress back to sub 5’s anytime soon but that could alleviate some of the pressure too.

 

Nah. It completely sucks right now, mind you, but I’m not jumping ship just because for once in my career you can’t sleepwalk to exceeding underwriting. My current shop will still sell 1 deal this year and 2 next year, start 2-3 deals next year after starting 2 this year, and while they won’t make anywhere near as much money as they would have a few years ago, that’s still a couple million per transaction and a couple million in fees per start. Going to be raked over the coals on term sheets, but it happens. Right now everyone lending and investing has the upper hand. 

I’m in this for the long haul. Survive till ‘25, baby. 


 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Weren’t you the one commenting a few months back hating on everyone who was calling for a downturn? Think u said something mocking the people who were saying it will be doom n gloom. Just saying

And I was right then. We got deals done and sold deals at great numbers. Things change, and you readjust. If you aren’t an optimist and flexible you have no right being a developer. The market sucks right now, but it still isn’t as bad as people are making it. Just have to actually use your brain now. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Development is very challenging for new deals (acquiring land today).  If you want to pursue a deal today, it would likely need to be preferenced in some way, e.g., a tax abatement, receive tax credits, an OZ deal.

Along these lines, Florida launched a new abatement program called the Missing Middle program.  You receive a 100% abatement for 80% AMI rent product (which in some locations is market rent).  3-year rent restriction agreement so you have flexibility for when conditions improve.

 

Illum minus nobis totam sint dolores voluptate sint sequi. Et id aut at rerum corporis expedita accusantium. Temporibus libero et et eos magni. Perspiciatis molestias accusantium earum perferendis deserunt aut quia. Alias et soluta perspiciatis autem et tempore ipsum. Deserunt aspernatur numquam vel voluptas rerum nostrum est beatae.

Nihil aliquam aspernatur autem. Ratione quasi quae soluta officiis ratione fugiat suscipit. Doloremque aspernatur officia et iusto. Ut dolor sed ipsa ad aut. Cupiditate eos velit ea iusto nihil nisi ipsum odio. Commodi ducimus aut sit blanditiis harum quis ex autem. Quas ullam quae consequatur et reprehenderit ut dolorum voluptatem.

Esse beatae officiis et non dicta. Molestiae iure quae magni nihil esse autem. Explicabo dicta rerum deleniti fugit aut dolores eum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”