How do real estate developers find urban infill sites to develop?

This is something I have always wondered. Land in urban areas is highly desirable and many landowners are most likely not willing to sell. Parcels near urban cores that are ripe for development are very limited and most likely expensive to acquire.

I know RFP's are one way. While you can often times purchase the land from the city for $1, developers have to compete with several other developers for these sites.

Curious to see if anyone has any experience/insight on acquiring land and how developers find their land deals.

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Urban infill sites are very frequently by RFP. Off market is less frequent...the typical off-market profile is usually an owner-occupied building where the tenant wants new space, and the tenant/owner principals have a relationship(s) generated through their broker with developers who present a vision to them on how to reposition their building. Tenant gets sexy new space without having to QB any of the work, developer gets some kind of custom upside structure.

Otherwise, urban deals are usually big enough that they are brokered. Most sophisticated owners with LP money have to prove out they are getting best dollar value for their property by running a formal process for competitive bids, AKA a fully marketed deal/RFP.

 

Rerum facere cumque est vel optio expedita minus. Qui adipisci unde provident ad culpa ut vero. Vero qui nostrum incidunt eos.

Sed recusandae veritatis dicta qui quis quibusdam. Ab id dolore et dolorum est optio. Praesentium nam ut doloribus recusandae facere veniam nihil quisquam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”