What Do Developers Do?

Developers can be individuals, small partnerships, or large companies. Some operate in a single market, such as Houston or Atlanta, while others focus on a larger region, such as the northeastern United States, or even on the entire country. A few U.S. developers operate globally. Some developers maintain a small staff and outsource many development functions, while others employ a large number of professionals and perform most development functions in-house.

Deciding What to Build and Financial Feasibility
After deciding where they might want to build, developers decide what they might want to build, and whether to go ahead with the project.
Read More
How Developers Get Started
Developers start with the land on which they will build. To decide where to acquire land in a market, they first conduct a market study.
Read More

Product Sectors

Developers engage in either for-sale residential development or commercial development, which includes income-producing rental apartments. The “Real Estate Developers and Product” chart shows the major products of residential and commercial developers, and the following sections provide further details.

For-Sale Residential Development
Mixed Use
Multifamily Rental Development Product
Multifamily Rental
Hotel Development Product
Hotel
Industrial Development Product
Office Development Product
Office
Retail Development Product
Real Estate Developers and Product
Retail
Commercial Development

You might also be interested in...

Supporting architecture’s next generation
Zuleika Baldeo, a Morgan State University sophomore and recipient of the Curry Stone Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship, reflects on her path to the architecture profession.
Raise Your Hand
"Do you want to advance in your career? Raise your hand. Raise it to volunteer. Raise it to take on a new assignment. Be open to the opportunities that come your way and let the experience take you to a broader understanding of your business and the people in it." Property manager Mayra Ramirez shares her professional journey in a new IREM Blog.
Linda Alvarado founded her construction company on a $2,500 loan from her parents and got busy building sidewalks
Linda Alvarado founded her construction company on a $2,500 loan from her parents and got busy building sidewalks—Alvarado Construction is now worth $41M, with schools, stadiums and aquariums in its portfolio.
Surviving ‘The Great Resignation’
Did you know an eye-popping 95% of all U.S. workers say they are now considering leaving their jobs? Find out what’s fueling the mass Exodus.
ASLA’s 2021 Student Award Winners
Check out ASLA’s 2021 Student Award Winners. The winning projects exemplify the highest level of achievement in the profession.
Entry Ways into Real Estate
It might seem daunting to get started in a property or real estate management career. But, the profession has many in-roads to get a foot in the door. Interested in getting involved, but not sure where to start?