CRP 389C
Research in Land Development

Instructor: Steve Ross
Time: MW 9-10:30am
Place: Sutton 2.102
Unique #: 01280

The underlining objective of this course is the belief that to achieve their objectives, planners and designers must understand the fundamentals of real estate investment and development (both theory and practice).

To this end, the course will be conducted much like a traditional seminar, in which students will take an active role in discovering and articulating the standard principles and processes (both public and private) of real estate investment and development in the U.S.

This investigation will be coupled with proprietary (original) research culminating in case studies prepared by teams of students and presented to class as a whole.

The case studies will result from student involvement with developers and owners and proprietors of actual projects in Austin area.

Course topic content will be divided into the four sections, as follows:

1. Real Estate Investment
2. Real Estate (Land) Development
3. Case Studies
4. Critical Evaluation

Students will be required, at semester outset to perform assignments based on real estate investment formulas and principles; including creating a pro forma analysis and marketing feasibility proposal for an income property development; and, tenant surveys/analyses of actual retail tenants leasing space in income property developments. This is intended partly to prepare students to effectively conduct their proprietary research.

(Note: this is a graduate level course; yet, its open to undergraduates with instructor's permission.)