Real Estate Development Finance is possibly the most critical aspect of a development project.  This includes (1) forms of financing, including equity financing options (including syndications, joint ventures, limited partnerships, etc.) and debt financing options (conventional, mezzanine, debentures, etc.), and (2) analytical and presentation techniques. 

Marketing is essential to the success of any real estate development project. One needs an understanding of changing real estate markets and learn how to: utilize market research information; develop and manage a marketing program; create unique project identities; and undertake an effective advertising and communications program. 

Real estate development projects can live or die by the way in which the development approval process is handled.  An understanding of Subdivision, Development, and Land Use Applications; Subdivision & Development Appeals; City Council Hearings; Working with the Community and the Civic Administration are among key functions and strategies that one should master in order to be effective in real estate development.

Today’s master-planned communities are comprehensively and professionally planned, financed, and marketed in a sophisticated process.  Managers need to maximize development objectives to gain perspective into the competitive markets of Calgary and surrounding areas. For example the downtown, industrial, office and multi-residential development areas are hot items in Calgary right now. Finally, retail development including shopping malls, power centres, free-standing retail, and strip malls are also areas of parallel growth in real estate development. 

In order to be a successful developer, one also needs to understand real estate law. Acquisition, development, management and disposition of real estate are a “must-know” before engaging in any financial obligations. Among the many sectors affecting real estate law are offers, purchase and sale agreements, organization of the ownership entity, financing, mortgages, construction, taxation, and leasing.

A bold and exciting new tool in real estate development is GIS or Geographic Information Systems. GIS offers the development community with an important tool for understanding demographic patterns and change in a community. These high tech tools include mapping, urban modeling and decision support, data sources, urban land classification, topographical analysis, data visualization and designing.