What Are the First Steps to Becoming a Real Estate Developer?

May 12, 2025 | Kristi Kandel

ASK:

Where should I start if I want to get into real estate development?

ANSWER:

If you’re asking this, you’re in the right place. At Local Real Estate Developer (LRED), we believe the very first step is simple but powerful: start by noticing your community.

Look around your town, your street, your neighborhood. What’s sitting empty? What’s outdated? What’s missing? Real estate development is more than just fancy new buildings and making boatloads of money (although that is nice). It’s about solving local problems and creating spaces people actually need.

You don’t need to buy land or know how to read blueprints on day one. You need to learn how development really works in your city. At LRED, we break this down into a step-by-step roadmap that anyone can follow:

• Learn your local zoning rules. These are the keys to what you can and can’t build.
   
• Start building your team. Talk to local planners, lenders, contractors, and brokers.
   
• Understand the money side. Learn how projects get funded. Fun fact, most developers don’t use all their own cash. Sweat equity is a real thing. 
   
• Find a mentor. It’s the fastest way to cut your learning curve and avoid expensive mistakes.

The bottom line: You can start right where you are. Your hometown is your training ground, and you don’t need millions to begin.
 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Your community is your classroom. Start by observing what’s possible around you.
   
• Learning local zoning and permitting codes gives you a head start over most beginners.
   
• Real estate development is a team sport. Start building your network early.
   
• At Local Real Estate Developer (LRED), we offer mentorship and beginner-friendly resources to help you go from curious to confident.
   

PEOPLE ALSO ASK:

1. How do I find a good first development project?

• At Local Real Estate Developer (LRED), we recommend starting with small, underutilized properties in your own community primed for adaptive reuse projects like the partially vacant underutilized buildings you drive by every day.

2. Do I need an architect or contractor to start?

• Not right away. At LRED, we teach you to start by understanding zoning, building your team, and evaluating deals first. Hiring the architects and contractors will come later when your project is ready to move forward.

3. What’s the biggest mistake beginners make?

• At Local Real Estate Developer (LRED), we see a lot of people rush in without understanding the local rules or building the right team. That’s when delays, denials, and budget problems hit hard.

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