05/12/2026
Most people think development is about construction.
It’s not.
The biggest factor in protecting your returns is usually the quality of the decisions being made behind the scenes.
This project had:
• rezoning complexity
• permitting and servicing challenges
• off-site utility coordination
• changing financing conditions
• and a slightly softer market during disposition
What protected the project wasn’t luck.
It was strategic decision-making throughout the process.
A few of the biggest lessons from this one:
1️⃣ Stay patient during negotiations.
When timelines stretch or markets soften, newer developers often make emotional pricing decisions just to create certainty.
But if the underlying asset is strong, desperation usually costs more than patience.
2️⃣ Solve problems early.
In development, unresolved issues rarely stay small.
Delays in servicing, approvals, or coordination can quickly impact timelines, lender draws, carrying costs, and investor returns.
3️⃣ Protect long-term value over short-term emotion.
Not every decision should prioritize speed or the cheapest option.
Experienced developers understand that quality, valuation, tenant appeal, and long-term performance all matter.
This is the framework behind development that I help investors understand inside my multifamily coaching.
If you’ve been thinking about getting into development but don’t know where to start, message me “DEVELOPMENT”.
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