FortisBC
School of
Development

Overview

Learn the business of real estate development

If you are determined to have a career in this industry, the School is a must! Facilitated by Michael von Hausen of MVH Urban Planning and Design, each School is an intense two-day course that features dynamic industry veterans sharing their expertise through interactive classroom discussions and exercises.

The series is primarily aimed at people who are new to the industry (usually less than 5 years’ experience) or looking for cross-training (e.g. many lawyers have taken ‘The Art of Approvals’ so they can better understand the process and assist their developer clients).

Modules

The series has four different modules that can be taken in any order throughout the year:

Registration: UDI Members are notified via e-mail when registration opens for School of Development courses. Online registration appears in the events section of the UDI website when registration is active. UDI Members receive priority registration; any remaining spots will be open to Non-Members.

  • Learn about the five key components of development:

    LAND ACQUISITIONS

    • Acquisition process
    • Sourcing and assembling sites
    • Deal structures (approach and negotiations)

    APPROVALS

    • Navigating approvals (civic and council process)
    • Planning due diligence
    • Communication and engagement tools

    FINANCING

    • Types of available financing
    • Basic underwriting (risk and reward)
    • Conditions precedent

    SALES & MARKETING

    • How to build a sales & marketing strategy
    • Identifying target markets
    • Maximizing sales team effectiveness

    CONSTRUCTION

    • Budgets and schedules
    • Drawings, specifications and contracts
    • Cost and quality control


  • Learn about development pro-forma’s from different perspectives:

    DEVELOPER

    • Breaking down the performance
    • Evaluating risks and rewards (return metrics)
    • Case study of a multi-family project and pro-forma analysis

    APPRAISER

    • Value fundamentals
    • Basic “back of envelope” pro-forma
    • Sensitivity analysis

    DEVELOPER

    • Development process
    • Rental incentives
    • Case study of a purpose-built rental project and pro-forma analysis

    BANKER

    • Five C’s of credit
    • Common loan types and structures
    • Lender considerations
  • Learn how to guide your projects through the approvals process from different perspectives:

    CONSULTANT

    • Approvals process
    • Government regulations and technical requirements
    • Public engagement

    MUNICIPAL PLANNER

    • The municipal context
    • Development tools and best practices
    • Public process and policy discretion

    COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

    • How to identify your story
    • Communication strategy and tools
    • Media do’s and don’ts

    DEVELOPERS

    • Development fees and charges overview
    • Challenges and lessons learned from real case studies
  • Learn how to guide your projects through the approvals process from different perspectives:

    Overview of the Construction Process

    • Understanding the project life cycle from inception to completion
    • Identifying different types of construction projects

    Planning and Design

    • Procurement and contractor selection process
    • Risk assessment and management in pre-construction

    Execution: Building and Innovations

    • Overview of construction methods and techniques
    • Managing construction schedules and milestones
    • Quality control and assurance during construction

    Cost Estimation & Budgeting

    • Cost estimation and budgeting for construction projects
    • Strategies for cost optimization

    Issues Management & Resolution – Getting Occupancy

    • Navigating inspections
    • Change orders vs. Deficiency vs. Contingency

Thank you to our program sponsor

UDI would like to thank our Program Sponsor, FortisBC. It is thanks to their support that we can bring this exciting educational opportunity to you, our members.

Why Join UDI? Member Benefits:

UDI fosters the effective exchange of information between industry stakeholders.

Whether you're dedicated to professional development, looking to work with government on real issues, or just want to make a difference in your local community, a UDI membership can help.