As we commemorate SU’s 10th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the impressive work of SU’s 60+ Portfolio Companies. These impact-focused ventures are building moonshot solutions to global challenges using exponential technologies. Here are five SU startups that are already having an impact now—and offering great reasons to be optimistic about the
The Opportunity Zone extravaganza is flooding the real estate industry with speculation and appetite for alternative funding. It is timely: as interest rates rise and bank loans are less attractive, real estate development may find alternative funding. This reminds me of the EB-5 spectacle shortly after the Great Recession, which
Density regulations shape our cities. They designate how many people will live in a specific area, which has implications on quality of life issues, especially at the ends of the spectrum. These include air quality, access to public transit, walkability, etc. There are multiple ways in which local governments control
Setbacks shape the pedestrian experience. They regulate whether a pedestrian will encounter ground floor shops and cafes as they walk down a street, or lawns that separate them from building activity, while providing privacy to building dwellers. Setbacks also control minimum building separation. A Setback is the minimum required distance
Heights are regulated in multiple ways, depending on the zone. Most zoning districts regulate building height, either as total number of floors or as a linear measure, and they also regulate the minimum and maximum dimensions of ground floors and typical floors. Below are some of the parameters we use,
Parking is a huge factor in development. Most zoning districts have some type of parking requirement by use, which not only shapes the way our cities look, but also the way people live and interact with one another. For example, the pedestrian experience in a city can be hugely influenced
Specific real estate market data: rent rates, hotel rates, vacancy, OpEx, condo unit sale price, land price, construction cost ($PSF) etc.
Grasping the financial feasibility of income-producing properties, and for-sale properties, requires several stages of analysis. Going too deep too soon in the analysis process can be a waste of time, which is why we start with a “back-of-envelope” (BOE) calculation. The BOE is a one-year snapshot of a real estate
A condominium is a building, or complex of buildings, in which every apartment or home is individually owned. Financial analysis of a condominium is different from an income producing property because the return on cost (ROC) for a condominium is generated from the total sale of the condos instead of
Multifamily residential is a rental income property that contains multiple separate housing units. A multifamily building generally has one owner, or landlord, that rents units to residential inhabitants, or tenants. If a multifamily residence is sold, it is sold in its entirety or, alternatively, converted to condominium. Financial analysis for
Hotels are lodging businesses that provide accommodation, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists. Hotel owners may own both the building and the business and are responsible for all expenses related to business operations and building improvements. However, hotel owners may also own the building and hire a managing
Industrial real estate projects are buildings utilized for industrial activities such as production, manufacturing, assembly, warehouses, and distribution. Industrial development is generally an income property with straight forward financials based on rent per square foot, vacancies and operating expenses. Here’s a Glossary that will be useful when using our software
