Question for other custom home 1 lot developers

[Emily Dixon]

An investor has called us eyeing a piece of land. The particular piece of land is very challenging.
The land is a very good deal. I told him if he wanted to buy the land and was able to hold it it would take me 6-8 months to develop a plan. I gave him a rough high estimate of 600,000 to build a house because of entitlements etc. Million dollar home area. I already checked zoning and know in this area permits and entitlements will be insane.

Here is becoming my challenge. Now that we have started going it seems like everyone is calling us with projects. Some people do not seem to understand the great lengths you have to go through to develop a challenging project on a challenging piece of land. I have been able to develop these small affordable houses in two weeks time, no problem. But this will have to be a pretty lux home for the area.

Do you think 6-8 months is adequate development time for a property, in existing neighborhood but with no utilities and requiring some special engineering because layout of the lot? Or am I pushing myself too hard? I am particularly good at analyzing and designing in non conforming size lots. I will have around 3 hours a week to work on the development. It will be one house mini mansion 3k sf well appointed.

[Terry Portier]

I know I graduated El- Segundo High by LAX Class of 79, surfed the entire CA cost, hunington/newport beach most weekends. Just got back here from San Diego.

I think it may be we are talking two different things, sounds like your deals are pre-purchased then you build, mine is if I want to put inventory out there. I like your way better let the buyer worry about it.

BTW I looked at a lot here, nice, backs up to arkansas river, 65 acres, $250K, no soil issues, flat, never in Cali, and there is plenty of it with lots of growth. Thats why I'm trying to figure out how to be a builder :)