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User Stats

8
Posts
2
Votes
Fred Haas
Pro Member
2
Votes |
8
Posts

Allow me to introduce myself, Central Texas Sustainable Developer

Fred Haas
Pro Member
Posted

Hey All,

I have a background in Civil Engineering working for around 40 years doing land development, floodplains, and waste management work, among other things. I stopped for a while to do life coaching and energy work, and then I met a guy who was a broker that wanted to get more into the development side so we teamed up with his dad, a lawyer, and started up.

As things have progressed, I am now finding lots of deals, and as it turns out, the guy I am working with is not really delivering the investors like he said he could/would so I am learning that part of the process now too as most of my deals sit quietly on the sidelines. I'm getting too old to wait, so if I have to take things in my own hands, I will.

Here is the caveat, I came back to do this because I am extremely passionate about sustainable development, net-zero carbon, thermal mass, compressed earth block, rammed earth, hempcrete and others with all the add-ons like rainwater collection, solar and permaculture. I'd be surprised if there is a sustainable builder in Texas that I have not at least talked to, if I don't actually know them.

I am trying to develop projects that allow these folks to showcase their work so people may discover that they can live in healthy, efficient, comfortable, forever homes that don't burn,  and are insect proof and mold free. 

Besides the funding for the subdivisions or site developments, we need funding for the builders to take down lots and build. They are transitioning from the custom home model to a spec home subdivision model. While this is exciting and opens the door to opportunity, they really need investors to make the shift since they aren't used to buying the land and funding the build without the buyer already in tow.

So I have an abundance of deals to do basically those parts, either develop subdivisions with all the horizontal infrastructure and sell lots, or fund builders spec homes in these developments, preferably all sustainable because a known stick builder can come in and build without any help.

So if any of this interests you or you think I would be someone you want to know, drop me a message and we can talk all about it. I am an introvert and an engineer so talking is not my thing, but I love talking about this.

Also, I'm not sure this is the site for this kind of development project since most everything I see is flips and rentals, although funding a custom build is basically flipping a brand new sustainable home.

All the best!

  • Fred Haas
  • User Stats

    300
    Posts
    153
    Votes
    Kristi Kandel
    Pro Member
    • Developer
    • Fort Myers Beach, FL
    153
    Votes |
    300
    Posts
    Kristi Kandel
    Pro Member
    • Developer
    • Fort Myers Beach, FL
    Replied
    Quote from @Fred Haas:

    Hey All,

    I have a background in Civil Engineering working for around 40 years doing land development, floodplains, and waste management work, among other things. I stopped for a while to do life coaching and energy work, and then I met a guy who was a broker that wanted to get more into the development side so we teamed up with his dad, a lawyer, and started up.

    As things have progressed, I am now finding lots of deals, and as it turns out, the guy I am working with is not really delivering the investors like he said he could/would so I am learning that part of the process now too as most of my deals sit quietly on the sidelines. I'm getting too old to wait, so if I have to take things in my own hands, I will.

    Here is the caveat, I came back to do this because I am extremely passionate about sustainable development, net-zero carbon, thermal mass, compressed earth block, rammed earth, hempcrete and others with all the add-ons like rainwater collection, solar and permaculture. I'd be surprised if there is a sustainable builder in Texas that I have not at least talked to, if I don't actually know them.

    I am trying to develop projects that allow these folks to showcase their work so people may discover that they can live in healthy, efficient, comfortable, forever homes that don't burn,  and are insect proof and mold free. 

    Besides the funding for the subdivisions or site developments, we need funding for the builders to take down lots and build. They are transitioning from the custom home model to a spec home subdivision model. While this is exciting and opens the door to opportunity, they really need investors to make the shift since they aren't used to buying the land and funding the build without the buyer already in tow.

    So I have an abundance of deals to do basically those parts, either develop subdivisions with all the horizontal infrastructure and sell lots, or fund builders spec homes in these developments, preferably all sustainable because a known stick builder can come in and build without any help.

    So if any of this interests you or you think I would be someone you want to know, drop me a message and we can talk all about it. I am an introvert and an engineer so talking is not my thing, but I love talking about this.

    Also, I'm not sure this is the site for this kind of development project since most everything I see is flips and rentals, although funding a custom build is basically flipping a brand new sustainable home.

    All the best!

    @Fred Haas unfortunately I've heard that story too many times over the past 17 years. There's a saying in the industry that 85-92% of the "developers" out there don't really know what they are doing. 

    The catch is that deals take years so it's easy to make excuses that people accept. And you can get really lucky with market cycles and while you maybe let a couple million go from your profit there's still a lot of upside and developers could still make millions and call the project a win. 

    It's honestly part of the reason why I developed our Local Real Estate Developer™ course. We empower local entrepreneurs and investors to transform underutilized properties into awesome community assets that benefit all.

    I love your why and totally get the introvert/engineer comment too ;) It's very common amongst the civil engineers (and entire design team) that I hire on deals. 

    When you have a good deal you'll get the funding. It's just a matter of putting the right team of strategic partners and equity/debt partners together in your capital stack to make the deal work!

  • Kristi Kandel
  • User Stats

    3,168
    Posts
    1,564
    Votes
    Robert Ellis
    Agent
    • Developer
    • Columbus, OH
    1,564
    Votes |
    3,168
    Posts
    Robert Ellis
    Agent
    • Developer
    • Columbus, OH
    Replied
    Quote from @Fred Haas:

    Hey All,

    I have a background in Civil Engineering working for around 40 years doing land development, floodplains, and waste management work, among other things. I stopped for a while to do life coaching and energy work, and then I met a guy who was a broker that wanted to get more into the development side so we teamed up with his dad, a lawyer, and started up.

    As things have progressed, I am now finding lots of deals, and as it turns out, the guy I am working with is not really delivering the investors like he said he could/would so I am learning that part of the process now too as most of my deals sit quietly on the sidelines. I'm getting too old to wait, so if I have to take things in my own hands, I will.

    Here is the caveat, I came back to do this because I am extremely passionate about sustainable development, net-zero carbon, thermal mass, compressed earth block, rammed earth, hempcrete and others with all the add-ons like rainwater collection, solar and permaculture. I'd be surprised if there is a sustainable builder in Texas that I have not at least talked to, if I don't actually know them.

    I am trying to develop projects that allow these folks to showcase their work so people may discover that they can live in healthy, efficient, comfortable, forever homes that don't burn,  and are insect proof and mold free. 

    Besides the funding for the subdivisions or site developments, we need funding for the builders to take down lots and build. They are transitioning from the custom home model to a spec home subdivision model. While this is exciting and opens the door to opportunity, they really need investors to make the shift since they aren't used to buying the land and funding the build without the buyer already in tow.

    So I have an abundance of deals to do basically those parts, either develop subdivisions with all the horizontal infrastructure and sell lots, or fund builders spec homes in these developments, preferably all sustainable because a known stick builder can come in and build without any help.

    So if any of this interests you or you think I would be someone you want to know, drop me a message and we can talk all about it. I am an introvert and an engineer so talking is not my thing, but I love talking about this.

    Also, I'm not sure this is the site for this kind of development project since most everything I see is flips and rentals, although funding a custom build is basically flipping a brand new sustainable home.

    All the best!


     as someone who sells land And entitles land to institutional level players not one cares about sustainability especially in Texas. you can't change the market. I'd change the business plan and pick profit over passion but that's just me 

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