Ask for the zoning department.

Since this occurred, we've taken great measures firm and department wide to help smooth this process out and provide a better client experience.I appreciate you being honest, and will be reaching out to help clarify how we could have done better and to help remedy the situation.

Actually, Jay, the "huge "difference" isn't in their business structure but in their investor-relations departments.

Because the owners of Licensing Experts pay ALL CASH, the closing usually occurs 3-6 weeks, which is very fast compared to traditionally financed commercial deals I've seen on Bigger Pockets.The whole thing hinges on their very clever technique of getting existing commercial retail tenants engaged, willing to move into their newly acquired properties who are coming up for a lease renewal or lease expiration, rather than marketing for new commercial tenants - which would take way too long.Licensing Experts is somewhat of a "front" for their Mentorship Platform, as they evidently have many of their own separate entities for which they use to actually purchase and close on their commercial properties assigned by their mentees. 

We have record employment, all of our retail is booming, housing is still selling.

The one performing is retail strips Fund.Long term I anticipate that 2 of my three MF deals will still turn a decent return (not the heyday level returns, but still high single/low double average annual return).  

Lee told me that was exactly what I should do and to contact the loan department.

It's still so new but regardless, every building department in every city is completely incompetent in their timing for permits. 

My objective is to buy about an acre of land, that is already leveled, access is being done, and utilities are going to be 5 feet from the property; and then build 3-4 shell retail spots on my plot, owner occupy one of them with a business and lease out the others.I am meeting with a developer this weekend, but have some wrong numbers regarding the average cost of building a shell space. 

This is part of a larger trend of waterfront developments happening such as the Potomac River Generating Station turning into a 2.5 million square foot mixed-use community, the Montgomery Center turning into 327 new apartments, 25,000 square feet of retail, and 13,000 square feet of arts and cultural center starting July of 2024,This puts Robinson Terminal North as the next big project developers are eyeing, with Rooney Property groups announcing their plans to redevelop the decade-long abandoned warehouse space into a 600,000 square feet multifamily, retail, and thriving park area by 2025 following the completion of Hazel Waterfront Tunnel at the site.This new development, which received approval just a little over a month ago, has had many delayed development plans due to concerns about environmental hazards, which have now all been cleared upSources:Robinson North plan advances amid environmental concernsAlexandria Waterfront Small Area Plan March 2024Potomac River Generating StationSwimmable Potomac River CampaignMontgomery Center Redevelopment ApprovedAlexRenew completes two-mile long, 100-foot deep tunnelAlexandria City West, Landmark Mall Redevelopment (2028)Alexandria's Landmark Mall, which at a time was a thriving 52-acre strip mall that was a major attraction in West Alexandria, has long been an eye soar and swath of unused space.