Real Estate Development Specialist

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for leading and supporting real estate initiatives across the organization’s service area. Main activities include: developing and supporting multi-family and single-family housing projects. This position will oversee the full lifecycle of a development from early predevelopment planning, seeking predevelopment financing, project feasibility analysis, and the execution of financing applications and loan due diligence to obtain necessary development funding.

Real estate initiatives include bare land development, single family housing development including acquisition/rehabilitation and new construction; multi-family refinancing, multi-family rental housing development including acquisition/rehabilitation and new construction, and support with external stakeholder projects. The position involves preparing recommendations for senior leadership for identified real estate initiatives, project administration on proposed projects and initiatives, comprehension of compliance with State and Federal guidelines, and coordinating activities with multiple departments.

The role requires extensive communication with internal and external stakeholders to secure resources, close transactions, and advance both organizational and community-driven development goals.

• An associate degree or higher from an accredited post-secondary institution. Preference for Urban or Rural Planning, Public Administration, Business Finance, or another related degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in one or any combination of the following: community development, financial packaging, economic development, real estate transactions; or other related experience.
• Preferred experience in project management or administration.
• Preferred experience with analyzing, preparing and presenting complex real estate development pro forma (Excel spreadsheets).
• Extensive organizational skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Well-developed technical writing skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills.
• Experience with public presentations.
• Problem-solving abilities.
• Proven ability to handle and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Moderate Computer
  
  Experience:
  
  Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to travel across the region for attendance at internal and external meetings and events.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to take direction from and work with a variety of people.
• Ability to manage moderate to complex mathematical calculations.

Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership has offices in Slayton and Mankato. The employee can choose which office location to work from with flexibility for remote work. In-person attendance is an expectation for organization staff meetings rotationally held at either location, or as determined by senior leadership.

Property/Project Review: Review proposals of property acquisitions, development, or other types of projects regarding real estate feasibility. Identify potential geographic markets and any concerns that may impact the ability to operate or score competitively in funding applications, and propose adjustments to budgets, planned activities, timelines and transaction costs to ensure the Project is consistent with previous experience, current portfolio trends and stated expectations.

Follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to move projects through the evaluation steps, ensure that information is shared with internal departments as appropriate and gain their feedback through the SOP process. Act as the main contact and project manager for the seller, local government, funding entities and organization internal team.

Grant Writing: Prepare and write local, state and federal applications for funding as appropriate for each project or contract, or as assigned.

Project Finance Development: Provide initial underwriting feasibility for potential projects. Research and remain up to date on funding and financing options, as well as requirements put forth by funding sources. Develop and submit applications and documents required for project financing.

Property/Project Processing: Lead team to identify and perform checklist items and processes to move funded projects from commitment to closing. Communicate with all funders and their teams to coordinate efforts that provide all necessary information and efficiently move through the closing process. Identify and solve all issues that arise during loan processing by developing strategies and work processes that complete the process in a timely fashion.

Title Insurance and Other Requirements: Lead team to order and obtain land surveys, title insurance, appraisals, environmental reviews, legal opinions, market studies, and all other documentation as required by Lenders and our Standard Operating Procedures. Review and address any and all deficiencies that are identified.

Property/Project Closing: Review documents pertaining to the closing for…