Develop the Developer Academy (DTDA)

Overview:
Training and capacity-building program for aspiring real estate developers. Participants gain access to tools and resources needed to build community development projects. Program involves tuition costs with potential scholarship assistance.

Focus Areas:

• Real estate development fundamentals
• Project feasibility analysis
• Financial planning and pro forma development
• Funding acquisition strategies
• Construction and contractor evaluation
• Zoning and permitting navigation
• Development team management
• Property negotiation

Geographic Scope: Multi-state service area (Communities Unlimited serves seven-state region)

Program Partners: Freddie Mac involved in promotional and follow-up activities

Eligibility

• Aspiring or experienced real estate developers
• Those interested in residential, commercial, or mixed-use development
• Various experience levels welcome
• Scholarships available based on demonstrated need

Key Requirements

• Commitment to attend and actively participate in all sessions
• Full tuition payment in advance (unless scholarship awarded)
• 24-month post-program follow-up participation via annual survey
• Agreement to participation in promotional materials (photos/videos) by Freddie Mac

Application Process

Multi-Step Online Application (11 Steps Total):

1. Contact Information
- Name, phone, email
- Full address

2. Demographics
- Gender
- Race (select all applicable)
- Ethnicity
- How you heard about program

3. Development Experience Assessment
- Rank experience (1=None to 5=Expert) in:
- Developing and refining project ideas
- Identifying and securing real estate
- Creating development budgets
- Evaluating financial feasibility/pro forma
- Securing funding from lenders, investors, grants
- Evaluating contractors and service providers
- Navigating permitting, zoning, planning
- Remediating zoning issues
- Managing development teams
- Project negotiation
- Years of experience in real estate development or related fields
- Describe previous experience
- List other real estate programs attended
- List other developer training programs attended

4. Performance History
- Rank performance (1=None to 5=Total Success) in:
- Predevelopment
- Construction (new or rehab)
- Lease-up or sale
- Identify funding sources previously secured (bank loans, friends/family, private investors, CDFIs, government grants, philanthropy)
- Describe an idea you created and implemented with outcomes

5. Readiness Assessment
- Type of development interested in pursuing
- Timeline for development
- Desired development location
- Whether you've identified property to develop/rehab
- Active property bidding in last 12 months
- Current property ownership for development
- Funds already secured and percentage
- Other properties owned

6. Supporting Materials
- Attach recent professional resume (max 128 MB)

7. Program History
- Previous DTDA application history

8. Tuition/Sponsorship
- Who is paying tuition (yourself or another party)
- Identify sponsor if applicable

9. Scholarship Information
- Indicate need for scholarship
- Written statement describing scholarship need (evaluated with resume for post-selection awards)

10. Consent & Certification
- Agree to attend and actively participate in all sessions
- Authorize Freddie Mac to use photos/videos for promotional materials
- Agree to pay full tuition in advance (unless scholarship awarded)
- Agree to 24-month post-program follow-up via annual survey

11. Submit

Scholarship Awards: