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:

• Awarded AFTER cohort selection
• Based on demonstrated need from application and resume
• Payment arrangements available for selected candidates