The Land Investing Business Secrets From Flips to Development: Turning Raw Land into Builder-Ready Lots (Podcast Ep#145)
Oct 2, 2025
Brandon Cobb, a land developer specializing in horizontal development, shares his journey from house flipping to creating builder-ready lots. He discusses the advantages of pre-selling lots to national builders as a risk management strategy. Brandon provides insights into the approval process, typical timelines, and the importance of building strong relationships with builders. He also highlights common pitfalls for new developers dealing with municipalities and shares a case study on a successful 74-lot project, revealing key costs and lessons learned.
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The Entitlement Path Explained
- The entitlement path moves from concept plan to preliminary plat to civil drawings and department stamps.
- Final grading permit and state SWPPP approval are last steps before starting earthwork.
Plan For Long Approval Timelines
- Expect roughly 15 months from engagement to approvals in many markets; allow much longer in highly regulated areas.
- Plan timelines by municipality and build buffer for local red tape.
Sniper Outreach Beats Broad Marketing
- Use targeted, local outreach and relationship-building rather than generic mass lists to source development parcels.
- Handpick parcels and offer above-market prices because you can force-appreciate through approvals.