Insights

Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.

Industry

AI for Real Estate Development: What's Actually Being Used in 2026

A practitioner-level overview of where AI is actually deployed in institutional real estate development in 2026, covering site selection, underwriting, due diligence, permitting, and construction monitoring. Covers what is working, where human judgment still leads, and how the most competitive development teams are restructuring workflows around AI.

March 30, 2026 ·4 min read

Workflows

Deal Underwriting in Real Estate: A Step-by-Step Developer's Guide

A step-by-step guide to the real estate deal underwriting process, covering market context, development budget, pro forma construction, capital stack structuring, and sensitivity analysis. Includes a practical breakdown of where AI is compressing timelines and what still requires senior-level analytical judgment.

March 30, 2026 ·4 min read

Asset Classes

What Is a Hyperscale Data Center? Requirements, Development, and Investment

A definitive guide to hyperscale data centers covering what they are, who the major tenants are, site selection requirements (power, land, fiber, permitting), development playbook structures, and investment characteristics. Includes how AI is accelerating site analysis and underwriting for hyperscale developers.

March 30, 2026 ·4 min read

Asset Classes

Data Center Site Selection: The Complete Developer's Guide

Data center site selection requires evaluating power availability, land control, fiber connectivity, permitting timelines, and cooling infrastructure before committing capital. This guide walks through each criterion, the market-specific variables that drive development decisions, and where AI is compressing multi-week analysis into hours.

March 29, 2026 ·6 min read

Technology

The Best Site Selection Software for Real Estate Developers in 2026

Site selection software for real estate developers spans five layers: GIS platforms, market data, parcel databases, specialized infrastructure data, and AI-native screening tools. This guide covers what each layer does, which platforms lead in each category, and how to evaluate the right stack for your asset class.

March 29, 2026 ·6 min read

Workflows

What Is a Test Fit in Commercial Real Estate? How Developers Use Them

A test fit is a spatial validation exercise that tells developers whether their intended program fits a site or building shell before design fees accumulate. This guide explains what test fits include, when they are run across the development process, and how AI is reducing turnaround from days to hours.

March 29, 2026 ·5 min read

Technology

The Real Estate Development Toolkit: Software and AI Tools Institutional Teams Use in 2026

A phase-by-phase guide to the software and AI tools institutional real estate development teams are deploying in 2026, from site screening to pipeline management. Covers what to evaluate at each stage and how the best teams structure their technology stack.

March 28, 2026 ·4 min read

Asset Classes

Life Sciences Real Estate Development: Site Criteria, Lab Specs, and What AI Can Automate

A practitioner-level guide to life sciences real estate development covering site selection criteria, lab building specifications, institutional tenant requirements, and where AI is adding value in screening, regulatory analysis, and demand forecasting.

March 28, 2026 ·4 min read

Workflows

How to Automate an Investment Committee Memo with AI

A step-by-step guide to using AI to compress investment committee memo preparation from days to hours. Covers which sections AI can populate, where human judgment remains essential, and how to structure the workflow for consistent, audit-ready output.

March 28, 2026 ·4 min read