On March 28, ULI and SMU are jointly presenting a talk by John McNellis, author of Making It in Real Estate: Starting Out as a Developer. Following the presentation, attendees can join the author for cocktails and dinner. All ULI registrants will receive a copy of Making It in Real Estate—you can even get it autographed! Registration is open to Young Leaders only until March 11; after that date, registration will open to all.
John McNellisstarted his real estate business in his 20s—over thirty years ago. A real estate lawyer by training,he quickly switched todevelopment, and found his niche in developing shopping centers. In any discussion with John, it quickly becomes clear thathe loves real estate, and he also loves talking about what he has learned over those thirty years.
In his recent book, Making It in Real Estate, published by ULI, McNellis shares insights about succeeding in the business of real estate the hard way—deal by deal, with mistakes and losses along the way—through a collection oflessons and anecdotes. He tells readers upfront: “My desire is to leave you with the same admiration, caution, and healthy respect for real estate development that a zookeeper has for his lions.”
Making It in Real Estate covers the ins and outs of how to get financing and whether to team up with partners; how to work with brokers, architects, contractors, and other indispensable professionals; how to win allies and secure approval for projects; and how to manage risks and maximize profits.
McNellis cautions, “There is no way to make real developer profits without taking at least some real developer risks.” But with the advice covered in his engaging presentation, John McNellis may help you minimize those risks and avoid some common novice mistakes.
John McNellisis the founder of McNellis Partners, which specializes in developing supermarket-anchored shopping centers in northern California. His partnership has grown on its strategy of developing only about two projects a year and to do so with internal capital only. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California Hasting College Law, he devotes his spare time to teaching workshops to aspiring real estate entrepreneurs, traveling, and enjoying life.