Smart Property Development
Feasibility Calculator
VET potential development projects & find the best deals FAST
Designed with simplicity without the overwhelm
Best for "Develop & Sell" Scenarios Worldwide
Spanning 12-36 Months
Property Development Feasibility Calculator
Stop Wasting Hours Researching Deals That Are Never Going To Stack. Use Smart Feasibility Calculator To Find
The Juiciest Opportunities
Before Other Developers Even Know They Exist...
Especially If You Think Numbers Don't Come Naturally To You
The Smart Feasibility Calculator Helps Developers Find Profitable Property Development Projects...
Solving The Most Time Consuming Component Of Property Development...
Finding And Stacking Deals
Like most developers, do you waste hours looking at properties, trying to determine if they have any real potential? And when you think a property looks good, do you constantly second-guess yourself, wondering if you’ve missed something?
You’re not alone. I used to spend hours getting excited about potential properties – manually calculating figures – only to discover they never had a chance of working.
Or, by the time I was confident enough to move ahead with a property, someone else had already snapped it up. And I was left defeated, starting my search from scratch (again).
Smart Feasibility Calculator Works in all countries
With Customisable Costs, with and without GST & VAT tax codes including...
Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK, South Africa, Jamaica, Fiji, Malaysia, 🇹🇭 Thailand, Singapore, Hungary, Turkey, 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten, 🇦🇪 UAE, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇻🇬 British Virgin lands, 🇮🇳 India & Most Asian Countries
Here's What You Can Expect
When You Sign Up For
[Smart] Development Feasibility Calculator
Run financial feasibility for any "Develop & Sell" development project to determine potential profits for residential, commercial or
mixed-use developments
Easy to use Property
development feasibility Calculator
SFC Walkthrough
Project Settings
Select GST & VAT percentages as applicable or select "not applicable" to turn them off altogether. Customize the currency symbol, and specify the type of project between residential, commercial, or mixed-use. Specify hurdle rates, sensitivity assumptions, construction cost, and sale value calculation methods.
Land acquisition costs
This section allows you to acquire the development site and finance the land acquisition. This loan is independent of a construction loan, which typically comes into play when the project is ready for construction.
Developing residential, commercial or mixed-use projects
Based on your project, this section allows you to add multiple types of units you are going to develop. For example, a typical apartment development might have 10 x 3 bedroom units, 10 x 2 bedroom units, and 4 retail premises on the ground floor. This section allows you to account for building costs and sale value based on either total area or an average per-unit value.
Accounting for interim income
Interim income is income your project generates while it is being developed. For example, you could lease the development site while you are getting ready for construction. SFC allows you to capture these costs and use them to reduce the total developer equity required.
Project development costs
The Smart Feasibility Calculator allows you to consolidate all development costs, add contingency allowance individually, and allocate what percentage of those costs make up hard costs, i.e., your lenders' total development costs. In addition, you can add individual cost items and
bifurcate them between hard and soft costs.
Funding table & project financing options
Why do you have funding table in Smart Feasibility Calculator?
In a nutshell, to make sure that we don't run out of money halfway through the project. That's the most straightforward answer. Lenders will always use one, but when we use it, we plan our development
and our cash outflow requirement one step ahead of our lenders.
With the funding table, we have the flexibility to determine if and what percentage of the project's hard and soft costs will be funded by the developer and the bank.
This affects what we can borrow, which will directly impact the amount of money
we need to have to do the project.
Important: The only way to maximize the return on your own money is by using as little as possible & completing your project as early as possible.
Learn more: Property development feasibility study
Development Finance
The development funding section is the most important and comprehensive in Smart Feasibility Calculator. All project finance is made up of two main components. Debt and equity
Debt comes from lenders, and equity comes from the developer. The Smart Feasibility Calculator allows you to further split this in two.
For example, let's say you need to borrow 70% of total development costs, and you will contribute 30% from your equity/cash. SFC allows you to further split the 70/30 contribution, i.e., you can split the 70% into a construction and mezzanine loan, and you can split the 30% between the developer and investor.
This allows you to account for 4 different facilities at different interest rates and terms. In addition, it allows you to inject a buffer amount into the project to cover any tax input credits that you, as a developer, might need to come up with.
Project Summary
The Smart Feasibility Calculator gives you a detailed summary page with various sensitivity analysis tables that you can share with your clients, investors, project stakeholders, or associates.
It covers all your standard develop and sell decision metrics to help you fine-tune your project's feasibility. I do several feasibility studies for any one project. I make various assumptions to ensure that I have covered all possible scenarios before I move ahead. The Smart Feasibility Calculator allows me to do that in less time and more efficiently.
Checkout the published feasibility here.
Smart Feasibility Calculator Printing & PDFs
The Smart Feasibility Calculator, can be printed and shared like any other Google Sheet.
Download a PD copy here.
Key Technical Specifications
The Smart Feasibility Calculator is an advanced analytical tool developed on the Google Sheets platform. Designed to perform intricate feasibility analyses with exceptional precision, it leverages sophisticated algorithms to deliver accurate results efficiently. This calculator is tailored for professionals who require reliable data to make informed decisions in their projects.
1. Comprehensive Codebase for Enhanced Functionality
- Number of Lines of Code:
7,302
- Encompasses over 7,000 lines of carefully structured code.
- Utilises advanced programming techniques to optimise computational efficiency.
- Features a modular design for easy updates and scalability.
2. High-Precision Computational Accuracy
- Deviation Threshold:
1.00 × 10⁻⁵
- Implements algorithms that maintain a minimal deviation of 1.00E-05.
- Ensures high-level accuracy critical for precise feasibility assessments.
- Minimises computational errors to deliver trustworthy results.
3. Iterative Processing Until Desired Precision
- Iteration Strategy:
Until Deviation Reaches 1E-5
- Employs iterative methods that continue until the deviation falls below the specified threshold.
- Guarantees convergence to highly precise outcomes.
- Adjusts the number of iterations dynamically to balance accuracy and performance.
4. Optimised Performance and Execution Time
- Average Runtime (across 3 tests):
7.7 seconds
- Demonstrates efficient processing with an average execution time of 7.7 seconds.
- Balances complex calculations with optimal performance to ensure timely results.
- Enables users to conduct comprehensive analyses without significant delays.
Innovative Technological Features
Transforming Google Sheets into a Powerful Analytical Engine
- Advanced Utilisation of Google Sheets:
- Converts a familiar spreadsheet interface into a sophisticated analytical tool.
- Leverages cloud-based features for real-time collaboration and data sharing.
- Provides accessibility without the need for specialised software installations.
Integration with Google Apps Script
- Advanced Scripting Capabilities:
- Extends the functionality of Google Sheets through custom scripting.
- Automates complex calculations and iterative processes seamlessly.
- Executes scripts securely within Google's cloud infrastructure for reliability.
Adaptive Algorithmic Design
- Dynamic Computational Methods:
- Algorithms adapt based on input data to optimise calculation efficiency.
- Incorporates intelligent processing to reduce unnecessary iterations.
- Enhances overall performance while maintaining high accuracy.
Robust Data Validation and Error Handling
- Comprehensive Input Validation:
- Ensures data integrity by validating inputs before processing.
- Incorporates error-handling mechanisms to manage exceptions gracefully.
- Provides users with clear feedback for correcting input errors.
Conclusion
The Smart Feasibility Calculator represents a significant advancement in feasibility analysis tools. By integrating a comprehensive codebase with high-precision algorithms and optimised performance, it provides professionals with a reliable and efficient means to conduct detailed feasibility studies. This tool exemplifies how sophisticated analytical capabilities can be delivered through accessible platforms, enhancing both innovation and practicality in the industry.
Input Cells:
Blue Cells -- Designated for user inputs.
Editable Cells with Protections:
Orange Cells -- Users can edit these cells; however, they contain formulas to prevent re-entering data manually.
Restrictions:
- Users should only edit blue and orange cells.
- All updates are managed by scripts, as calculations are hard-coded to maintain integrity and consistency.
Simply Punch Some Basic Numbers Into The Smart Feasibility Calculator And In Seconds It Spits Out All The Answers Including…
No More Struggling To Calculate Figures Manually
If You Can Fill Out A Form You Can Use Smart Feasibility Calculator. It's easier than a Real Estate Pro Forma.
No More Missing Out On The Best Deals
Stop Wasting Time On Properties With No Potential. Make Sure That You Understand The Most Important Principle When Conducting Financial Feasibility.
No More Waiting, What You Were Looking For Is Already Here
The Biggest Challenge For Anyone Starting Out As A Developer Is Being Able To Get The Numbers Right And Get Them Right Quickly And Easily. Thankfully Now You Can With Smart Feasibility Calculator.
No More Disappointment Over Properties You Thought Had Potential
Know If A Project Is Good Or No Good Fast Without wasting time or reinventing the wheel.
No More Ambiguity & Second Guesses
I show you exactly how to make good estimates based on averages for construction and other costs involved.
Run Multiple Contingency Scenarios With 1-Click
Ever Wondered If The Costs Go Up By X% And The Sale Values Go Down By X% - How Would This Impact Your Feasibility? With Smart Feasibility Calculator You Can Run Multiple Contingency Scenarios With 1-Click.
Development Margin On Cost & Revenue
Feel confident in your business decisions.
Calculate potential profits more accurately & know exactly how much profit your development project will make on total project costs & total revenue.
The development margin is a fancy way of expressing how much money you're about to make on cost & revenue. SFC does exactly that; it calculates the development margin on cost and revenue separately and breaks it all down per unit & by area.
Return On Equity & Equity Multiple
Get a realistic estimate of the equity you need & know exactly what return you will make on your money.
You'll know exactly how much money to raise and for how long. Stop struggling and feeling overwhelmed - this calculation will light the way. It considers how much equity you need, for how long and what return you can enjoy on it for the duration of the project. Expressed using 2 distinct metrics, Return On Equity (ROE), Equity Multiple (EMx)
Sources & Uses
What are sources & uses, never heard of it?
Let me explain
In any development feasibility calculation, your sources of funds must equal the total uses of funds. It's a high-level balance sheet of your feasibility template.
You know, the smart developers who build their own Excel-based calculators—this is where their calculations fall apart.
In other words, the total development costs of a project must equal the total debt plus equity in the project.
If sources of funds are not equal to uses of funds, you have allocated certain costs in the project but have yet to allocate either debt or equity to fund them. And that's a sure-shot way to come undone in the middle of a project.
In SFC, we perform a check every time any calculation is updated. And if instead of the Green Dot 🟢, you see the Red Dot 🔴, it means that the calculations have gone wrong somewhere.
Hurdle Rate & Target Development Margin
Have you ever wanted to lock in a profit margin for yourself, even before starting a project?
Smart feasibility calculator allows you to do exactly that. This calculation shows you the residual value of land, based on a target development margin, aka hurdle rate, to ensure that you never pay more for land than it's worth.
SFC protects your development project by ensuring that, based on your assumptions of costs & the profit margin you wish to make, the land is NOT worth more than what you're paying for it.
Calculate the residual value of the land before you buy it to make sure you're getting a good deal. Never overpay for land again, and know exactly what a piece of land is worth before buying it.
Benchmark Construction Costs
Feel confident that you're making a smart investment.
Apart from the purchase price, nothing costs more than construction. This calculation shows you how much construction will cost in relation to all costs and the total end sales, so you can check your margins are within range and confirm the deal is worth pursuing.
Developers Equity Contribution & Debt
Make the smart decision and bring your project home with the right amount of resources.
The hardest thing to figure out in any development project is how much equity is needed to complete the project. Most seasoned developers do not have the necessary property development skills to do this calculation.
Get a precise equity figure in under 2 minutes & save time and money by not over-or underestimating your project costs.
SFC gives you this number based on your assumptions with the press of a button. So take the guesswork out of development & know you're making the right decision for your project.
Residential, Commercial Or Mixed Use
Get a more accurate estimate for your project and make the most informed decision possible for your development project.
Feel confident that you're making the right choice for your project and saving time and money using a professional calculator.
SFC is suitable for Residential, Commercial Or Mixed Use development projects. It allows you to calculate revenue and construction costs separately for your residential and commercial units. Both are inherently different and require a different calculation method to arrive at the end value.
Land Acquisition & Construction Loan
Your creative deal-making does not have to be a disadvantage when doing feasibility studies.
Take advantage of how you have structured your deal by using a different interest rate for your land acquisition loan & construction loan if required.
It is seldom that your project will move straight into construction post-closing or settlement in real life. Even if you have a construction loan approved, you will have a lag before the construction loan is released, subject to you getting your pre-sales.
SFC allows you to first settle on land using a land acquisition loan where you can use a different interest rate and then refinance it into a construction loan later down the track.
Contingency Scenarios & Sensitivity Analysis
See how your development project will fare in any situation.
Be prepared and protect your investment and ensure a healthy profit by mitigating risks and preparing for the worst. Sleep at night knowing everything about your project and feel confident in making decisions.
SFC shows you how the project's bottom line will be affected if things don't go exactly according to plan.
It shows you what happens to 5 different metrics if your assumed costs & sales increase or decrease:
1) Development's potential profit,
2) Development margin on cost,
3) Development margin on revenue,
4) Return on equity and
5) Residual value of land
By using these sensitivity tables, you can be prepared and see through the worst-case scenario beforehand. So when you move ahead with the project, you do so with a plan.
Here’s What People Are Saying About
Smart Feasibility Calculator...
Loved your Smart Calculator. Great when on the road and in a hurry to get quick overall picture of a development worth pursuing or not. Well done.
Peter mason
VeEJ K.
I was impressed – your “BoE” models are more detailed and well presented than most I’ve seen.
Bill Rodney
Senior Lecturer In Real Estate Finance, Investment And Valuation At Cass Business School & Director I-Analysis Training