Definition of "Developer’s profit"

James Rice real estate agent

Written by

James Riceelite badge icon

Weichert Realtors Hallmark Properties

The term developer’s profit is the actual profit generated by a developer’s project after the costs of the development have been covered. This profit can come from the sale of the development in the case of residential developments, i.e., each property sold generates an income out of which the developer subtracts the cost of the property and comes out with the end profit. In other words, the developer’s profit is the sum of money a developer earns in a development project after all costs have been paid. This is the offset to the investment risk and time and labor the developer has invested in the outcome of the development. 

How does the Developer’s Profit Work?

While sometimes it can be called entrepreneurial profit, the developer’s profit, besides being the actual profit earned by the developer once the real estate project is sold, it is also the profit they anticipate to gain after the real estate transaction. However, in comparison to the entrepreneurial profit, the developer’s profit is based, as mentioned above, on the time, expertise, and energy of the developer, the person responsible for overseeing the overall development. 

During the cost approach calculations, the measure of the project’s profit includes both the entrepreneurial profit and the developer’s profit. Usually, the developer’s profit can range between 5 to 15% of the project’s total cost. This profit is generated from the difference in cost of materials, overhead expenses, and labor compared to the end project’s value. Still, it’s important to note that the developer’s profit can be affected during certain economic conditions that impact the market. For example, if the cost of the materials ends up being much higher than initially evaluated or if miscalculations occurred in the project’s planning stages.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

The return by owners of a property investment usually through a depreciation allowance. a clause in a contract permitting the prior owner of real estate to recover under certain ...

Agreement between a lending institution and borrower where the borrower agrees to extend or spread the collateral of a loan to additional properties beyond the original mortgaged property. ...

Material used for covering the surfaces of walls or ceilings. Plaster used to be made from plaster of paris, but is now primarily made from cement mixed with sand and water. After plaster ...

(1) Judgment against a defendant who does not respond to the plaintiffs lawsuit or fails to appear in court at the hearing or trial date. (2) Judgment issued by the court against the ...

Provision in a lease agreement in which the lessee is given the right to buy the property at the end of lease term. In many cases, the option price is attractive to encourage acquisition. ...

A public foreclosure sale where public notice is given anyone is allowed to participate. Normally, a public sale occurs because of the property owner's failure to pay taxes. ...

Uncertainties associated with real property including lack of insurance coverage in the event of fire or injury, high crime area, and environmental problems. This risk may be reduced ...

Appraisal by summation is an Alias for Replacement Cost A.K.A. Cost Approach, which is one of the approaches an Appraiser can go through in order to assign a Market Value to a ...

Money payments to be delayed for a future date or extended over a period of time. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions