Release date: 2024

Course length: 8 hours/ 9 modules
Level: Introductory
Designed for: Developers, owners, investors, land planners, engineers, brokers and construction professionals.
Course access: Upon enrollment, students have 90 day to complete this course.

This interactive course examines the seven stages of a comprehensive real estate development model. Learn how real estate development progresses from land acquisition to the approvals and zoning process, land development, building construction, operations, renovation and eventual redevelopment. Discuss how each stage of the development process requires specialized skills, involves certain risks, and provides opportunities for developers to build value. Then, see how each stage plays out in real world case studies. Learners will gain a fundamental understanding of the development process that they can apply to real world practices right away. The course also covers some key basic finance skills for developers including determining property value, estimating building costs, and assessing land value. After completing this course, build on what you’ve learned by taking the Advanced Development Practices course. 

Course modules:  

1. Overview of the Development Process
2. Land Banking
3. Land Packaging
4. Land Development
5. Building Development
6. Building Operations
7. Building Renovation
8. Property Redevelopment
9. Development Finance Skills

After completing the course, students will be able to:

• Explain the definition of real estate development as a value creation process
• Define the seven stages of the real estate development process in terms of
• How value is created
• Key players
• Critical Tasks
• Controllable costs
• Major Risks
• Analyze an example of each stage
• Estimate overall property value and land value using direct capitalization methodology
• Explain the relationship between value, income and capitalization rates

If you would like to purchase an individual course module instead of the full course, visit the individual course page.

Tuition & Register

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

Note: You have 90 days from the date you register to complete this course. 

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via mail or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not received the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the Commercial Real Estate Development Association Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

As a vendor consultant, we're often brought in toward the end of the process. This experience gave me a much deeper understanding of my clients' needs, challenges, and day-to-day operational realities, allowing me to better support them with solutions that align with how they actually work.
     - Hayleigh DeLoach, Sales Executive, Vari

The [CREDA] EDP course is a well-structured and clear overview of the real estate development lifecycle. It breaks down the development process in a logical, accessible way. The on-demand format was easy to fit into a busy schedule and the real-world framing helped connect theory to day-to-day development work.
     - Camille Ellsworth, Development Associate, rPlus Energies, LLC

This course provided a solid foundation in the real estate development process. The content was well organized, informative, and relevant, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to better understand commercial real estate development.
     - Veronica Loreto, Sr Interior Designer PM, Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County

This course does a great job of explaining the concepts of real estate development, and also brings it to life with historical case studies.
     - Ben Beardsley, Senior Manager, Baker Tilly

For someone in construction seeking to eventually switch over to the development side of things, this course was a fantastic introduction to the world of development.  The course was easy to follow, interactive, and I came away from it with a great framework for future learning. 10/10 would recommend.
     - Austin DaValle, Project Manager, Ryan Companies

Very comprehensive even for someone with five years of experience in the industry. 
     - Carter Brown, Real Estate Development Manager, Qualified Development

CREDA’s microlearning videos allow learners to gain understanding about a specific subtopic related to commercial real estate in a “bite-size” format.

Best Practices for Navigating the Development Approvals Process

Watch this video on CREDA’s YouTube or Vimeo channels.

The development approval process can be complex to navigate for CRE developers but doing so effectively can help avoid costly delays. In this video, learn about the importance of building relationships, gaining community support, and communicating with key stakeholders and local government officials throughout the planning and permitting phase of a project.

Read these related reports from the CREDA Research Foundation:
The Development Approvals Index: A New Tool to Evaluate Local Approvals Processes
Findings from the Development Approvals Index

This module focuses on value-add property investment analysis and explains how value is created by increasing cash flow, improving revenue, reducing expenses and lowering risk. It reviews non-asset variables, key metrics and structural considerations used to evaluate value-add investments from both debt and equity perspectives. The module also examines how to analyze investment returns for value-add commercial real estate projects.

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

This module introduces the 10-year discounted cash flow model used to evaluate properties held for longer time periods. It explains how changes in debt structure and capital expenditures affect cash flows, returns and property value. The module also introduces scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis and stress testing and demonstrates how these tools can be used to evaluate investment risk, including IRR sensitivity analysis and maximum purchase price modeling using Excel.

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

This module focuses on market demand and lease concessions and their impact on commercial real estate development projects. It covers absorption, supply and demand effects and tenant turnover costs and explains how to evaluate concession types, market drivers and their effect on revenue and return metrics. The module also introduces methods for summarizing and modeling concession data, including the use of pivot tables, and encourages learners to apply market analysis concepts to the properties, locations and asset classes they work with.

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

The impending electricity shortage and its impact on CRE

Across Canada, access to electricity is becoming a challenge. Developers are facing delays and uncertainty as they try to secure the power needed for commercial and industrial buildings. While governments are moving forward with major investments in nuclear, natural gas and hydro power, the interim power challenges are real.

Join NAIOP for a timely discussion on what Canada’s emerging electricity challenge means for the industrial and commercial real estate sector. The webinar will begin with an overview of the current state of Canada’s electricity system, the pressures ahead, and why the issue is urgent. This will be followed by a panel discussion with leaders from the energy industry about what they are seeing and what needs to change to keep development moving forward.

Speakers:

• Marc Brouillette, Principal, Strategic Policy Economics
• Peter Mills, CEO, Wyse Meter Solutions
• Aleck Dadson, Senior Advisor, StrategyCorp

Release date: 2026

Course length: 8 hours/ 8 modules 
Level: Intermediate to Advanced 
Designed for: Developers, owners, asset managers, financial managers, investors and brokers.
Course Access: Upon enrollment, students have 90 days to complete this course.

This foundational course equips commercial real estate professionals with the essential concepts, tools and strategies needed to leverage artificial intelligence—both individually and organizationally. Designed for professionals across all CRE disciplines, it progresses from building personal AI fluency to leading organizational transformation. You'll gain practical skills with today's leading AI tools while learning how to evaluate, pilot and scale AI adoption within your team or firm. Whether you're a developer, broker, asset manager, attorney or workplace strategist, this course provides the foundation to compete and lead in an AI-integrated industry.

This course is taught by CRE AI Studio co-founders Jonathan Buckelew, Nadine Ezzie and Topher Stephenson. After completing the course and passing the exam with an 80% or above, you will be provided a unique code to access the CRE AI Studio for three months.

Course modules:

1. AI and CRE - Why Now, Why You
2. Understanding the AI Landscape
3. AI in Action - Use Cases Across CRE
4. Hands-on AI - Prompting and Workflows
5. From Individual to Team - Bringing AI to Your Organization
6. Change Management and AI Culture
7. Governance, Risk and Responsible AI 
8. The Future-ready Organization: Your AI Roadmap

Please note: Individual course modules are not available for purchase for this course. Enrollment is offered for the full course only, and participants must register for the complete program to access the content.

Tuition & Register

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

Note: You have 90 days from the date you register to complete this course. 

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via mail or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not received the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

AI is here to stay. It is not something to be afraid of as long as it is used for what it is, a tool that will allow you to focus your time and efforts on the work that produces the most ROI for your or your company. This course walks you thru the steps on how to implement AI so that it actually works for you instead of against you.
Vince Garcia, Pretorian Realty

Bringing AI into a commercial real estate organization is not the same as using it yourself. It requires an entire organizational shift. This course gives professionals the framework to get it right: standardizing processes before automating them, leading their teams through change, and building the governance that makes AI adoption sustainable.
Nadine Ezzie, Co-founder of CRE AI Studio 

I spent over a decade in multifamily asset management before I ever touched an AI tool — and when I did, I realized how much time I’d left on the table. This course closes the gap. It gives CRE professionals a clear picture of what tools exist, what they’re actually good for, and how to bring an organization along the right way. You’ll walk away knowing which problems AI can solve for your specific workflows and how to roll it out in a way your team will actually follow. For anyone serious about staying competitive, this isn’t optional education — it’s foundational.
Jonathan Buckelew, Co-founder of CRE AI Studio

Accessing AI is easy. The hard part is putting it to work in a way that actually saves you time. That's what this course delivers. It takes you from playing with prompts to building repeatable workflows that give you back time in your schedule. You won't just learn what AI can do. You'll leave with practical applications you can run Monday morning, plus a plan for helping your team do the same.
Topher Stephenson, Co-founder of CRE AI Studio 

This module introduces key taxation concepts relevant to commercial real estate and explains how tax considerations affect investment decision-making. It covers tax classifications and exemptions, asset depreciation and their impact on taxable income and returns. The module also reviews common real estate tax strategies and explains how to calculate after-tax cash flows and return metrics to support more informed investment analysis.

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

This module focuses on private equity financing in commercial real estate, including common sources of equity capital and the types of investors involved. It explains how private equity differs from public equity and examines negotiated investment structures such as joint ventures and private equity funds. The module also explores private equity investment strategies, fee structures and waterfall return calculations used to allocate cash flow and returns.

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

This module focuses on debt financing for commercial real estate projects. It reviews common types of commercial loans and their sources and explains the components of a loan submission package. The module also covers permanent loan underwriting, including how lenders evaluate risk and make financing decisions, and explains how to calculate prepayment penalties.

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.

This module reviews key real estate finance concepts and introduces capital markets and property valuation using direct capitalization and the discounted cash flow approach. It covers basic financial metrics, including net present value and internal rate of return, and explains common debt ratios, debt payments, loan balances and levered investment analysis. 

If you would like to purchase the full course (all eight modules) instead of this individual module, please visit the full Advanced Real Estate Finance Course.

Individual Course Module Tuition and Registration

Payment for a CREDA on-demand course entitles access for one person only to the course and all materials.

Course Tuition

How to Register

• Register online: Click on the green Register button at the top of the page. You will need to log in or create a free account in order to see the Register button.
• Mail: Send check payments to: CREDA, CL500060, PO Box 5007, Merrifield, VA 22116-5007
• Register over the phone/questions: 866-666-6780

*Note - You have 60 days to complete this course.

Confirmation

All registrations processed online receive an automatic order confirmation and receipt. If you register via fax, mail, or phone, a receipt must be requested by contacting [email protected].

Login instructions to access the on-demand course are sent under separate cover from CREDA Learning. If you do not receive the login instructions, please check your spam folder. If the login email is still not there, please contact the CREDA Education Department.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued.