Real Estate Consulting Services for Investors & Developers (+ Case Studies)

These indicators point to a cautious recovery with tight supply in favored sectors and measured cost inflation. The sections below show how real estate consultants convert those conditions into clear decisions and credible pro formas.

What real estate consulting services cover

• Strategy and portfolio. Market mapping, sector focus, hold or sell decisions, and capital planning aligned with strategy consulting.
• Feasibility and underwriting. Demand studies, pricing, absorption, cost plans, schedules, entitlements, and financial models.
• Site selection and location strategy. Access, labor, incentives, and risk for logistics, office, living, and mixed use.
• Development and delivery. Phasing, budget control, procurement, and governance with business transformation support.
• Growth and leasing. Go-to-market plans, tenant mix, and experience design linked to digital and technology analytics.

Why invest now

• Cycle turn. Global activity is rising year over year with momentum shifting to the second half of 2025.
• Select rent growth. U.S. rent growth is muted but stable, which aids underwriting quality.
• Cost clarity. Construction cost indexes show modest annual increases and published forecasts support planning ranges.
• Sector resilience. Logistics, storage, and living assets remain favored in Emerging Trends research.

How consulting teams create value

1) Define highest and best use

Validate concept against demand, competition, policy, and site constraints. Score options on return, risk, and time to revenue.

2) Build a transparent pro forma

Model rents, absorption, costs, incentives, finance terms, and exit. Add sensitivities for cap rates, delays, and cost swings.

3) Tighten delivery controls

Use stage gates, change control, and independent cost checks. Align PMO cadence with design and procurement milestones.

4) Improve tenant and user experience

Blend design, amenity, and service data to raise preleasing and retention. For retail and living, map the full customer path.

Key numbers and references

A 90-day plan

1. Weeks 1 to 3. Collect market comps, pipeline, cost indexes, and policy notes. Draft highest and best use options.
2. Weeks 4 to 7. Build the pro forma with cap rate and cost sensitivities. Validate with an independent cost estimate.
3. Weeks 8 to 10. Confirm entitlements path, incentive options, and schedule risks. Outline phasing and procurement.
4. Weeks 11 to 12. Produce an investment memo and lender pack. Set a monthly reporting cadence for delivery.

Related reading

• Strategy consulting
• Business transformation
• Digital and technology
• M&A advisory

Sources

• JLL. Global Real Estate Perspective, Aug 2025. https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/market-perspectives/global
• CBRE. 2025 U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook Midyear Review. https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/2025-us-real-estate-market-outlook-midyear-review
• Turner Construction. Building Costs Continue to Increase in the Second Quarter of 2025. https://www.turnerconstruction.com/insights/building-costs-continue-to-increase-in-the-second-quarter-of-2025
• Turner & Townsend. LVMI 2025 Construction Price Escalation. https://marketintelligence.turnerandtownsend.com/lvmi-2025/construction-price-escalation
• ULI and PwC. Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2025. https://knowledge.uli.org/en/reports/emerging-trends/2025/emerging-trends-in-real-estate-global-outlook-2025
• PwC. Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2025 PDF. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/investment-management-real-estate/assets/emerging-trends-report-2025.pdf
• CBRE. U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook 2025. https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/us-real-estate-market-outlook-2025