Lavender | Turning a Complicated Lot Into a Low-Risk Infill Deal
- BETTER
- 14 minutes ago
- 1 min read
In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at 703 East Lavender, an infill development in Durham’s Colonial Village neighborhood that demonstrates how a strong basis, careful due diligence, and a proven strategy can help reduce risk from the start.
What began as an overlooked lot with complicated utility questions became an opportunity to acquire land well below its perceived market value. We discuss how persistence helped BETTER secure the property for $60,000, why confirming buildability before closing was critical, and how the strength of the surrounding neighborhood and comparable sales shaped our decision to build a for-sale home.
We also discuss the different ways we worked to de-risk execution, from using a home design we’ve already built successfully to relying on experience in the same neighborhood, monitoring comparable sales, and targeting a shorter overall project timeline. Along the way, we break down why reducing uncertainty can sometimes be just as valuable as increasing projected returns.
Whether you're an active developer, a passive investor, or simply interested in how successful real estate projects are evaluated, this episode offers an inside look at how BETTER identifies opportunities and manages risk before construction ever begins.
