Published by Audree Grubesic on Jun 11, 2024. Updated Mar 17.
David Persons began his real estate and construction career more than 25 years ago in Boston.
In 2008, he moved to Brazil and helped set up the first 24 Walmart stores in Brazil.
His clients included Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Apple, Motorola, and General Motors.
He returned to the U.S. in 2014 and worked in Boca Raton with Cushman and Wakefield, then with Lincoln Property Company.
He now helps private equity firms with development and construction management. One of those firms owns the Guerdon Modular factory.
David says good real estate starts with the right location. He looks at rental markets, zoning laws, and local entitlement processes.
He says city support matters. He also says developers must navigate NIMBYism, union regulations, and market-specific legal requirements.
In California, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) can either streamline or prolong development depending on project size.
He also notes that Seattle and Denver have different regulations, so strategies must change by market.
General contractors can struggle to bid accurately on modular projects, especially for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work.
David recommends using a responsibilities matrix to define scope clearly and improve bid accuracy.
David Persons’ LinkedIn profile is listed at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpersons/.