Mark Leingang

Look beyond the house and pay attention to the land. Most buyers focus on finishes and square footage, but long-term value often comes from what you can do with the property. Understanding zoning, lot size, and development potential can reveal opportunities other buyers overlook — like the ability to add an ADU, split a lot, or create future rental income. Even if you’re buying a home to live in, it’s smart to think like a builder. The right property in the right zone can grow with you — and hold its value no matter where the market goes.

Not all agents understand land development, and not all builders are looking for the same kind of project. If you want to maximize the value of your property, it’s critical to work with someone who understands zoning, density, and development potential. Many homeowners don’t realize that small changes in zoning—or the type of product a builder plans to build—can mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in what your property is worth. My role is to help you identify every possible option so you can make an informed decision, not just a quick sale.

I’ve worked with a wide range of clients who own property with development potential—from long-time homeowners curious about what they can build under the new zoning laws, to families preparing to sell land they’ve held for decades, to builders and small developers looking for their next infill project. Many of my clients are homeowners who want to understand all their options before selling. I help them evaluate whether their lot can support additional units, a subdivision, or a redevelopment—and connect them with qualified builders when that makes sense. On the builder side, I’ve partnered with both custom and production builders, architects, and land-use planners to align the right project with the right property.

A homeowner reached out after receiving constant offers from builders and investors. Every one of them wanted to buy her property to build a single large home. When she came to me, we looked deeper into the zoning and realized the property could actually support three smaller homes instead of one. Because we understood the development potential, I was able to connect her with a builder in my network who specialized in that kind of project. That builder ended up Paying $250,000 more than any of the others who had approached her directly. It was a great example of how understanding zoning and builder strategies can dramatically change a property’s value — and why it pays to work with someone who looks beyond the obvious.

I got my start in real estate working for a custom home builder while I was in high school and college. I spent years on job sites learning how homes actually get built — from reading plans to watching the process of turning raw land into finished neighborhoods. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for how zoning, design, and construction all come together. Over time, I realized most agents never see that side of the business, and that gap often costs homeowners money when they sell. That’s what led me into real estate — to bridge that gap between what a property is and what it could be.