THE INSTITUTE FOR INDEPENDENT
REAL ESTATE Development
Real Estate Development,
from Concept to Keys
Development is asset transformation: turning land or an underused building into something worth more. IIRED teaches every stage, from site selection through certificate of occupancy, including the execution most courses skip.
Proven Systematic Excellence in Real Estate Development
$750M+
In Development Projects
1,300+
Newsletter Subscribers
40+
years of experience
$65M+
HUD Construction Monitored
THE FOUNDER
Built by a developer, not a marketer
I'm Thurmon Cohen, a civil engineer who has spent more than 40 years in real estate development and construction, on every side of the table. I monitored construction for HUD in Philadelphia and directed public housing and homeownership projects in New Jersey. At JLL, I managed Bank of America capital projects for three years, completing 150 in my final year alone. I've run my own development consulting firm since 2009.
When I looked for real estate development courses, I wasn't satisfied with what I found. Most teach how to find and fund a deal, then stop at the point where projects actually succeed or fail: permits, contractors, draws and close-out. So I designed the course I couldn't find. IIRED teaches every stage of development, from the first site visit to the certificate of occupancy, including the execution most courses skip.
Thurmon Cohen, Founder · B.S. Civil Engineering, Drexel University · Member, BREPA
THE DEVELOPMENT GAP
The Cost of Uncertainty
Independent real estate development involves risk when processes are unclear. Delays and uncertainty cut into profits and jeopardize projects. Here is where unstructured projects lose money, and which IIRED tools address each problem.
Stalled approvals: Projects stall when zoning, permitting and entitlements are handled without a process. The 9 Stages of Development Playbook lays out each step in order.
Weak contracts: Generic agreements leave you exposed to change orders and disputes. The Contractor Procurement System and the Rehab & Contractor Playbook show what to require before you sign.
Eroding margins: Schedule delays and scope creep eat profit. The Project Feasibility and Funding Toolkit helps you test the numbers before you commit.
Systematic Strategies for Growth
Explore IIRED's playbooks and bundles, from Fundamentals to the Master Suite. Complete the required playbooks to earn a certificate issued by IIRED.
Your Framework for Success
We provide precise tools to transform your current assets and systematize multi-phase developments efficiently and securely.
IIRED Fundamentals
The Glossary of Terms & Acronyms plus the Contractor Procurement System: the language of development and a step-by-step way to bid, select and contract your builders. $494.
Rehab Essential
Everything in Fundamentals plus the Rehab & Contractor Playbook and the Project Feasibility and Funding Toolkit: run a renovation from scope to closeout and test the numbers first. $1,988.
Developer's Essential
Everything in Rehab Essential plus the 9 Stages of Development Playbook: the full lifecycle from site selection to certificate of occupancy. $2,985. Or choose the Master Suite ($4,379), which adds the Complete Toolkit of 25 forms and the Multifamily Value-Add Playbook (coming soon).
Who It’s For
Active Investors, Real Estate Agents, and Property Owners who seek systematic processes to transform assets with controlled risk and repeatable results.
The Independent System
Build with
Reliable Systems
The Institute for Independent Real Estate Development offers three core courses: Asset Acquisition System for disciplined capital deployment with certification, Entitlement & Approval Process to efficiently navigate regulatory pathways with certification, and Disposition & Exit Strategies focused on maximizing value with controlled risk and certification. Each course delivers practical, actionable systems to protect your margins and build confidence.
Deal Structuring
Gain true independence with our Deal Structuring course. Follow our step-by-step system to acquire capital, secure entitlements, and close deals independently—giving you full control over terms and assets. Completion awards you the Deal Structuring Certification.
Project Oversight
Master the structured lifecycle of asset transformation in our Project Oversight course. From acquisition through disposition, learn to manage contractors, timelines, and financial checkpoints using repeatable methods designed to reduce risk and deliver consistent results. Earn your Project Oversight Certification upon completion.
From LinkedIn Recommendations
What Colleagues and Clients Say
"His projects are completed on time, with little punch list issues… I am also very impressed with his construction knowledge. He has taught me quite a bit in the time we have worked together."
M. Skriloff
"Thurmon has a strong knowledge base of the construction process, and local and national codes and initiatives. Thurmon will get your job done and done right."
D. Mancini
"His industry knowledge gave our client the confidence necessary to move forward."
K. Hoskins
"He never let us down regardless of the challenges, and went above and beyond to ensure his projects were successfully completed."
C. Hamilton
EXCLUSIVE ENROLLMENT FOR PROFESSIONALS
Core IIRED Courses
Choose the playbook or bundle that fits where you are: IIRED Fundamentals, Rehab Essential, Developer's Essential or the Master Suite. Each gives you a step-by-step system you can use on your next project, and completing the required playbooks earns a certificate issued by IIRED.
100% Secure Checkout • Immediate Access to Your Selected Course
Empowering active investors, real estate agents, and property owners with systematic approaches to asset transformation and risk-managed, repeatable real estate development processes.
Academic Links
Courses:
IIRED Fundamentals
Rehab Essential
Developer's Essential
Master Suite
Certificates issued by IIRED
Resources
Support & FAQ
Contact Details
26 N Broadway
Gloucester City, NJ 08030
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