Dan J. Harkey

Educator & Private Money Lending Consultant

Entitlement Arbitrage: Property Owners Unlocking Hidden Value in California Real Estate

California’s evolving land use laws have created a rare window of opportunity for real estate property owners and investors. With the state now overriding local municipalities in the approval process, properties once constrained by zoning limitations can now be repositioned for high-density residential development—dramatically increasing their value.

by Dan J. Harkey

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Why This Matters to Investors

  • State Mandates Override Local Zoning: SB-4, SB-79, AB-2243, SB-1123, SB-9, SB-1123, SB-35, and other related legislation now allow for increased density, reduced parking requirements, and expedited entitlement processes. 
  • You can find these articles on my website.
  • Entitlement Arbitrage: Investors can acquire underutilized properties, re-entitle them under new state guidelines, and either sell at a premium or develop for long-term cash flow.
  • Valuation Uplift: Properties previously valued using traditional comps can now be reassessed based on per-unit development potential, often doubling or tripling land value.

Consulting & Feasibility Services

Dan Harkey and Pacific National Development (Al Marshall, President) offer investor-focused consulting to identify and unlock development potential.

Services include:

  • Site feasibility analysis (unit count, building height, parking ratios)
  • Entitlement strategy and timeline
  • Development matchmaking or JV structuring
  • Exit strategy planning (sale vs. hold)

Case Studies

📍 Downtown Long Beach – Tri-Plex Redevelopment

  • Current Value: $1.7M (based on comps)
  • Lot Size: 22,500 sq ft (150’ x 150’)
  • Potential Build: 40 units + subterranean parking
  • Post-Entitlement Value: $3.2M ($80K/unit)
  • Value of land with entitlements 80 X40= $3.300.000.

📍 LA Metro – Church Property

  • Original Value: $1.8M (based on comps)
  • New Potential: 108 affordable units + commercial ground floor
  • SB-4 Advantage: Reduced parking due to transit proximity
  • Post-Entitlement Value: $8M ($80K/unit)
  • Value of land with entitlements 108 X 80= $8,640,000

Investor Options

  • Acquire & Entitle: Buy undervalued properties and reposition them for resale or development.
  • Partner with Owners: Structure JV deals where owners contribute land and investors fund entitlement and construction.
  • Tax-Efficient Structures: Owners can remain in deals for depreciation and long-term capital gains benefits.

Let’s Talk

If you’re a property owner or investor seeking high-ROI opportunities in California’s evolving real estate landscape, let’s discuss how we can help you source, entitle, and reposition properties for maximum value.

📞 Dan Harkey – 949-533-8315
📧 dan@danharkey.com

      www.danharkey.com