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Donovan | Developer

@donovan_builds

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Developing missing middle infill in CA, TX and MN.

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My first California project in San Diego just hit the market.

Prior to moving to CA, I was just know as the Houston guy (after exiting over 40 projects there ranging from single family to fourplexes) and wanted to learn how to develop across the country if that’s where the opportunity is. In 2023, it became very apparent that everyone had caught on to duplexes so rather than sit and complain there were no deals- I switched markets.

After being the first one to develop a triplex under Houston’s missing middle ordinance, I attempted to do the same thing in California using a law that allows you to subdivide without any public hearing.

Now, California was already hard enough prior to that but I severely underestimated the timeline and the fees that would ultimately be charged. There was no real playbook so we had to figure out everything on the fly. On top of that, I decided to proceed with modular construction which also doesn’t make it any easier.

The lesson is: when you’re doing something new, try to limit the amount of people that are also new. Meaning on your first few pay up to hire an experienced architect, civil engineer, general contractor, etc.

With all that being said, I’ve tripled down on California development and left my W2 job this summer to go after sites across the state and be a full time developer for the first time.

Sink or swim! by @donovan_builds

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16 days ago

And to think the best is yet to come :’)

Thank you to all our friends and family who joined us on such a special day. From Houston to Chicago to the Bay to Atlanta and of course from all over MN. Love truly brings us together and we couldn’t imagine a more fruitful life to live 🤍

A special thank you to everyone who helped make our wedding such a beautiful, effortless, and unforgettable day
Photography: @samanthaleeann.photography
Florals: @minnesota_bouquets
Makeup: @makeupwithkayelyn
Hair: @glambyirine
Decor: @yandievents
Photobooth: @shutterphotoboothco
Cake: @batteranddoughco_
Violin: @daniel_soulmusician

An especially heartfelt thank you to our wedding coordinator @basicedgeevents who gave us nothing but the perfect wedding. Could not have done it without you 🤍 taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota by @donovan_builds

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2 months ago

See you at the altar.

📸: the amazing @samanthaleeann.photography 💖 taken in Minneapolis, Minnesota by @donovan_builds

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4 months ago

Exit #40 from last week

Affordable projects can be incredibly long. We won the Request for Proposal (RFP) at the end of 2022.

As we’re going through the permitting process, the City says we need to cut our construction budget by $200k almost overnight. Obviously, the GC we had at the time was not willing to do this so then we had to scramble to find another one last minute.

Not easy trying to manage this from Oakland on top of California + Texas projects but got it over the finish line despite multiple hurdles along the way.

If anyone wants to team up on an RFP in their city, let’s talk! by @donovan_builds

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4 months ago

Saint Paul Housing Crisis 2026

A huge thank you to the city of Saint Paul, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, and all of our local council members for your support, guidance, and commitment to creating stronger communities.

Projects like this take vision, partnership, and people who believe in investing in the future. We’re grateful to be part of something bigger than ourselves and excited to see the impact 810 Atlantic will have for years to come. 🏙️✨

@donovan_builds @onegoalonedreamff

#twincities #minneapolis #affordablehousing #fyp taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota by @donovan_builds

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5 months ago

He started with a single duplex and a single question: "why can't I build one of these?" Now he's developed dozens. We've invested $1 million to fuel Donovan Adesoro's development. This is how it actually works. by @donovan_builds

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6 months ago

San Diego project turning 1 home into 5. The amount of fees and red tape to do this project is wild. In Houston, I would’ve been done with this project by now.

We bought this run down single family home that had a big backyard.

- Gut-remodeled the existing home
- turning it into 5 separate lots
- Fencing off the new vs old units
- Adding 4 new single family homes
- Selling all 5

By having that existing home to sell off we effectively get sell a 5th unit for only the cost of the rehab (versus building an entire unit). This recoups a portion of the acquisition cost. taken in San Diego, California by @donovan_builds

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7 months ago

Both 4plexes under contract and only one of them was listed. When you’re using as much of the lot as this, you’ll need a good civil engineer to design a drainage plan and it’s very important that the water has somewhere to drain. In this case there were ditches in front of both lots, but if there wasn’t you’d have to tie into the public drain which adds a lot of permitting time and probably another $10k in cost. Something to consider in your due diligence of new development. by @donovan_builds

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8 months ago

These 8 units appraised for $1.76MM in Houston, TX and will be finished in the next few weeks.

In 2023, I noticed that others had caught on to the duplex game so I haven’t bought land for duplex in over two years. Similarly with townhomes, when everyone starts to do it, becomes a sign that I need to switch my strategy. After developing and selling Houston’s first triplex under the new Multi Unit Residential ordinance, I have three four plexes under development with a fourth in the planning stage.

When competition for anything increases, your margins get squeezed which means developers are spending more and more on to sell a product at the same (or lower) than something two years ago.

This becomes a hamster wheel chasing lower and lower prices but spending more. To me that doesn’t feel sustainable so put simply: try to sell something others aren’t.

Two years from now this will happen again with more people figuring out that four plexes are the new duplexes of two years ago. I’ll have to switch my strategy again (or move into another market), but that’s business! You are owed nothing, when something stops working you just have to adapt.

#hereforalongtime #duplex #houston #buildingtips by @donovan_builds

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a year ago

✨ JUST LISTED — NEW CONSTRUCTION DUPLEX ✨

$425,000 • Only $14,000 Down
8201 Calhoun St A/B • Houston, TX 77033 🔑🏡

🔑Modern new-construction duplex
📍minutes from the Texas Medical Center, NRG, and Downtown.
🏡3 bedrooms • 3 bathrooms •
open-concept living • quartz counters • luxury finishes • in-unit laundry • separate entrances.

📈Perfect for house hacking or an investor looking for immediate rental income.
These don’t last long — especially at this price point with this location.

📣
Comment “Calhoun” for more info!

⸻

Follow @norisoldit @norisolditteam — always accepting new clients
Looking to Buy, Sell, Lease or Build?
Click 🔗 in my bio to schedule a complimentary consultation!
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Nori Johnson, REALTOR Ⓡ
@nextgen_tx
📲(346)304-1590
📧info@norisoldit.com
📹: @htx_mediamanagement
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#HoustonDuplex #NewConstructionHouston #HoustonInvestors #CalhounDuplex #HoustonRealEstate #NoriSoldIt
#DuplexQueen #WeBuildLandlords #NextGenTX #CashFlowHouston #HouseHackHouston taken in Houston, Texas by @donovan_builds

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a year ago

WE’VE MADE IT OUR MISSION…… 🔥

Day 1027 Develop Affordable Housing 🏘️🔥

#twincities #affordablehousing #realestateinvestment #realestatedeveloper #explore taken in Saint Paul, Minnesota by @donovan_builds

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a year ago

🔥 Duplex Deal of the Day 🔥

💰 Only $12K Down
🏠 Seller Giving $10K Toward Closing Costs
📍 Located in the Heart of Houston, TX (77051)
🛏️ 3 Bedrooms | 🛁 2.5 Bathrooms
✨ Perfect for First-Time Buyers or House Hackers!

💬 Comment “Duplex Deal” to take advantage of this amazing opportunity before it’s gone! 🚨

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Follow @norisoldit @norisolditteam - always accepting new clients
Looking to Buy, Sell, Lease or Build?
Click 🔗 in my bio to schedule a complimentary consultation!
.
.
Nori Johnson, REALTOR Ⓡ
@nextgen_tx
📲 (346) 304-1590
📧 info@norisoldit.com
📹: @htx_mediamanagement
.
.
.
#houstonrealtor #htx #cashflowing #duplex #houstonduplex #norisoldit
#UnderContract #DuplexQueen #HoustonRealEstate #DuplexDeals #InvestmentProperty #MultiFamilyHustle #NoriSoldIt #WeBuildLandlords #PassiveIncomeMoves #Norijohnson taken in Houston, Texas by @donovan_builds

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a year ago