Develop the Developer℠ Academy
Building Homes. Revitalize Communities. Improve Lives.
November 7th – 11th, 2025
Develop the Developer℠ Academy
Build Homes. Revitalize Communities. Improve Lives.
November 7th – 11th, 2025
Take Your Business to the Next Level
- Develop the Developer℠ Academy equips emerging real estate developers, from underrepresented backgrounds, with the tools to scale their business; secure financing; and strengthen communities.
DTDA kicks off with the 5-day academy,
November 7th to 11th, 2025
at the Cambria Hotel
Applications are now closed. Acceptance notifications will be announced the first week of October
Questions? send an email to: eventsupport@homefreeusa.org
THE REALITY:
Far too often, real estate developers don’t represent the communities where they build
Women, Black, and Hispanic Real Estate Developers Make Up Less Than 1% Of The Industry
In Maryland, Less than 5% of single-family homes are developed by small, local builders
- Access to capital is a significant hurdle for Black and Brown developers.
Program Participants Benefit from:
- 8-months of support, guidance, expert speakers, and ongoing classes
- Insight into the nuisances of development in Prince George’s County and Baltimore, MD
- Informative conversations with lenders, local government, nonprofit, and community leaders
Participants will learn:
- Local financial institutions offering development loans
- City agencies expediting permit processes
- Established developers for mentorship
- Quality contractors with proven track records
- Property acquisition channels
- Legal and accounting professionals
WHY OUR APPROACH WORKS
Maryland residents understand the nuances of their neighborhoods—what makes them special and what they truly need.
Profits from successful development projects stay in our cities, creating a cycle of local reinvestment
Local developers have personal stakes in project success beyond financial returns—these are the streets where their families live.
Every rehabilitated property creates jobs for local contractors, increases the tax base, and stabilizes neighborhoods.
By building a network of skilled local developers, we create lasting capacity within Maryland to address housing challenges for decades to come.
Meet Develop the Developer℠ the Developer Academy Participants
Take a look at some of the highlights and participants from last year’s cohort! Out of 84 applicants, we welcomed 20 emerging developers—and we’re proud to share that 95% of them rated our curriculum with high satisfaction. Check out their journey!
Made Possible by Our Partners
Testimonial
