Market: Choose a specific area that you and your investors are close to and familiar with.

Layout: Older centers have poor layouts that can be improved on.

Location: Think of the direction people travel during different times of day. Coffee shops are commonly accessible on the way to work. Grocery stores are often in the direction of going home-as people do their shopping after work.

Accessibility: How will customers enter your development? Is there a signalized intersection?

Size of Project: Determine what size plan is realistic based on the amount of equity you are going to need and how much debt will be borrowed from the bank.

Existing Leases: Completely read all tenant leases to determine if value can be added.