We Used to Charge Thousands of Dollars for Our Real Estate Financial Models. Now They’re Free — Here’s Why (And What You Gain)
In the world of commercial real estate (CRE), time is money — and every decision has a direct financial consequence. Whether you are underwriting a multifamily acquisition, preparing a pitch deck for investors, or analyzing the viability of a new development, your financial model is the cornerstone of your process.
It is your map, your calculator, and your truth-checker.
For years, we poured thousands of hours into refining our financial modeling templates — building tools that mirror the real-world complexity of actual deals. These were not cookie-cutter Excel sheets; they were sophisticated models designed to handle everything from value-add multifamily strategies to ground-up mixed-use development.
We sold these tools for between $1,000 and $3,000 each.
Now, we are giving them away for free.
The Harsh Truth: The Market Does Not Want to Pay for Templates
We did not come to this decision overnight. In fact, it took almost a year of testing, iterating, and listening to the market. Here is what we discovered:
1. Free Is the Industry Standard
It is not uncommon for principals, sponsors, or institutional investors to share Excel models as part of deal evaluation. These models pass hands at conferences, via email, or even during joint ventures.
Expecting someone to pay thousands for a tool that many firms distribute freely simply does not align with the norms of the industry.
2. Pricing Creates Friction — and That Hurts Growth
We noticed that selling our models created unnecessary friction. People hesitated. They would reach out, compliment the tool, but then try to recreate a version themselves or use an outdated model they had on file.
In trying to monetize something the industry sees as a commodity, we unintentionally created resistance. Resistance we do not want in our sales funnel.
The Real Value Is in the Analyst — Not the Spreadsheet
Let us be clear: these models are valuable. They have been refined over time, pressure-tested in real transactions, and built to be scalable. But as any real estate professional knows:
No single model can fit every deal.
That is where we come in.
The Role of the CRE Analyst
When you are running a complex underwriting process — especially across multiple deals or asset classes — what you really need is not a spreadsheet.
You need someone who knows how to use it.
You need an analyst who can:
Build and customize the model to reflect the nuances of your specific investment thesis
Run detailed scenario analysis to test assumptions around rent growth, exit cap rates, and lease-up timelines
Translate raw numbers into clear insights for internal decision-making and investor communication
Act as a strategic partner to support your acquisitions, construction, asset management, accounting, and capital markets teams
Templates are just a starting point. We offer analyst-as-a-service — fractional, high-output, deeply embedded professionals who can flex across your team’s needs.
The Shift: Why Giving It Away Will Drive More Growth
At first glance, giving away a premium product might seem counterintuitive. After all, we spent hundreds of hours building each of our models. Is this throwing away revenue?
Not at all. Here is why:
1. Demonstrating Value First Builds Trust
When you download one of our free models, you will immediately see the quality. These are not bare-bones templates. They are fully built tools with:
Pre-populated assumptions and logic
Error checks and built-in sensitivity tables
Clear, intuitive formatting
Sections for investor waterfalls, IRR targets, and capital stacks
You will see what we are capable of before ever picking up the phone.
And when you do need help customizing the model — or analyzing a live deal — we are already top of mind.
2. Better Leads, Not Just More Leads
Free tools attract attention. But they also filter your leads.
If someone downloads a model and uses it effectively on their own, great — we have helped someone in the industry, and that builds goodwill.
But if they realize they need more nuanced support, they come back ready to engage with our core services — fractional analyst support, ongoing underwriting, reporting, or portfolio analysis.
These are the leads that convert.
3. Lower Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
Let us do the math: if a single free model leads to a fractional analyst engagement worth $10,000+ per year, we have already outpaced any lost revenue from selling templates.
And the CAC? Just the cost of giving away a digital asset we already built.
Use Cases: Who Benefits from Our Free Models
These templates are not just for beginners or DIY investors. They are built to support real work for real firms. Here are some of the ways clients have used our models:
1. Institutional Acquisitions Teams
Teams underwriting $50MM+ multifamily portfolios use our models to accelerate analysis and support investment committee presentations.
2. Boutique Sponsors & Syndicators
Sponsors raising capital from LPs need investor-ready outputs, dynamic assumptions, and built-in IRR waterfalls. Our models include all of this — no custom coding required.
3. Development Firms
From cost breakdowns to lease-up timing to stabilized yield analysis, our development models are structured to reflect the real stages of ground-up projects.
4. Real Estate Private Equity Funds
Funds with growing pipelines need consistent modeling across multiple analysts. Our templates help standardize workflows and reduce errors.
How to Use the Free Multifamily Acquisitions Model
Let us talk specifics. Our first free release is the Multifamily Acquisitions Model — a powerful tool designed for sponsors, developers, and analysts focused on value-add, stabilized, and opportunistic deals.
Key Features
Fully integrated pro forma with line-item detail
Acquisition and disposition timing controls
Rent roll input tabs for unit-level modeling
Debt modeling (senior, mezzanine, interest-only, amortizing)
Built-in IRR, equity multiple, and sensitivity tables
Waterfall model for promoting structures, including preferred return, catch-up, and tiered splits
Summary dashboard for investor reporting and pitch deck outputs
This is not just an Excel file — it is a deal-ready toolkit.
Who It Is For
Real estate investors evaluating multifamily acquisitions in major or secondary markets
Analysts supporting private equity sponsors or institutional funds
CFOs or partners seeking more accurate projections and team alignment
What You Get When You Work With Us
Templates are just the beginning. Our clients come to us for ongoing, embedded support that scales with their needs.
Services We Offer:
Financial model builds and updates
Investor reporting packages
Cash flow projections and scenario modeling
Portfolio dashboards for multi-asset visibility
Market comps and research integrated into deal analyses
Ad hoc analyses (IRR impacts, equity vs. debt mix, etc.)
We are analysts who operate like team members — not consultants.
What Makes Us Different
There are plenty of spreadsheet wizards out there. But here is what sets us apart:
1. Real Estate Specialization
We do not work in e-commerce or SaaS. We focus exclusively on real estate underwriting and reporting — which means we speak your language.
2. Flexible, Fractional Support
Whether you need 5 hours a month or 30 hours a week, we scale with your needs. No long-term contracts required.
3. Institutional Quality at Fractional Cost
Our analysts come from top-tier investment firms. You get that same quality — without the full-time overhead.
4. Built for Execution
We are not here to give advice and walk away. We roll up our sleeves and execute alongside your team.
Download the Free Model Today
You have deals to analyze. Investors to update. Decisions to make.
Let us make your job easier.
👉 Click here to download our free multifamily acquisitions model
Or, if you would like us to walk you through it — or customize it to your next deal — let us talk.
Final Thoughts: Download Our Tools, Hire Our Analysts
We believe in this move. We are betting that giving away high-quality tools — and making it easy for others to see what we are capable of — will unlock even more growth.
We are not selling spreadsheets. We are selling clarity, confidence, and execution.
If that is what your team needs, we are ready to help.