Property development has always carried risk, from volatile construction costs to unpredictable market cycles and shifting financing conditions. Uncertainty is the rule, not the exception. Where instinct and experience once guided decisions, developers now need analytics-driven tools that can model uncertainty, test assumptions, and forecast outcomes in real time.
Proven, data-driven platforms like ARGUS EstateMaster - trusted by the industry for more than three decades - have never been more essential. Developed by Altus Group, the platform is used by more than 20,000 developers, lenders, and government agencies in 75 countries to model scenarios, stress-test assumptions, and assess project feasibility and risk. Anthony Lisbona, Project Manager at Altus Group, said traditional feasibility models, built on static assumptions, lack the capability to model complex, volatile conditions. “Developers need to understand how every variable, from costs to sales timing, could affect their projects before decisions are locked in,” Mr Lisbona said. “ARGUS EstateMaster allows teams to test multiple scenarios quickly, giving them confidence to act decisively even when markets are volatile.”
The Technology Advantage
ARGUS EstateMaster brings feasibility, forecasting, and financial management together into a single, connected platform. Developers can test multiple variables, from construction costs and sales prices to interest rates and settlement timing, and instantly see how those shifts flow through cash flow, profitability, and returns. This real-time visibility enables teams to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive risk management. “ARGUS EstateMaster allows teams to model every ‘what-if’ scenario - rising construction costs, delayed sales, higher financing rates - and understand exactly how these factors affect the bottom line,” Mr Lisbona said.
Scenario Testing in Practice
By consolidating all project variables into one model, ARGUS EstateMaster supports advanced sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, revealing the probability ranges for key outcomes. This helps developers identify which variables have the greatest impact on returns and make informed, risk-aware decisions. “Many clients now use EstateMaster mid-project to re-evaluate feasibility,” Mr Lisbona said. “Scenario testing highlights risks early, helping teams adjust timing, mix, or scope for later stages in response to market changes, turning uncertainty into opportunity.”
At a Glance:
- Test multiple market scenarios to assess project and portfolio resilience.
- Measure the impact of changing interest rates, construction costs, and sales assumptions.
- Benchmark performance across projects for strategic planning.
- Support risk-aware decision-making with consolidated, real-time data.
- Integrates with accounting (Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB), CRM (Salesforce, Propertybase), and Microsoft Office
The Future of Risk Management
ARGUS EstateMaster delivers portfolio-level insight, consolidating reporting on cash flow, profit, and equity across multiple sites. Developers can benchmark performance, anticipate potential shortfalls, and plan across multiple projects with greater confidence in volatile conditions. “We are finding that developers increasingly want to stress-test not just individual projects, but their entire portfolio, to understand risk exposure and make proactive strategic decisions,” he said. As the industry becomes increasingly data-driven, Altus Group is continuing to expand the platform’s portfolio-level sensitivity analysis. “Analytics-driven planning provides fast access to data, enabling quicker model building and analysis,” he said. “Developers need a strategy for harnessing their data to make more informed decisions and respond to changes rapidly.”
To explore real-time risk analysis and scenario planning, start your ARGUS EstateMaster trial at www.altusgroup.com/solutions/argus-estatemaster/
