Description
Forestar Group Inc. is a residential lot development company with operations in 60 markets and 24 states and is based in Arlington, Texas. Forestar delivered more than 14,000 residential lots during the twelve-month period ending September 30, 2023. Forestar is a majority-owned subsidiary of D.R. Horton, Inc., the largest homebuilder by volume in the United States since 2022. Forestar primarily acquires entitled real estate and develops it into finished residential lots for sale to homebuilders with strategic focus on asset turns and efficiency.
Forestar Group is currently looking for a Region Real Estate Counsel to manage and oversee all legal matters in the West Region, which includes the Pacific Northwest and Northern California Sub-Regions, and Divisions in Washington, Oregon, Central Valley, Sacramento/Bay Area, and Reno, NV. The role will have responsibility managing and coordinating legal services, with emphasis on residential land acquisition, entitlement, and development, advising the Chief Operating Officer, SVP-Real Estate Counsel, Regional President, Regional Vice Presidents, Division Presidents, respective market leaders, and other acquisition and development staff on real estate legal matters.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Provide legal advice to region, subregion and division personnel related to land acquisition and development, and disposition, including drafting and negotiating letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, and consulting and coordinating with outside counsel as necessary.
- Coordinate with corporate, region, sub-region and division personnel and outside counsel to manage all land acquisition closings.
- Analyze and assist in due diligence and entitlement efforts for acquisition targets, including title and survey review, environmental due diligence, analyzing zoning and entitlement issues, and coordinating with outside consultants and counsel as necessary.
- Review and comment on division submittals for acquisition of future development projects prior to final approval by corporate Investment Committee, including assessment of potential risk levels based on status of entitlements and applicable contracts and legal requirements.
- Review, negotiate and approve vendor contracts (including site construction and professional services agreements), development agreements, easements, utility service agreements, and other ancillary documents necessary for commencement and completion of development.
- Draft and negotiate agreements for the sale of developed lots and raw or partially developed land parcels.
- Provide oversight to division personnel and outside counsel in the creation of special districts (MUDs, PIDs, Metro Districts) and subsequent bond issuances to ensure full corporate compliance.
- Provide advice regarding various region matters.
- Analyze and maintain standard contracts and other business documents.
- Provide oversight, with the assistance of Associate Region Counsel, of a large volume of work with ability to prioritize.
- Conduct all business in a professional and ethical manner to serve customers and increase the goodwill and profit of the company.
- Ability to travel overnight.
- Stay current on regulatory and compliance issues and developments in real estate law in relevant jurisdictions.
- Manage support staff responsible for coordinating all closings (purchase and sale), vendor contract negotiation, and acquisition and development files.
- Through expedient and thorough legal practice, foster productive relationships with Forestar's customers, vendors, land sellers, governmental authorities, and outside counsel.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Supervises 2 or more employees.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.).
- Current license to practice law and; 8+ years related experience and/or training.
- Experience drafting and negotiating real estate contracts; performing due diligence review, including title, survey, and environmental review; and performing land closings.
- Flexibility and organizational ability to manage simultaneously various transactions and projects in a high-performance environment.
- Excellent interpersonal, writing and oral communication skills.
- Proficient in time management and prioritization.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written oral form or via FOR applications.
- Proficiency with Word, Outlook, Adobe, and Power Point.
- Ability to sit for majority of 8-hour workday; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and peripheral vision.
- The noise level is generally moderate.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years’ experience in real estate.
- Experience with single-family residential development preferred, but not required.
- Understanding of Texas oil and gas operations as it pertains to surface rights and development preferred, but not required.
Estimated Compensation Range: $185,000 - $235,000
Come join a winning team! We are growing fast and are looking for enthusiastic attitudes and team players to join our success. We offer an excellent benefits package:
- Medical, Vision and Dental.
- 401(K).
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
- Flex Spending Accounts.
- Life Insurance.
- Vacation, Sick, Personal Time and Company Holidays.
Job: Land
Primary Location: Washington-Kirkland
Organization: Forestar
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: Sep 20, 2024, 2:16:48 PM
