# Create valuable off-market opportunities Brokers can use Chicago Cityscape to equip themselves with additional knowledge and insights when the real estate market is less than ideal. Our data and solutions for brokers help to create and leverage their own off-market opportunities. The more a broker knows about a property the better they can explain its full potential to bring an owner to the table and consider the value of selling at this time. Chicago Cityscape shares these four insights of discovery and due diligence to create off-market opportunities in a tough market. ## 1. Discovery - New developments Brokers can use Chicago Cityscape find developments passing through the zoning and entitlement process that have not hit the market yet. Brokers can get the name and contact info for the developer proposing most projects in our database. In the best case scenario, they have enough runway to introduce their knowledge of the market and service to broker the property. Often though, this puts them in conversation with the appropriate points of contact for the next project. ### How - [Proposed Projects](http://chicagocityscape.com/proposedprojects.php) - [News, Renderings & Documents Gallery](http://chicagocityscape.com/documents.php) ## 2. Discovery - Unused zoning capacity Brokers can use Chicago Cityscape to locate properties in Chicago with #UnusedZoningCapacity. Unused zoning capacity is either a situation where single-detached houses can be converted into multifamily houses or multifamily properties can gain additional units without requiring a zoning change. Having this knowledge in hand can help open a conversation about an owner becoming a seller. ### How - [[Unused zoning capacity|How to determine if a property has unused zoning capacity]] - Place Report has [[Value add properties|value add filters]] to locate properties in Chicago with unused zoning capacity - Property Report's Zoning Assessment will indicate the total number of dwelling units allowed, and sometimes indicate if a property has fewer dwelling units than allowed. ## 3. Due diligence - Dwelling unit capacity Brokers can easily understand the "developability" of every property or empty lot in Chicago using Chicago Cityscape's dwelling unit calculator estimates. Knowing how many units can be built on a property as-of-right can help the broker shape the full potential of that property to the owner and potential buyers. ### How - Property Report's Zoning Assessment estimates the number of dwelling units allowed, as well as the number of dwelling units that would be allowed if the property owner obtained an upzone. - Place Report Property Finder's minimum units filter is a way to locate properties in Chicago that are already zoned to allow a specified number of dwelling units. ## 4. Due diligence - Distressed properties Brokers can assess if a specific property in Chicago is distressed based on: - building violations - Vacant Building Registry status - 311 reports of suspected vacant building - lis pendens foreclosure (pre-foreclosure) – see [[Recordings]] In Chicago and Cook County, delinquent taxes are another factor (use [[Annual tax sale|annual tax sale]] filters for this). Understanding the challenges a property has can help open a conversation with that owner about the services you can provide them. ### How - Property Report. After identifying a property in Chicago and opening its Property Report, review the building violations history, check for Vacant Building Registry status, and open the 311 reports. In Chicago and Cook County, check the property's ownership info section and whether it has delinquent taxes or a lis pendens foreclosure recording. ## After a sale After closing on a sale, brokers can use Chicago Cityscape to build a refined mailing list of surrounding properties owners to let them know of their success and expertise in that local market. ### How - Property Report. Follow the instructions in this [[Notice letters|Knowledge Base Article to develop a direct mail list]]