Commercial real estate development is not just about choosing a location or architectural vision. Success today requires more: precise data, comprehensive analysis, and quick decisions. How much can be built? Does the plot have restrictions? What is the expected return? Answers to these questions lie not in intuition but in fact-based sources.
In this article, we discuss which data is most important for planning commercial real estate projects in Lithuania, where to find it, how to interpret it, and which tools help developers make informed decisions from the initial idea stage.
What are commercial real estate data?
Commercial real estate data is all the information that allows you to assess the suitability of a plot or building for a business project, its development possibilities, and potential restrictions. This data includes:
- Land use, planning regulations, and building possibilities, indicating what can be built in a specific area and under what conditions.
- Technical parameters of existing buildings – total area, height, type of construction, condition.
Market information, such as average sales prices, rental income, and current transaction data. - Infrastructure data, covering transportation, engineering networks (water supply, electricity, sewage), as well as city development plans.
- Legal information – ownership form, easements, protection zones, restrictions, and other important legal environment.
Why is this important for real estate developers?
Commercial real estate data is essential for developers because it helps accurately plan projects, assess plot potential, and reduce risks. Knowing building regulations, market trends, and legal restrictions can avoid construction permit issues, choose the most suitable location, and objectively evaluate investment returns. Data also allows analyzing the competitive environment and making informed, strategically beneficial decisions.
What are the most important data sources in Lithuania?
Registry Center
- Real estate cadastral and registration data;
- Land plot boundaries, purpose, usage method;
- Owners, legal restrictions, mortgages.
Geoportal.lt
- Detailed maps;
- TPD (territorial planning documents);
- Protected areas, engineering networks, height plans.
TPDRIS
- Special and detailed plans;
- Information about construction permits, planned projects.
Stat.gov.lt and CRE analyses
- Commercial real estate transaction data;
- Rental and price trends by cities or segments.
Arqiplan
- Automated plot analysis with integrated sources (planning, restrictions, regulations);
- Ability to immediately know what can be built.
How to interpret data practically?
| Data type | What does it show? | What does it solve? |
| Building regulations | Permitted height, density, intensity | Is the project possible according to STR |
| Land purpose | What activities are possible on the plot | Is it necessary to change the purpose |
| Infrastructure and transportation | Access to communications | Will there be additional investments |
| Real estate market data | Prices, rental return | Is it worth investing, what return to expect |
| Construction permit information | What competitors are building | Is there room in the market for a new project |
What tools allow everything to be integrated?
Arqiplan for commercial real estate
- Automatic plot potential assessment;
- Integrated maps with territorial planning data;
- Ability to generate reports for investors or partners;
- Useful before purchasing a plot or preparing for design.
Other tools:
- GIS platforms (e.g., municipal maps);
- Real estate market reports (Ober-Haus, Newsec, Inreal, etc.);
- Custom BI solutions (if managing a larger real estate portfolio).
Common mistakes by real estate developers
The most common mistakes by real estate developers are related to insufficient preparation before starting a project. One of the biggest mistakes is conducting a construction feasibility analysis only after the plot has been purchased, which can lead to unforeseen restrictions and additional costs.
Legal restrictions and easements are also often unchecked, which can significantly affect design possibilities.
Another danger is designing based on desires rather than real regulations and planning documents. Additionally, developers often ignore market and demand analysis, making decisions based on intuition rather than fact-based data.
Conclusion
Today’s real estate development is not just about intuition or location attractiveness. Data is the main tool that helps not only avoid costly mistakes but also make strategically good decisions. The success of commercial real estate depends on how accurately the plot, environment, and legal framework are analyzed.
Check each plot with tools like Arqiplan and create projects that can truly be implemented.