Perplexity Computer just replaced my first call.
We own a land use company. This is what we charge thousands for.
I had Perplexity's new Computer Mode run a full feasibility study on a Silver Lake multifamily site. 28-page PDF with zoning analysis, financial underwriting, construction costs, risk matrix, and a go/no-go recommendation. 22 minutes. $13 in credits. We own a land use consulting company. This is something we'd charge thousands for.
You absolutely cannot present this to investors without reviewing every number. But as a first-pass analysis to decide whether a deal is worth pursuing further? This changes the game for how fast you can screen opportunities.
Here’s exactly how I did it so you can run this on your own deal today.
Workflow: Run a Full Feasibility Study From One Prompt
What you’ll need: A Perplexity account with Computer Mode access (Max plan at $200/month, or purchase credits as needed). That’s it. No file uploads, no templates, no setup.
Step 1: Write one detailed prompt.
I tested this on 3105 Bellevue Avenue in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Here’s the exact prompt I used:
“Run a comprehensive feasibility study for 3105 Bellevue Avenue in Los Angeles. Cover every section below in detail with sources: site and parcel data, zoning and entitlements, development standards, highest and best use, market and comp analysis, financial underwriting, construction cost breakdown, conceptual site plan and floor plans, risks and considerations, go/no-go recommendation. Format everything with clear headers and tables where appropriate, and cite every data source. I want the underwriting and construction estimate in Excel format.”
One prompt. Every section spelled out. The more specific you are about what you want, the better the output.
Step 2: Hit send and watch it work.
Computer Mode created its own task list and started running research in parallel. It loaded two skills automatically: a Research Assistant and an Office Excel Assistant. Within seconds it had multiple research threads going at once. It pulled up ZIMAS (LA’s zoning lookup tool) for parcel data and C2.1VL zoning standards. Simultaneously, it was researching LA construction costs, Silver Lake rental comps, FEMA flood data, and comparable developments. All at the same time.
Here’s what caught my attention: it auto-selected Claude Sonnet 4.6 for the research tasks, then upgraded itself to Claude Opus 4.6 when it was time to write the report and build the financial model. It picked the right model for the right job without being told.
Step 3: Review the PDF.
22 minutes later, I had a 28-page feasibility report. The formatting alone was impressive. Clean headers, professional tables, sourced data points with clickable links throughout.
What it covered: executive summary with key metrics (6.9% yield on cost, 15-18% unlevered IRR, 2-2.3x equity multiple over 5 years). Full parcel data with assessor info, prior improvements, and environmental conditions. Zoning analysis including permitted uses, regulatory overlays, TOC Tier 1 incentives, and AB 2097. Entitlement timeline comparing ministerial versus discretionary paths. Impact and connection fees. Highest and best use analysis with a four-part test and top three development scenarios ranked. Market comps, vacancy absorption, and supply pipeline data. A full development budget ($9M total, hard costs at $325/sf, $326K per unit, $630/sf all-in). Unit mix of 22 one-bedrooms, one townhouse-style unit, and four affordable units for 27 total. 5-year proforma. Construction cost breakdown and timeline. Risk matrix with pending legislation. And a go/no-go recommendation with four specific conditions that need to be true.
Every section had sources. Every data point was linked.
Step 4: Review the Excel model.
Four tabs: development budget, construction costs, revenue and operating proforma, and sensitivity analysis. The structure was solid and editable.
Time: 22 minutes total vs. days of consultant work ( $3,000-$5,000+).
What Perplexity Computer Mode Delivered
A professional-grade first-pass feasibility study that would take a consultant days to assemble. The parallel research is the real unlock here. While most AI tools process sequentially, Computer Mode had five or six research threads running simultaneously, pulling zoning data, construction costs, rental comps, flood maps, and comparable developments all at once. The auto-model selection (Sonnet for research, Opus for writing) shows a level of task awareness I haven’t seen in other tools. And the sourcing throughout the report means you can actually verify the data instead of trusting a black box.
What This Isn’t
The Excel model had inconsistencies with the PDF. The numbers didn’t match perfectly across both deliverables, and that’s the first thing I noticed. The construction timeline estimated 12 to 18 months for design and entitlements. In Los Angeles, that’s realistically 18 to 24 months. The per-unit cost at $326K felt light for a new five-story build in Silver Lake. Construction financing assumptions need a second look.
You cannot hand this to your investors or your lender as-is. This is a screening tool, not a final product. It tells you whether a deal is worth spending real money on. The difference is that “real money” used to start at the feasibility stage. Now it starts after.
One more thing: the site I tested had already been developed (completed in 2025 as a 27-unit building called The Views on Bellevue). Computer Mode discovered this during research and noted it, but proceeded with the hypothetical analysis anyway. Good to know it surfaces that context rather than hiding it.
Bonus: Renderings for $0 Extra
After the feasibility study finished, I asked if it could create renderings. It loaded a media skill and generated exterior views, interior units, and a rooftop deck scene at night. The Silver Lake aesthetic was spot on. Hilly topography, downtown LA skyline in the background, modern five-story design. These aren’t replacing your architect. But for a conceptual visual before you’ve spent a dime on design, they’re more than enough. And they were included in the same $13 credit spend.
Try It Yourself
Perplexity Computer Mode: perplexity.ai
Open Computer Mode. Write one detailed prompt covering every section you want. Hit send.
Pricing
Perplexity Max: $200/month (includes Computer Mode and 10,000 credits). You can also purchase credits as needed without the subscription. My full feasibility study used about 1,300 credits, roughly $13 total.
If a $13 feasibility study makes you curious about what else is possible, that’s exactly what 660+ CRE pros are figuring out together inside the Collective every week.
Jake & Quinn |AI for CRE Collective
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