The thought of getting involved in commercial real estate can be daunting and even a little frightening, but it doesn’t have to be. You just have to know what to do when it comes to real estate. When you know what smart moves to make, you know what you need to do to succeed. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find some suggestions that will help make the experience you have with commercial real estate a positive one.
Look for property that has more units. With each extra unit your property has, your investment will pay off even more. Properties with fewer than ten units are often harder to sell, since many investors believe that more units mean more money.
Standard lease forms should not be signed lightly. It is not uncommon for real estate brokers to include detailed, confusing terms and clauses into the lease. Looking through the information in detail can help you avoid any issues.
Environmental Concerns
You should take into account any potential environmental concerns. For example, one of the most important environmental concerns that every property owner must deal with is hazardous waste disposal. Failure to remove waste properly can be a huge problem. Regardless of whether the previous owner did what she was supposed to do, once you buy the property you’re responsible for following hazardous waste and other environmental regulations. You may have to make expensive repairs to resolve an environmental problem.
Using a checklist is useful when you have multiple properties that you are considering. Make sure to advise the property owners when you want to take the next step past the first proposal responses. Don’t fear telling the owners that you might be interested in other properties. This may provide you with more room for negotiation.
You also want to take into consideration the neighborhood that your real estate is in when you purchase commercially. Purchasing in neighborhoods that are in the upper price per square foot range will help for successful business because the surrounding owners have more money to spend. On the other hand, if you are going to offer a product or service more popular with working class individuals, a less affluent neighborhood might be a better choice.
Before you even start looking for real estate, your business needs should be in line. You should know the minimum square footage necessary, as well as any must-have amenities. If you have plans for future expansion, it is in your best interest to purchase a larger space that can accommodate future growth. If the market is currently low, this can save you a great deal of money.
Put your energy toward one investment at a time. For example, when starting out decide if you are going to invest in apartment complexes, office building, commercial land, or retail spaces. Each type of investment deserves your undivided attention. Mastering one type of investment will set you up for success much faster then spreading yourself across many mediocre investments.
Commercial Loans
Your first step should be to find the best financing. Obtaining commercial loans is much more complicated than securing a residential home loan. These loans are actually a lot better in a number of ways. Commercial loans general require a large down payment; however, most lenders will allow you to take an additional loan out to cover your down payment.
Borrowers have to order appraisals with commercial loans. There is a good chance that the bank may not validate it otherwise. Ensure it gets done, and gain peace of mind in the process, by ordering it yourself.
Keep an eye out for motivated sellers. You can benefit from seeking these type of buyers out because they are usually motivated enough to sell that you can snatch up a property for less than its market value. Nothing happens until you come upon the deal made available by a very motivated seller.
Regardless of whether you are buying or selling, you should negotiate. Make certain that your voice is heard, and do what it takes to find a fair property price.
Know what your specific needs are prior to starting your commercial real estate hunt. You should write a list of which features are most important to you. For example, do you need a specific number of restrooms, a specific amount of square footage, or a conference room?
Tour any properties you are considering for purchase. Bring a contractor along so that you don’t forget to inspect any important features. Decide on an initial offer and start negotiations. Prior to making any final decision, you should thoroughly go over the counteroffers you have received.
Commercial Real Estate
The beginning of the article warned you that commercial real estate is nothing something you should go into without the proper information. Hopefully this article has helped prepare you for your commercial real estate venture.