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Have You Found Little or No Gains In The Property Market And Are Looking For An Alternative To Residential Property Investment?

Now You Can Leave The Crowded Property Market, Blaze A New Trail By Investing In Commercial Real Estate And Become The Next Property Millionaire In Just A Few Years!

Investing in real estate is one of the best ways to amass a fortune even if you have a modest sum of money. However if you are an experienced investor, and are looking at an alternative to residential property investment, then Commercial real estate investing may be the answer. Commercial Real Estate investing involves larger sums of money and you will need to be able to afford a larger sum of money to begin investing.

Planning, perseverance and patience – the keys to success

Commercial Real Estate investing requires a carefully thought out plan making sure the investor knows exactly what he wants and how he will use his skills and expertise to achieve them, making sure his weaknesses do not deter him. As an investor, you must be clear what kind of property you want to invest in, the size and its location. You must understand the local market and the latest trends in commercial real estate in order to get hold of the right kind of property at the right price. Once you select the property, you have to be able to value the property accurately, work out if investing in the property will yield good returns, make financial arrangements or get other methods of financing such as using notes to buy the property.

Commercial Real Estate Investing – riskier but profitable

Investing in commercial real estate is riskier and more costly than investing in residential property - but ultimately it can be far more profitable. Whereas the stocks of major housing manufacturers have decreased over the last few months, retail and institutional investors have been investing heavily in commercial real estate, through both operating companies and investment trusts.

The profits from commercial real estate are linked to a large degree to the state of the overall economy - today, commercial property is a $4 trillion market, having increased in volume around 20% over the last five years. Most smaller investors are able to profit from commercial real estate.

The potential profits to be made from investing in commercial real estates are affected by several factors. Apart from the overall economy, the local economy and market can have a huge impact, as can the terms and length of any lease, the reliability of tenants and the overheads involved with your property.

Generally speaking, when investing in commercial real estate, to make a profit you should ideally have a long term lease from a major tenant. Finding the right tenant isn't always easy - most commercial real estate has relatively few potential tenants unlike residential property.

During a recession, commercial foreclosures and vacancies tend to increase significantly more than residential properties. And if commercial properties remain vacant for a long period of time, owners may lose a lot of income and be forced to resell for less than the property is worth.

What are the high risk commercial real estate investments, and how can you minimize risks?

Some investors fear to invest in commercial real estate because they feel that though the return on the investments are high in commercial real estate investing so are the risks as well as other factors that can cause problems such as dealing with tenants. The most high-risk commercial real estate properties are the multi-tenant properties, either offices or retail shops. Those who land a deal with a triple net multi-tenant commercial property where the only headache of the owner will be how to utilize the rent money can consider themselves lucky.

Managing a commercial real estate investing portfolio requires more focus and careful consideration of all aspects, and it is good if all documents relating to the property and its operation are carefully scrutinized. Leases, their extensions and modifications if any, mortgages, notes, the title policy, certificate of occupancy, contracts regarding maintenance of the equipments used, such as, escalators or elevators, its insurance policy and the extent of coverage, parking lot contracts and the property’s tax situation etc should be scrutinized. Hire independent surveyors to gauge the condition of the building and its equipment. A good attorney can also guide you as you verify the lease structure, the title deeds, insurance policy, rent roll, tax returns, business licenses, utility bills litigation history etc. and make sure you carefully scrutinize them and know every tiny detail. Make sure that you know about the tenants, and if there are any associated problems, making changes in the purchase amount if necessary. Take adequate precaution, study all information available about the property, and utilize the information to your advantage.

Methods of generating profits from commercial real estate

One method of generating a profit from commercial real estate is to look at REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). These are traded securities which allow an investor to take part in large scale commercial projects. REITs were created in 1960 by Congress and can be a practical alternative to bonds.

Most REITs specialize in certain types of property such as office buildings, hospitals or shopping centers. There are several benefits of REITs: they trade in the same way as stocks, so you can buy and sell them. The share price can increase in value as the property appreciates in value and shareholders also get income from rents.

Not surprisingly, REITS have become extremely popular over the last few years. Another big advantage of them is the tax benefits - by law, REITs must distribute 90% of their income as dividends.

There are several ways to invest in commercial real estate without actually having any capital. Subordination is the term for the situation in which the current owner actually takes out a second mortgage on the property to cover the difference of the amount that the purchaser has available in the form of a loan.

Another method is to persuade the owner of the property to release some acreage. That section of land can then be used to borrow money to cover a down payment on the rest of the property. Many property owners don't even know this option exists and it can be an effective strategy when dealing with raw land.

Another method is to purchase commercial property as a partnership. If you are able and willing to do the work, you may be able to find a partnership that is willing to finance your deal - in exchange for a percentage of the profits, of course.

Investing in commercial real estate isn't for everyone. But the profits can certainly be made for those who are prepared to take a calculated risk, have the expertise - and perhaps a little bit of luck.

How important is the role of Commercial Real Estate agents?

Commercial real estate covers a large chunk of the real estate world. It includes office and retail properties like shopping centers, industrial properties, land and investments and hotel /resort properties. There are various agencies involved in this line of business and they aim to provide the entire range of corporate and investment services to the buyer. One important aspect is the errors and omissions insurance for agents dealing in real estate. Since this line is prone to malpractices, this insurance provides some coverage against it. The risk always exists, no matter how well you complete the job. It basically covers payment of claims for a variety of points that may come up against a real estate agent.

When speaking of real estate, it goes without saying that there are a lot of related agencies at work here. There is a National Exchange Service which is used by property owners to defer taxes in such a way that the property is sold at the maximum value and the net worth is protected. There is also an organization of brokerage firms for commercial real estate, privately owned, which endeavors to help clients make the best decisions regarding real estate investment opportunities. A little bit of research will get you the best agents, the best deals and the pertinent information to make the right decisions.

Investing in commercial real estate can be a very profitable and an exciting venture. Most times, real estate tends to be a safer investment than many other options, especially if you have the time to ride out any market dips. Before you start investing heavily in commercial property however, it is wise to do some research and learn all you can about the best way to invest.