There are currently some very reassuring factors about the commercial real estate market that should leave you feeling great. But for every aspect of the market that improves, there are two more that decline. Make sure you read these tips before dealing in any type of commercial real estate.
If you’re selling a commercial property, emphasize how your building can be used for different purposes. Even though it may be used for one purpose, make sure that prospective buyers see how easily it can be converted into a different use. This way you get a wider range of people who are interested in your property; if they can see themselves in it, they are more likely to buy.
You should always consult an expert if you are interested in buying large amounts of real estate. There are many people out there that try to make plans to do large real estate deals alone and they inevitably fail. Have someone in your corner that knows what they are doing.
It is important to find a bank that is willing to work with you when purchasing commercial real estate. Commercial real estate is viewed and valued by financial institutions in a different way than residential real estate. Expect to come up with a higher down payment as well, about 30 percent and sometimes even more.
Most apartment complexes make you, the tenant, pay for the water you use every month. However, some places go as far as to taking the amount of water your whole building used in a given month and splitting it up among the number of units using it. If you use less water than everyone else, you can end up paying for someone else’s water usage. Make sure that you know of these water usage regulations before signing a lease.
You should include the money you are going to spend on due diligence into your budget. Once you have your apartments ready, they will have to be inspected to make sure they match certain safety and quality standards. This process can be very costly, especially if your apartments do not pass the inspection the first time.
Even if you are very familiar with the process of investing in residential properties. Do not be overconfident in your ability to navigate through the complex and highly technical process and protocol of purchasing commercial properties as part of your real estate portfolio. This can save you thousands of dollars in legal or accounting mistakes.
One of the most important metrics that an investor can use to judge the attractiveness of a commercial property is the NOI, or Net Operating Income. To calculate NOI, subtract first-year operating expenses from the property’s first-year gross operating income. A good investment will have a positive NOI, which indicates that the property will bring in more cash than it will require to operate and maintain it.
As much as you may be reassured with commercial real estate, though, you still need to be very realistic. Most people who invest in commercial real estate these days ultimately lose money. The demand side of the market has shrunk. Take these tips into account before your next commercial dealings.…