In these hard economic times, you certainly want to make sure your investments will turn out to be successful. Commercial real estate, if done wisely, can become a great source of profits. This article contains several easy tips to help answer your questions and help you make the most out of your investment.
It is important that you understand that the real estate market is not like the stock market. An investment in a property is a long term investment. Stock investments are usually short term investments. If you go in thinking you are investing in stock, you need to rethink so you do not get yourself in financial trouble.
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.
Buying a commercial property is a process that takes much longer than purchasing a single family home. It is going to take more time to prepare the property so keep that in mind. Do not try to rush and do things too fast because you may end up making bad decisions as a result.
You should take measurements yourself to make sure that the landlord is being honest about the square footage. If you find that they aren’t, then you can use all of the information that you have to try and negotiate a new deal.
Relationships with lenders and investors are always important, yet doubly important when attempting the purchase of commercial investments. You more often than not have to get and work with partners as nary an average individual can afford a million plus investment on their own. Relationships and networking are equally important in finding commercial investment properties, as they typically aren’t listed in the manner that residential properties will be.
Every real estate deal, no matter how minor, should include several inspections. These include a foundation inspection and pest inspections. These normally are the responsibility of the seller, but in some cases can be shared between both parties. Talk to your agent to help you find appropriate professionals for all of these inspections.
Make sure you have the money if you are going to invest in commercial real estate. You will need enough to cover a down payment, closing costs, points and earnest money. Banks might be more apt to give you the loan you need, if you are taking care of some of the costs already.
Consider the property tax rate of the commercial real estate you are interested in. Determining the costs annually for owning the commercial property can help you decide whether the annual costs are within your budget. There are several factors that can increase your costs as well, including MUD’s, various other U.D.’s, and even Property Owner Association fees.
When looking for potential properties to purchase for rental income, think big. Why buy a ten unit property if you can buy a twenty? By increasing the number of units you can offer, you also increase the number of clients who will pay you rent, there by increasing your income potential.
If you are negotiating a commercial real estate lease, you should aim to have shorter lease terms. The reason for this is because with a shorter lease, you have less financial liability. In addition, you should aim to get an option to stay in the location longer, and set the rent amount ahead of time.
You should look for a real estate broker that is ready to spend time on details. Their interest is to get you some property, but your interest is to get a quality building that will satisfy your tenants. Find out how much time they spend on each transaction and if they have satisfied people who have used this firm before.
You need to create some kind of plan of action. You need to set parameters, which are a top priority in a commercial property deals. You need to decide how much you can pay first. You also need yo know what you should expect to make on a deal. Learn the number of tenants on board and how many pay the rent. Also, be aware of how much space needs to be filled.
When looking for a commercial real estate investment, don’t automatically select apartments. Not that there is anything bad about apartments. However, there are also industrial buildings, office buildings, mobile home parks, raw land and many other commercial properties. Find the type of property that meets your needs and personal investment goals.
Experts recommend not purchasing unit blocks that have fewer than 10 units in them. This is because they can be more difficult to manage than smaller properties. This general advice may not always apply though. You should decide on buying a property based on your own research.
Prepare to spend a good amount of time on your commercial real estate deals. Don’t get discouraged, especially if you have yet to complete your first commercial deal. Take your time, screen deals and make sure you get into the right commercial real estate deal that works for you on all levels.
When financing your commercial real estate properties, you want to ensure you avoid picking a lender that will make it very difficult for you to pay your loan back. If you get yourself in a loan you are struggling to pay back, this will affect your business in a negative way and make it more likely you will fail.
Commercial real estate can indeed be a great investment and one that can turn into a long term asset. However, it is not only very difficult and time consuming, but it also takes a lot of input on your part. Apply these simple tips and methods to make sure your time and effort is worthwhile.
