subject: Some Updated Ideas On Commercial Real Estate Products [print this page] Commercial real estate is a bit more tricky to purchase than residential real estate and for good reason. There are a few more considerations to keep in mind as the properties are quite different. You will find that you are looking more for use out of the property than the overall design, and for that reason, you should know all you can about commercial real estate before getting started. These commercial real estate tips could be the right place for you to get started.
Do some legwork when looking for a real estate agent. Before choosing an agent, take a look around town. What agents or agencies do you see most advertised? Do you see any of their signs in front of houses? How many of these houses have sold? Let this help you make a choice in picking the most promising agent.
The adage in real estate is location, location, location, but before you buy a piece of real estate, consider the location's downsides. Sure, a gas station for sale might be at a busy intersection, but is it on the right corner that people can get in and out of? Or will you just get commuters in the morning but not afternoon?
After agreeing to purchase a commercial real estate property, you will be required to have certain inspections performed on the property. This is known as due diligence, and can be quite costly. As a commercial real estate investor, you should be prepared to forfeit the cost of due diligence if necessary. There will be times when an inspection turns up something unexpected which will make considering backing out of the deal an option. In such cases, you should not hesitate to back out because of the money you have already spent on due diligence. It can end up being far more costly to go through with the purchase agreement.
Make sure you scout out the neighborhood of any property you are interested in: Talk to the neighbors, go to open houses and check out vacancies. This will give you a feel for the type of area you are looking at. You want to make sure you feel good about the neighborhood.
Be sure to have money in hand when considering investing in commercial real estate. You are going to need a down payment and the money to pay for closing costs. You will also need money to cover other fees that will be required to finalize the deal. Banks are more willing to lend the money to someone who has money invested that they could lose.
When selling your commercial real estate you should take the time to properly advertise its income potential. When a potential buyer is considering the purchase of a commercial property the most important factor in their decision is the income potential of the property. If you are upfront and honest about the potential you should be able to sell the property quickly.
Make sure that you can prove that a property is a solid investment when you go looking for financing. Your word alone isn't going to cut it when it comes to the dollar amounts that you will be looking for. Have the property appraised, include information about past income on the property, and make sure you have a solid business plan for profitability.
What goes up, must come down has a corollary in the real estate market. What goes down, must come up. If the markets are severely depressed, you can get property for a song. If you have the means to hold on to a property until the market recovers, go ahead and buy, buy, buy because you will find yourself holding some high value properties compared to your investment when all is said and done
Commercial real estate can be a great long term investment. When looking for a property that you can rent out as apartments, look into properties that have at least ten or more units, in order to maximize your profits. The more units that a property has, the cheaper each individual unit is.
Be patient! Commercial real estate deals take much longer! Don't be discouraged by not closing your first deal yet! Just like anything, real estate has a steep learning curve. It will take extra long to get used to it - screen the deals and make offers and such.
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.
Reading and understanding the collection of tips contained in the above article, is your first step to succeeding with commercial real estate. The next step, of course, is to put this knowledge to action and make calculated moves to ensure that you succeed instead of fail. This article can get you started, but you have to finish.
