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.
Cleaning up your neighborhood can work wonders for your property value, especially if there are several run-down or abandoned buildings in your area. The best thing to do is report any health or safety risks to the authorities. These types of safety risks can include, shattered windows, rusty fences, debris and things of this nature. If the authorities will clean out the neighborhood for you, you can end up saving money on demolition and increasing the overall, neighborhood real estate values.
To prepare for any sizable investment in commercial real estate, investigate indicators of fiscal health around the property in question, such as average income levels for nearby residents, rates of employment and unemployment, and whether jobs in the area are rising or falling. If the building is near certain specific buildings, including hospitals, universities, or large companies, you might be able to sell it faster and for more money.
When renting out a property, always include maintenance costs when trying to figure out your finances. Problems are bound to occur at some point so you should try to be prepared. With maintenance, you may go a year with no problems, and have that year followed by mainly costly repairs. Try to set aside a monthly allowance for repairs even if they have not occurred yet.
When considering purchasing rental real estate, keep in mind that if you invest in rentals near a local university your tenants will most likely be students. If this is appealing to you remember to write leases which include specific rules about parties and additional roommates. Also be aware that your tenants may not be long term, and vacancies in rental units will rise during the summer.
Ask your leasing agent about the company’s policy about returning your security deposit. Some companies will deduct cleaning costs, tear and wear regardless of the condition of your apartment when you move out. Have a clear picture about the fate of your deposit before you sign the lease, as you might lose a significant amount of money when you move out.
Even though your broker has all of the connections and the know-how, make sure that you find one that is still going to allow you to be in control. In the end, you are the one that is going to be dealing with the property, so you should have the most control over the situation.
Be careful when you are purchasing a property and make sure that it does not have any hazardous waste problems. When commercial properties have this type of problems it becomes the responsibility of the owner to handle it even if they were not the ones that caused the problem.
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.
Consider detention space as you are determining the space offered by the commercial real estate listings you view. A detention is often required for controlling rain water run-off and other run-off, which could take a great deal of space from the overall property – as much as 15% of land you need for business operations.
When you are looking for a broker, one of the things that you will have to focus on is whether they are a generalist or a specialist. A specialist will have more skills in the field that you are looking at, which will allow you to get the best possible deal.
If you come across a piece of real estate that you like, try to get all of the details of who owns this property. Determining whether you are dealing with an agency or a direct owner will serve as a valuable piece of information when you are trying to work a deal.
Be prepared, as you will sometimes, lose due diligence money. Due diligence funds are those used to pay for inspections, appraisals, and other tests. There are times when you will spend this money only to discover you don’t want the property. Consider this part of your business investment and realize that it’s always smarter to walk away from a bad property, even if you have already invested due diligence money into 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.
