The market has made is possible for you to purchase commercial real estate. Begin by knowing what your business will be and what your property needs to have to accommodate your business. If you plan to lease a property, think about your space, the area and the needs of possible lessees.
When trying to flip a house, you want it to look nice. A cheap front door can really hurt your chances of selling the house since it makes the house look cheap. If the door is solid and in good shape, you can probably get away with just painting it, but if it’s not in good shape, just replace it.
If you are a new investor, buying your first piece of property can be a scary task, but you should not be afraid. Simply do as much homework as you can and look over all of your different options. With enough preparation and guidance, you should be able to make your first purchase with minimal trouble and great success.
Before you make a large investment in real estate, take a look at local income levels, unemployment rates and the expansion or contraction of local employers. Homes that are located near schools, hospitals and other major employers are assigned a higher resale value.
If you come in contact with a person that represents a property that you have your eye on, make sure to ask them what their part is in this equation. It is important that you know this because you have to do all that you can to protect your personal interests.
If you are a first time commercial real estate buyer, you may want to give a newly licensed commercial real estate broker, attorney or lender a try. Pass them over for more experienced people in the field. Working with those already experienced in the field will give you more confidence in purchasing commercial real estate.
Be sure to have all of your requirements for the deal in writing before beginning work with any seller or broker. Include the meetings that you may want to have with managers, heads of departments, and maybe even an architect. Be sure, also, to interview different brokers prior to signing with any of them.
When purchasing an investment property, ask lots of questions. Even if you are an experienced investor, there is no way you can know everything. Having all of the information you need will help you to make smart buying, negotiating, and selling decisions. Never be afraid of a question, because no question is a bad question.
Be prepared for the long term issues that will arise with commercial real estate. Commercial properties tend to experience even more wear and tear than residential real estate. Have a financial plan ready to deal with potential issues that could cost large amounts of money in the future. Figure out what the overall investment goal is for that property and make sure it will be profitable.
When considering the purchase of commercial real estate, it is important to understand that you may incur upfront costs that are significantly higher than those in normal residential transactions. You will still need to have the property you are considering appraised and assessed by property inspectors, engineers, and other appropriate tradespeople as you determine its worthiness. These inspections can cost upwards of several thousand dollars and may end up yielding information that will lead you to the decision that the property is not a viable investment after all. While this is valuable information you want to know before finalizing your contract, it is important to understand that these “sunk” costs can occur.
Before you move into your new space, it may need to be improved. Cosmetic changes like painting walls and rearranging furniture might be needed. Many times, changes include reconfiguring the floor plan by moving walls. You should pre-negotiate the cost of these alterations with the landlord, and try to get them to contribute towards at least part of them.
Always get an attorney to review and negotiate the commercial lease with you. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions, restrictions on placing advertising signs, sub leases or other complicated sections with legal terms. Don’t sign the lease until you understand exactly what you get into and what your legal obligations are.
Look for motivated sellers when searching for commercial properties. Some may be ready and eager to sell below market value. If you can find a seller like that they will be much more likely to negotiate with you. You will be able to find a better deal this way.
It has been a long hard road, but you are now the proud owner of a commercial property. By now, you certainly have decided what or who will be using the piece of real estate. Go ahead, celebrate. Celebrate the fact that you have accomplished a major goal.
