Rent. It’s the first thing business owners think about when searching for a new spot. A newer building in the center of town may be what you want, but if you can’t afford the rent, you’re setting your business up for failure. What percentage of business income should be set aside for rent? How much … Read more
Commercial real estate investors use many metrics to measure the risk and benefits of buying a property. One of those measurements is the capitalization rate. In commercial real estate investing, the capitalization rate is a percentage that indicates the rate of return on a property. Capitalization rates, also known as cap rates, vary depending on … Read more
Is owning a commercial property better than leasing it? Should you be solely responsible for your space, or are there perks to being a tenant? Depending on your business type and goals, both options have benefits and drawbacks. Whether you purchase or lease commercial real estate hinges on your current financials, how long your business … Read more
Multi-tenant buildings often have shared spaces that benefit all tenants on the property. Did you know tenants have to pay for the upkeep of those spaces? When tenants move into office and retail properties, they often have to pay common area maintenance charges, more commonly referred to as CAM fees. These charges are passed from … Read more
Commercial real estate investors are always looking for new opportunities. Buying and selling commercial properties comes with a huge tax hit unless you’re making a like-kind exchange. Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, like-kind commercial real estate exchanges are tax-deferred—letting investors build wealth over time. Like-kind exchanges have been in the tax code … Read more
Most landlords prefer signing long-term leases because it’s challenging to find tenants. Landlords would like to keep a good tenant for as long as possible. As a business owner, you may not be ready to sign a 10-year lease. How long of a lease should you sign? Should you ask for a shorter agreement or … Read more
You kept an eagle eye on commercial real estate listings. You found and toured a property that’s perfect for your business or investment portfolio. You’re ready to take the next step and make it yours. You’ll likely need a real estate loan to do so, whether you’re a first-time commercial real estate buyer or a … Read more
If you’re in the market for commercial office space, you’ve likely heard people refer to properties as “Class A” and “Class B.” What do these classes mean? Commercial office buildings are categorized based on their age, condition, amenities and location. Many factors—from maintenance to ceiling height—can affect an office building’s classification. Building classes help commercial … Read more
This piece is the final part in our series on how to buy a restaurant, where we walk through buying a restaurant from start to finish. Want to know more about finding a restaurant or sending a letter of intent? Read the previous articles in this series: “Finding Real Estate to Purchase” and “Steps to … Read more
This is the second installment in our series on buying a restaurant, where we share information about each step of the restaurant buying process. Read our first article to learn how to find a restaurant to buy. Some people are on the hunt for property to start a new restaurant, and others would rather buy … Read more
