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Despite the ever-changing economy, real estate investments prove time and again to be a reliable option. Ideally, you’ll make smart investments that will provide enough capital to continue growing your portfolio. When investing in real estate, you must be prepared for the long game and be vigilant in your research, but when done correctly, it can be an excellent strategy for creating ongoing income and growing wealth over time.

If you’re considering getting started with real estate investing in the new decade, consider multi-family housing for these top reasons

1) High Demand.

• Millennials make up the country’s largest generation, and they are choosing to rent for several reasons. ...

CBRE is the largest commercial real estate services company in the world. Each year, the firm produces a comprehensive outlook for the year ahead based on expert opinions, historical data, and current statistics. According to the company’s 2020 Real Estate Outlook Report, the United States economy is expected to continue its long expansion in 2020, and experts predict the real estate industry will follow suit, maintaining solid growth despite economic and political uncertainties.  

As we prepare to usher in a new decade, we’re summarizing the major commercial real estate trends expected in the year ahead:

• Office Needs Shifting. Growth of traditional office jobs are expected to slow sl...

Negotiating the terms of your lease may seem like just another bump in the road as you work to open or relocate your business, but don’t brush it off too quickly. Ensuring the details of your agreement are in your best interest is an essential step in contributing to the success of your business. Unlike most residential leases, commercial leases are usually longer and more flexible, provided both the landlord and tenant agree. In the first part of this blog, we provided some essential tips for negotiating – Tips for Tenants Negotiating a Commercial Lease – Part 1. Read on for additional considerations that will help you get the most out of your negotiations. 

Don’t assume the base rent i...

Finding the perfect commercial space to lease can be challenging and there are many important factors to consider. If you’re still in the searching phase, we suggest starting here - 6 Steps To Choosing The Perfect Commercial Space to Lease.

Once you’ve decided on the perfect property and before moving in, you’ll need to negotiate your lease terms. Whether you’re leasing office space for your growing startup, a warehouse to store inventory or a retail storefront, your lease agreement will be one of the most important steps you take in running a successful business. Commercial leases are often three or more years and terms that aren’t beneficial to you can be costly for your business.

The...

Commercial real estate (CRE) is enticing for both veteran and newbie investors because of its higher income potential and comparatively stable vacancy rates when compared to residential properties.

With the increased financial opportunities, many investors are curious about the potential of commercial properties but held back by assumed difficulties and challenges with buying and maintaining them. There are no guarantees in investing, but we’re dispelling some common myths and misunderstandings surrounding CRE investments:   

• It's too expensive. This is the myth we hear most often. Many people think you need to be a full-time investor, a well-off entrepreneur, or inherently wealthy to...

With more employees working remotely and more people ordering everyday essentials online, office and retail space are becoming a less needed commodity for business. As a commercial real estate investor, this doesn’t mean your future is bleak; you just need to be smart and strategic to succeed. 

We’ve compiled our best advice to help you think ahead and keep up with the times to keep your portfolio relevant:

Invest in Multiuse Properties. When looking for investment properties, consider options that can accommodate various types of businesses. This could mean an office building that can house multiple renters of varying sizes and industries or a strip mall with an array of tenants. Even ...

Once you find an ideal investment property and your offer is accepted, the initial excitement is over and it’s time for the due diligence period. This multi-step process is often lumped together in conversation, making it appear as a smooth and straightforward step in acquiring your new property – this is far from the truth. The due diligence process is a blanket term for the numerous steps you and your real estate team will take to avoid costly mistakes and ensure every aspect of your new investment is sound.

The process can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to more than a month if discretionary items come up but taking the time to for a thorough assessment of the property will pay o...

Commercial real estate can be financially rewarding, but like with most major investment opportunities, it comes with risks. To set yourself up for the best possible chance of success, its key to do your research, make calculated decisions that fit your long-term goals, and avoid making costly mistakes. We’re sharing our insight on five common pitfalls that are easily avoided when purchasing a new commercial investment property:

1. Rushing the Due-Diligence Period. The due-diligence period of a commercial transaction can be tedious, time-consuming and expensive – but it’s worth it. An investor looking to out-bid other parties and close on a property quickly may sacrifice steps throughout ...

If you’re new to commercial real estate, understanding the industry lingo, how commercial transactions operate, and exactly what commercial brokers do can be confusing. In this blog post, we’re compiling the 10 questions we get asked most often and answering them in the simplest terms possible.

If you’re still learning all the terms that frequently come up in the CRE industry, you can browse through these posts from our CRE101 Series:  

• CRE101: The Types of Commercial Properties
• CRE101: Breaking down commercial real estate lingo – Part 1 
• CRE101: Breaking down commercial real estate lingo – Part 2
  

1. What is the biggest difference between commercial and residential real estate? ...

Recently, Forbes published an interesting article outlining how the millennial-led gig economy is impacting the commercial real estate industry. The piece focuses on the mass urbanization from millennials and Gen-X’ers, their demand for flexible workspace, and how these generational trends are changing the way commercial office space is viewed, leased, and utilized.

Although office space can be more volatile than other commercial assets, when managed appropriately, they can be well worth the investment, generating monthly cash flow and building equity over time. Office buildings also come in a wide range of sizes and often qualify for flexible financing, making these properties approacha...

Throughout our ongoing “Area Focus” series, we’re exploring the regions of Charleston that are growing, changing, and evolving the most. Read more about it here and check out the posts below for the rundown on some of the other areas around town undergoing significant changes and development:

• Upper Peninsula
• NoMo
• Reynolds Ave.
• John’s Island
• Mount Pleasant

The Rundown: More than 30 people move to Charleston every day, and they need affordable places to live – enter the sprawling master-planned communities of Dorchester and Berkeley counties. Once mainly comprised of bedroom communities, the area has exploded with an abundance of shopping and restaurants alongside other amenities...

Choosing a space to conduct business can be a time consuming and confusing process. You have to consider many factors, including how the space will be used for your business needs, cost, size, lease details, and so much more. Like with any real estate investment, the location should be at the top of this list.

The type of business you have will largely determine the best location for you. For example, choosing a site with heavy foot traffic is essential to customer-driven business such as retail shops and restaurants. On the other hand, an office building will need to be central for the employees who work there, and a warehouse distribution center will likely benefit being close to major...

Throughout our ongoing “Area Focus” series, we’re exploring the regions of Charleston that are growing, changing, and evolving the most. Read more about it here and below are links to the areas we’ve covered to date:

• Upper Peninsula
• NoMo
• Reynolds Ave.
• John’s Island

Plenty of Charleston’s surrounding areas are amid a resurgence or new development boom, but one of the city’s most desirable and more established suburbs is seeing tremendous growth – Mount Pleasant.

The Rundown: Originally founded in 1860, Mount Pleasant is Charleston’s oldest suburban town and the city’s original sleepy coastal village. Today, it is the fourth largest municipality and the largest town in South Car...

Once you’ve decided to invest in commercial real estate, you may need to consider the type of property that is right for you, as each comes with certain upsides as well as unique challenges.

Office Space. Whether it’s a high-rise in the city or a business park in the suburbs, office buildings can be home to multiple tenants or rented to one tenant with larger needs. Many office buildings are build-to-suit and all will be categorized into Class A, B or C.  The below definitions of each are provided by The Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA):

Class A. Most prestigious buildings competing for premier office users with rents above average for the area. Buildings ha...

Throughout our ongoing “Area Focus” series, we’re exploring the regions of Charleston that are growing, changing, and evolving the most. Read more about it here.

Here are links to the previous posts in the series so you can get caught up:

• Upper Peninsula
• NoMo
• Reynolds Ave.

The areas we’ve explored to date have mostly undergone a recent boom in revitalization and development. In the next couple of blogs, we’ll be looking at some long-standing Charleston suburbs that have always been on the map but are home to recent developments – starting with Johns Island. 

The Rundown: Johns Island used to be thought of Charleston’s “rural” suburb, far from restaurants, shopping, jobs, and oth...

If you own commercial property or are considering it, your goals likely include adding a major investment to your portfolio and turning a profit. Whether you are aiming for significant monthly income or see your property as a long-term asset, its important to understand all of the costs that go into owning a large building filled with tenants. Just like owning a home, some expenses are planned and upfront while others can come as a surprise and create a financial burden if you are unprepared. 

Here is a broad overview of major expenses you can expect throughout a year of operating:

Property Taxes. Taxes are a part of life and will be one of your most significant planned expenses. Depend...

If you’re curious what our Area Focus series is all about, you can read more about it here.

We’re exploring the areas of Charleston that are growing, changing and evolving the most.

Previous posts explored the Upper Peninsula and NoMo, both areas that have gained popularity in recent years thanks to restaurants, business development, and neighborhood gentrification. The next area we’re exploring is the lesser-known, up-and-coming region surrounding Reynolds Ave.

The Rundown: Situated on the northern end of “the neck” [of the peninsula], Reynolds Ave. was once one a thriving commercial district. The mid-90s closing of the Naval Ship Yard and the suburban migration left the area discar...

Whether you’re the proud new owner of a commercial investment or are looking to fill a spot left by a tenant that has moved on, filling vacancies can be a stressful and time-consuming process. Unlike residential units, which are easy to turn over quickly, commercial properties are more complex and can take months to fill even when you do everything right. These simple tips will help you find new tenants and get them settled as quickly as possible:

1. Work with an experienced leasing agent. Enlisting the help of a professional will alleviate much of the legwork on your end and make the process as smooth as possible. Experienced commercial agents are in-tune with the market and can help you...

If you’re curious what our Area Focus series is all about, you can read more about it here. 

We’re exploring the areas of Charleston that are growing, changing and evolving the most. Last week, we covered one part of the Upper Peninsula, and this week we’re talking all about this area’s other hot neighborhood – North Morrison.

• The Rundown: Whether you call it North Morrison, NoMo, Half Mile North or something else entirely, there is no denying this regentrifying area of town is making a name for itself. The areas of the Upper Peninsula meld into one another, but we define NoMo as the area that lies between Morrison Drive and Meeting Street, bounded by Huger Street to the south and Gre...

Curious what our Area Focus series is all about? Read more about it here.

Essentially, we’re giving you a rundown on the areas of Charleston that are growing, changing and evolving the most – starting with the Upper Peninsula. Many people lump the North Morrison corridor into the Upper Peninsula but we think this stretch is deserving of attention on its own so this will be in our next post (including Charleston’s best spots for BBQ!)

The Rundown: Charleston’s Peninsula is the heart of the city but the areas to the north of the crosstown were often overlooked in favor of cobblestone streets and waterfront antebellum mansions. The area, known to locals as the “Upper Peninsula,” is in the ...