Right now is a great time to sell commercial real estate in general, but it’s an especially great time for it in Southern California where my primary market is. Why? Sale prices are at all-time highs. This translates to a very limited supply of inventory –there is not much on the market for sale. All kinds of buyers are looking to buy what little amount of inventory there is available for sale and, as a result, they are usually driving up prices with multiple bids.
So how do you, the buyer, find anything to buy?
1. Don’t try and search on your own for a property to buy. You simply won’t be able to find all of the properties out there and especially the ones not listed for sale. Hire a commercial sales broker that is experienced and knowledgeable in the market you want to buy in. Don’t use a broker that also does residential sales or doesn’t specialize in the specific type of commercial building you are trying to buy (for instance, don’t use an apartment, office or industrial broker to buy a retail property). The sales commissions are paid by the seller, so you don’t get a discount by not using a broker. Therefore, it’s a no brainer to use a broker.
2. Some of the best deals on commercial properties are for those properties that aren’t yet on the market listed, but are still for sale. How do you find these as a buyer? The broker you pick has to do this for you. So, make sure you pick a good one that knows how to find the properties like these that aren’t currently listed but are either still for sale or properties that an owner would be willing to sell.
3. You have to get prequalified and make sure that you are set to go when you find the right property. This will also help you in your search to know exactly what you can and can’t afford and/or what you need to target your buying search for.
4. Your broker has to set up search parameters and alerts for the online sites like Loopnet and CoStar so that, if and when a property is listed for sale that meets your criteria, you know about it the same day it happens. I can’t tell you how many times my buyers have simply been able to complete a purchase because I was able to show them the property immediately when it became available and we got to it first and were prequalified already as per #3 above.
There are many other factors in finding a commercial real estate property to buy, but it starts first and foremost with the right broker. And doing it on your own is always a mistake. If you don’t hire the right broker or do it yourself, it will cost you. I have seen it many times.
Feel free to contact me for help on these matters at 805-217-0791 or david@djmcre.com