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Property Tax Increases Caused by a Sale: Should Commercial Tenants Have to Pay?

It’s pretty common for a commercial lease to require a tenant to pay for a property tax increase due to the sale of the property.  But is this fair?

What benefit does a tenant derive from the sale of the property?  None or minimal.  But the landlord/seller and the buyer benefit greatly at the tenant’s expense.

This property tax increase can be expensive and quite a surprise to a tenant who doesn’t understand this issue.  Example:  Suppose a 100,000 square foot office property was bought or even built over 20 years ago when market prices were low for about  20 million dollars and market prices are now high. This is very much like the current market is now.  The property could now be worth 2-4 times or more compared to when it was originally bought or built. Let’s figure on an increase of just 2 times so let’s say it’s worth 40 million now for our example.  This will cause the property taxes to go up in the same amount, so 2 times using our example.  Now the tenant has to pay their share of property taxes at this increased rate even though there is no real benefit to the tenant.

In California, the tax rate for increases is usually about 1.1% of the property value.  So, if the tenant has just 5% of the project which would equate to about 5,000 square feet and the property taxes increase as per our example above, you are going to pay the following amount now annually over and above what you were paying before:  $20,000,000 (value increase) x 1.1% (property tax rate) x 5% (your share of property tax increase) = about $11,000 per year for the remainder of your lease term.

This expense is usually quite a surprise to a tenant.  There are ways to negotiate this type of increase away but you usually have to have a very good broker to make that happen.

And this is just one example of where tenants aren’t aware of the true costs of leasing space as there are many more.  Don’t lease office space without a broker who can show you the true cost or you will be sorry.

Have more questions about: property tax or other operating expense/NNN increases, leasing, buying or selling of commercial real estate, and more?  Please feel free to get in touch!  You can contact me for help on these matters at 805-217-0791 or david@djmcre.com.

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Best Way To Sell Commercial Properties

Right now is a great time to sell commercial real estate in general, but especially in Southern California where my primary market is.  Why?  Sale prices are at all-time highs, there is very limited supply inventory (so not much on the market for sale), and all kinds of buyers are looking to buy what little amount there is available for sale –driving up prices with multiple bids usually.

So, why should a seller hire a broker and pay him a commission when a seller can do it on their own?

  • Simply put, the seller will not be able to get the maximum price that a good broker can.   Many brokers have clients waiting in the wings to buy a property and these clients will pay top dollar if they are allowed to make the offer first.  Also, the price a broker is able to sell a property for more than pays for their commission.
  • Sellers don’t have the same marketing ability as a broker.  The world has become international and your reach has to be international.  The dollars are flowing into the US from other countries right now and international buyers are willing to pay more many times.  Brokers also know what is needed in terms of a marketing package to interest buyers. It’s complicated, expensive, and time consuming to put this package together properly.
  • The timing of when to put the property up for sale is critical.  When is the market peaking?  Is there a lot of competition on the market for sale now?  Good brokers will usually know what is for sale on the market as well as off market, but sellers won’t.
  • The repairs that you need to make to the property before you put it on the market are also important.  Some are worth making and some aren’t.  A good broker usually knows what to recommend.
  • What should the asking price of the property for sale be?  What if there are no comparable prices for the sales price because the sales price is higher and the property won’t appraise for the sales price?

There are many other factors in selling a commercial real estate property; but, in my opinion, it starts first and foremost with the right broker.  Doing it on your own is always a mistake.  If you don’t hire the right broker or if you do it yourself, it will cost you.  I have seen it many times.