The Wisconsin commercial real estate (CRE) market is ripe for investment. If you have your eye on CRE in West Bend and the surrounding areas, here are some tips for choosing the right investment property.
- Establish your goals and motivations for investing in CRE
- Gather a team of CRE experts
As with residential real estate, hiring the right team is essential to a successful CRE transaction. Assemble a team that consists of a certified public accountant (CPA), real estate attorney, and of course, a real estate agent who specializes in CRE.
A CPA can help run the numbers, a real estate attorney can help you navigate the legalities of acquiring CRE, and a real estate agent can give you access to high-profile CRE listings to expand your search.
Working with a solid team can help you exercise due diligence and provide exclusive access to market data. Even if you are a seasoned property investor, no two CRE transactions are the same—hence the need for professional input.
- Choose between different CRE property types
CRE covers retail, offices, apartments, hotels, and restaurants, just to name a few—what kind of property are you looking to invest in? Considering the breadth of CRE in the market, it can be difficult to choose your next investment blind.
Determining what kind of CRE property type you want to deal in will help narrow down the search. You should also decide how much time and capital you’re willing to invest in improvements and redevelopment.
- Identify the right CRE property
CRE is used for business purposes. And when it comes to choosing the right investment property, the more profitable, the better.
There are various formulae for determining whether or not a CRE is worth the investment. Factors include operating costs, how much venue the property generates, and more. Your CPA will help you crunch the numbers.
As with any real estate acquisition, location will play a big role in your purchasing decision. CRE properties in areas with high foot traffic tend to command higher prices but also have the potential for higher return.
However, properties in areas with relatively lower foot traffic, but which have road construction and public transit developments in the pipeline, can also be a smart choice.
- Secure financing for your CRE purchase
If you’re new to CRE, you’ll find many independent lenders and banks that will help you finance your investment. Insurance companies and private investors can also provide capital for your CRE acquisition subject to certain terms and conditions. Click here for more information.
Whether you’re a seasoned investor or a first-time CRE buyer, it’s important to ask why you plan on investing and what you hope to get out of it. Is this new acquisition meant to expand your real estate portfolio? If you’re new to investing, do you see it as a way to quit your day job?
The answers to these questions may seem like a given, but it helps to establish them early on to help guide the process. Answering these questions ahead of time will also help keep your expectations in check.
If you’re interested in West Bend and the surrounding areas, the Emmer Real Estate Group can help you locate your next investment property. The team is made up of experts on Wisconsin commercial real estate. You can get in touch with the team at 262.629.4747 and ContactUs(at)EmmerRealEstate(dotted)com.