Potential First-Time Investor

Potential First-Time Investor

Louisville, KY · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 0 votes

My wife is entering year two of a three-year lease for her business. The tenants next door have moved out, and a new tenant is being proposed that may significantly impact the success of my wife's business due to excessive noise. The property managers seem to be giving little regard to the adverse impacts her business would face. This situation has prompted us to consider buying our own space for her business so that we would have more control. Another part of our reasoning is that she is already currently paying $650/month in rent, so why not try and put those rent dollars to work more effectively. There is a property less than a mile from her current business. It is 2,900 sqft, about 900 of which is currently leased. My wife's space would probably occupy about 500-600sqft, leaving ~ 1,400 sqft to lease to a third tenant. Asking price is $395,000. Obviously, there are many details which I currently do not have, such as what the current tenant is paying, etc. Ultimately, wife could use the entire building space for a mental health co-operative. Any advice on whether we would be getting in way over our head with this as a first-time real estate investment/owner-occupied space? Also, just to add, it's in one of the most desirable zip codes in the city both for residential and commercial properties. 

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  • Investor · Midlothian, VA · Member since 2015 · 980 posts · 823 votes
    10y

    @Erik Meyerhoffer,

    Well, you are talking to a bunch of real estate investors so most of us would salivate over a good reason like yours to buy a piece of commercial property in the best zip code in the city. Ultimately it all comes down to the numbers, though, but if the numbers work then I would absolutely go for it. Most people do not start out in commercial but why not. At the last REI meetup I went to a 20 something guy was putting together a $2.2M deal on a multifamily property as his first deal. Now whether or not that is a good deal or even a good deal for you and your wife would require A LOT more information. But if you are just asking if you should consider it, I would say definitely.

  • Rental Property Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 880 votes
    10y

    My recommendation would be to seek out a commercial real estate broker that does commercial property management in your area. They can help you with the transaction and leasing out the additional space. You can learn the processes and procedures during this transaction. If you decide down the road you can handle it all on your own, you can make that decision with at least having had professional guidance during the first go-round. 

  • Bulawayo, Zimbabwe · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 253 votes
    10y

    the motivation is genuine as Edward B. pointed out.its the numbers that should be scrutinized

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