I agree CAP rates can be manipulated. This is why you ask for tax returns and everything else under the sun to dig for accurate numbers.
I NEVER list a property until I impress upon the seller that they will give all numbers accurately and not hide anything.
80 percent of the crap on Loopnet is puffed up junk that won't sell.Eventually it will go commercial short sale or sell OREO for realistic numbers.
With this being the best buying time in 25 years for commercial real estate you do not want to put what little liquid cash you have into a marginal to good deal.
Instead you want GREAT deals.As another investor friend of mine puts it that has millions in cash. I don't buy even if the numbers can show a true 10 cap because if anything happens to the property now my returns are at an 8 CAP.If I buy at a 12 and it goes down some I still am at my goal of a 10 percent return.
Of course the CAP never takes into effect your debt service because everybody's is different.
The beauty of the commercial sector as there are many finance models and deal structures without the regulation BS on the residential side.
Class A property is mainly for institutional investors.They are dealing with retirement accounts of differing sectors etc. and are looking for SAFE returns that keep up with inflation and grow a little.
A regular investor trying to do WEALTH ACCUMULATION instead of WEALTH PRESERVATION can't grow enough on marginal returns.
This is why most investors focus on B,C,D property.
You have the quality of the building A,B,C,D and the quality of the location A,B,C,D.
Most of the investors like the value add deals where they can create huge returns once stabilized.
Typically in this scenario you will get a group of small investors with 75k such as yourself and pool funds together to buy for cash and rehab. There are commercial hard money lenders out there but the points and fees are ridiculous and will eat up potential profit.
Some investors try to get the bank to hold or provide some financing on the foreclosure.Depending on regulatory guidelines and what type of loan defaulted they can provide financing and will or they can't provide financing period.
The other item the bank will want to know is your track record of rehabbing this asset class property type successfully before they agree to hold finance.
Otherwise they will just wait on another cash party to get the loan totally off of their books.
On regular loans the banks want 20 to 25% down on properties that have been performing for years at 90% occupancy or higher and sometimes will let you put 10 to 15 down and let the seller carry back the rest.
Many investors do not like the regular loans as there is no upside and the cost of liquid capital to put into the loan is too much.
Many feel apartment rents will stay flat to slightly appreciating in the next few years which is why they are going after value add instead.
For institutional investors they are looking for caps in the 7 range and or mismanaged properties or where they were new builds expecting a certain rent and the markets corrected.
They buy from the bank based on the new market rents model.
I absolutely love commercial real estate and nothing gets me more excited.
Any questions just ask.We all can help and learn something new everyday.