People are almost always willing to help out another investor or realtor.The investor scene has been steadily growing, but that's because there's massive opportunity here.

No secrets to it compared to finding good opportunities in multi family/warehouses/retail/office/ etc.

New coffee shops, retails, businesses big and small.

It is going down in a massive way all across the country.

Back March 31 2020, I wrote about a futuristic possibility of a "Convenience Revolution" similar to the Industrial Revolution, where employment and industries might experience a massive shift in employment sectors with the entire COVID pandemic. 

They are a massive bureaucratic entity with very rigid policies.

Regardless what you decide, the project yu propose is a huge undertaking, and WAY more more work than you think. probably 2-3 weeks straight for 1 guy and massive physical labor, rental of a jack hammer, and concrete saw, ect, I recommend getting more bids before you jump in yourself.  

AI review about 1,000 retail properties a week for clients.A buyer can underwrite whatever they want but if someone is calculating NOI at 25% reduction for center you would get laughed at hysterically.

The issues was not that it needed basement work, that we had to move the staircase to a better loaction, that it needed a roof or that it also needed a new driveway - we knew how to handle all these things and had done them before - the problem was that the list was too long.It's a little bit like grocery shopping and you wonder how the heck did I just spend $160 and you look on the receipt and there is nothing really expensive - it's just a really long list.The good news is that the house turned out great, the value has increased since and more than made up for the massive remodel bill and it cashflows very well. 

Our family business owns/operates commercial retail but industrial seems to have its own nuances about it.