Rising Tide of Red Signs: Navigating Commercial Real Estate's Rough Waters

Alarm bells are ringing nationwide due to concerns about commercial loan defaults. Unlike residential loans, commercial loans typically operate on a non-recourse basis, allowing borrowers to simply return the keys to the bank if they can't meet their obligations. These loans usually reset every 3-5 years, and many that originated around 2018 are approaching this critical period. The prevailing concern is that numerous commercial properties won't produce sufficient cash flow, leading to a wave of defaults and property surrenders.

Thanks to data from my former company, CoStar Group, I am well-positioned to monitor the situation. Across the country, there are 1,661 properties that are either in default, bank-owned, or undergoing the foreclosure…

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2023 RI Commercial Mill Rates

How to Evaluate Commercial Property

Tax rates, even within a state, are not universal! In Rhode Island, commercial mill rates or tax rates are different compared to the residential rates in some towns, but the same in others. The average residential property tax for the 39 municipalities in Rhode Island is 15.65 for residential property, but 19.60 for commercial property, but only 21 of the municipalities have a higher rate! Why is there this discrepancy? What do some towns provide that makes the mill rate different? 

A higher commercial tax rate often reflects the higher level of services available within the area. But this might also reflect the degree of reliance on property tax within the municipality. Tax rates are higher within areas…

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2023 CT Mill Rates

Connecticut's real estate taxes can vary greatly depending on the municipality and districts within them.  The graphic above illustrates the base rates for each town. Additional rates are applied to specific locations where services are provided.  These services can include public water, sewer, trash removal,  police services, or a firehouse.  A town or district with a lower Mill rate may not offer these services.  Your real estate agent will be able to help you to determine the services offered and their importance to you when purchasing real estate. The average property tax rate in CT for 2023 is $30.50, with the highest being Hartford at $68.95 and the lowest being Salisbury at $11. 

How to Calculate Connecticut Property Taxes

The…

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The Adverse Impacts of Withholding Cobrokerage Commissions in Commercial Real Estate

In recent years, the commercial real estate industry has seen a concerning trend where commercial brokerage firms opt not to offer co-brokerage commissions to buyers' agents. The withholding of these commissions can have significant negative consequences for property owners, buyers, and the industry's reputation as a whole. 

Adverse Impacts of Not Offering Cobrokerage Commissions

1. Reduced Market Exposure

Cobrokerage commissions incentivize buyers' agents to bring their clients to a property, which expands the pool of potential buyers. By not offering these commissions, commercial brokerage firms limit the property's exposure to the market. This can lead to longer times on the market and, ultimately, lower sale prices.

2. Lower Sale…

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The Two Faces of Commercial Real Estate

The commercial real estate market operates within two distinct segments: off-market and on-market transactions. Each segment has its unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, catering to different types of investors and property owners.

Off-market transactions refer to commercial properties that are bought and sold without being publicly advertised or listed on popular real estate websites like Crexi and Loopnet. These deals often occur through personal connections, word of mouth, or specialized brokers with extensive industry networks. Off-market properties may exchange hands before the general public becomes aware of their availability, offering several advantages: 

Less competition: Off-market transactions can allow…

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The Low-Interest Bridge Loan Dilemma: A Financial Tightrope

Commercial real estate projects can be a lucrative investment opportunity for those who are willing to take on the associated risks. While financing options for these projects vary, bridge loans are often used to cover the gap between the initial investment and the eventual long-term financing. However, recent trends in the market have shown a rise in bridge loans with radically lower interest rates than the current rate. This may seem like an excellent opportunity to save on interest costs, but it poses significant risks to investors and lenders alike.

First, it's essential to understand what a bridge loan is. A bridge loan is a short-term loan used to finance the gap between the purchase of a property and long-term financing. Typically, these…

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Depreciation Hacks: How Cost Segregation Can Give Your Commercial Building a Quick Depreciation Makeover

Looking to accelerate the depreciation schedule of your commercial building? There's a tax strategy that can do just that - cost segregation. It's like going through your closet and separating the designer pieces for a unique, more rapid depreciation treatment.

Cost segregation is the process of identifying and reclassifying components of a commercial building that can be depreciated over a shorter period, such as five, seven, or 15 years, instead of the usual long-term schedule. To make this happen, you'll want to enlist the help of a qualified cost segregation specialist, who will identify assets such as electrical, mechanical, and plumbing components that can be reclassified for faster depreciation.

But don't forget to consider the long-term…

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Five Things to do Before Investing in Commercial Real Estate

Investing in anything requires determination and careful planning. Real estate is no exception. While investing in real estate is an amazing financial opportunity (consistent returns, passive income, and growth potential), it's important to understand that increased reward requires increased responsibility. As always, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a commercial-certified expert (reach out to us for more info), but here are some tips we think you should do before deciding to invest or purchase commercial real estate. 

Determine Goals and Needs

Before jumping into any decision, it's important to know why you're doing it. Are you looking for an investment property? Do you need business space? Are you interested in developing? Determining…

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1031 Exchange. What are they and how can they be of benefit

A 1031 exchange, also known as a like-kind exchange or a Starker exchange, is a tax strategy that allows investors to defer paying capital gains taxes on the sale of a property. This is done by reinvesting the proceeds from the sale into a similar property.

To qualify for a 1031 exchange, the property being sold and the property being purchased must be considered "like-kind," according to the IRS. This generally means that the properties must be used for the same purpose, such as for investment or business purposes. The properties do not need to be identical, but they must be of a similar type or nature.

There are several benefits to using a 1031 exchange. The most significant benefit is the ability to defer paying…

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New London County Multi Family Market Rent/Bedroom

The vacancy rate in the New London Submarket has remained stable over the past year, but at 2.6%, is somewhat below the long-term average. While developers have been active in recent years, nothing has been delivered over the past 12 months. But construction has started back up, and about 340 units are underway, which will substantially expand the existing inventory. Rents have increased by an impressive 7.9% over the past year, which significantly exceeds the average annual growth of 4.0% over the past decade. Investors have been active in the New London Submarket over the past three years. The market price, which is an estimated price of all properties in the submarket, has risen dramatically over that time period and now stands at $152,994/unit.

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