Is Commercial Real Estate Investing Worth It?

Commercial real estate investing has long been considered a lucrative venture for those seeking to build wealth and generate passive income.

In fact, over 90% of millionaires own real estate, making it the most popular alternative asset class.

However, it's natural to wonder if the potential rewards outweigh the risks and if it's truly worth venturing into this market. So, let’s dive into the various aspects of commercial real estate investing to help you make an informed decision and determine if it's a worthwhile pursuit for your financial goals.

Potential for Higher Returns:

One of the primary reasons investors are drawn to commercial real estate is its potential for higher returns compared to residential properties and other investment vehicles.

Commercial properties, such as office buildings, retail centers, and industrial warehouses, typically generate higher rental incomes and offer opportunities for appreciation over time.

With careful due diligence and market research, strategic commercial real estate investments can provide attractive long-term returns on investment.

Example of How Commercial Properties Have Higher Return Potential

Consider a scenario where you have $500,000 to invest. You have two options: investing in a residential property or a commercial property. Let's compare the potential returns from each investment over a five-year period.

Residential Property:

With $500,000, you decide to purchase a residential property, such as a single-family home, for $400,000. You rent it out and generate a monthly rental income of $2,500, resulting in an annual income of $30,000. Assuming an annual appreciation rate of 3%, the property's value would increase by $12,000 per year. Over five years, your total rental income would be $150,000, and the property's value would increase by $60,000.

Commercial Property:

Alternatively, you invest the $500,000 in a commercial property, such as a small strip center, for $500,000. You lease it out to multiple tenants and earn a monthly rental income of $4,000, resulting in an annual income of $48,000. Commercial properties often have longer lease terms, providing more stability and potential for increasing rental rates. Let's assume the property's value appreciates at a rate of 5% per year. Over five years, your total rental income would be $240,000, and the property's value would increase by $150,000.

Comparing the two scenarios, the commercial property not only generates a significantly higher gross annual income but also experiences greater appreciation in value. The higher rental income and appreciation potential in commercial real estate can result from factors such as prime location, strong demand, lease escalations, and favorable market conditions.

It's important to note that this example is simplified and doesn't account for various factors such as operating expenses, vacancies, property management costs, and potential risks.

2. Diversification and Stability:

Commercial real estate investing provides an avenue for diversifying your investment portfolio.

By including commercial properties in your investment mix, you can reduce the risk associated with having all your assets tied to a single asset class or even a single tenant.

Additionally, certain sectors of the commercial real estate market, such as medical office buildings or storage units, have demonstrated resilience even during economic downturns, providing sought after stability to investors.

How Commercial Properties Offer Diversification and Stability

Different Property Types: Diversification in commercial real estate comes from investing in different property types, such as retail, office, and industrial properties, which helps spread the risk.
Owning Multiple Properties: Diversifying your investment portfolio with multiple commercial properties is a prudent strategy, reducing dependence on a single property or sector.
Longer Lease Terms: Commercial leases tend to have longer terms compared to residential properties, providing a stable and predictable cash flow.
Different Tenant Types: Tenant diversification is another way commercial real estate offers stability, as having multiple tenants reduces the risk of vacancy.

3. Tax Benefits

Investing in commercial real estate offers several tax advantages that can significantly impact your overall financial picture and that you just can’t get from other investments.

Through strategies like cost segregation, investors can accelerate depreciation and lower their taxable income, leading to substantial tax savings.

Additionally, tax deductions for property expenses, mortgage interest, and depreciation can help offset the operational costs of owning and maintaining commercial properties.

Tax Benefits you’ll Have as a Commercial Real Estate Investor

Depreciation: Commercial real estate investors can take advantage of depreciation, a non-cash expense that reduces the taxable income of the property.
1031 Exchange: Investors can defer capital gains taxes by utilizing a 1031 exchange, which allows for the sale of one property and the purchase of another similar property without immediate tax consequences.
Deductible Expenses: Various expenses related to commercial real estate investment, such as property management fees, insurance premiums, repairs, and maintenance costs, can be deducted from the taxable income.
Interest Deductions: Mortgage interest on commercial real estate loans is generally tax-deductible, reducing the overall taxable income for investors.
Cost Segregation: This strategy allows for the acceleration of depreciation deductions by segregating different components of a property and assigning shorter depreciation schedules to certain assets, resulting in increased tax benefits.
Passive Loss Deductions: Commercial real estate investments may qualify for passive loss deductions, which can offset income from other passive activities, reducing overall tax liability.

Being able to accurately run numbers on commercial real estate investments and perform proper financial modeling is crucial to most roles within the industry. Watch this video to learn more about underwriting commercial real estate investments: