Warning Signs of A Bad Commercial Real Estate Deal
If you’ve invested in property before, you know exactly how nerve-wracking it can be signing an agreement with a seller. When it comes to real estate – especially commercial real estate – there’s a lot at stake.
A commercial or residential real investment property that goes bad affects your bank account and your portfolio. Overtime investors are able spot troublesome properties from a distance but investors that are just starting off have a hard time.
Newbies in the commercial real estate market should be on the lookout for the following warning signs:
Problematic Property
There are some properties that look like awful investments right away, others are better at hiding their flaws. At first glance, they may look great but after exploring the building in detail you may identify worrying details.
When investors are desperate, they often overlook warning signs. The sellers or real estate agents may convince them to invest in the property regardless of all its issues.
For buyers and investors, problematic properties rarely pay off; they become a burden.
If you find that your property was built on controversial land, is located in a bad neighborhood or has numerous structural and foundational problems, you should not proceed with the deal.
Bad Neighborhood
You may be offered unbelievable prices for properties in bad neighborhoods but is there really a point in investing in a commercial property that doesn’t attract businesses/customers?
Investors are advised to thoroughly investigate a neighborhood before making any commitments to a seller. It’s crucial to evaluate the sort of crowd that surrounds the property.
You can ask the authorities for statistics on crime rates and see what sort of traffic the neighboring buildings attract.
In addition to the location of the property, you’ll also need to pay attention to the property taxes of the area and accessibility of public transportation
Numbers that don’t add up
A property’s NOI is most important for a commercial property investor. Thankfully, there are a number of online tools investors can use to determine profitability of a property without spending a dime on it.
Put in your numbers and see what online tools have to say. Online tools are objective and fairly accurate; if they don’t show great numbers, you should not proceed with the deal.

It’s way too costly
Investors have a hard time turning away from investing in properties that look lucrative. With that being said, if the property is forcing you to dig into your life savings or cash out your portfolio, it’s simply not worth the risk.
Turn away from properties that are too expensive and go for ones that comfortably fit your budget.
Are you looking for commercial real estate in Toronto? Pivotal Commercial Realty assists investors and buyers with everything from site selection to setting a commercial real estate strategy. Call us today at 800-908-6718 for more information.


