Episode Details

Episode 98 – Want to Park Your Money in Commercial Property? Here's What I'd Buy

You've worked hard to build your wealth. But how do you make that money work for you without creating another full-time job?

Perhaps you've built a successful business and have capital sitting in the bank. Maybe you're tired of the demands of residential property investing. Or perhaps you already own commercial property, but you're at a stage where you'd rather enjoy the income than take on another refurbishment or asset management project.

You want your money to work harder. You want more choice over how you spend your time. But you also don't want to make an expensive mistake with capital you've spent years building.

So, is commercial property a good place to park your money? And if it is, what would I actually buy?

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I explore how I approach buying commercial property for long-term rental income rather than actively creating value.

Because there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a relatively hands-off investment. But passive doesn't mean risk-free.

A long lease, a well-known tenant and an attractive yield might look reassuring on paper. But what happens if the tenant leaves? Is the rent sustainable? Will another business want the building in 10 or 15 years? And what happens if commercial property values fall?

Drawing on over 30 years in commercial property and my own investing experience, I'll explain what I'd look for, what would make me nervous and the questions I'd ask before committing my money.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Income or value creation? Why the right commercial property investment depends on what you actually want your money — and your life — to look like.

• What I'd buy for relatively passive income. The importance of good locations, strong tenants, sensible lease lengths and sustainable rents.

• Why a high yield doesn't automatically mean a good deal. How to assess the return against the risks you're taking.

• The tenant test. Why a strong covenant isn't enough if the building itself has limited future demand.

• Will anybody want your property in 15 years? How technology, AI, changing business needs and occupational demand could affect your investment.

• What happens if your tenant leaves tomorrow? The questions I'd ask about reletting, costs, market rents and alternative occupiers.

• Borrowing, diversification and exit strategies. How to protect your capital, manage risk and retain options if circumstances change.

And I'll share one of my favourite tests for a long-term commercial property investment:

If the lease expired, the tenant handed back the keys and you were left with an empty building, would you still want to own it?

It's a question every commercial property investor should be able to answer.

Want to Make Your Money Work Harder Through Commercial Property?

You might have the capital to invest but feel uncertain about what to buy, where to look or how to judge whether a property is genuinely a good investment.

And when it's your own hard-earned money at stake, getting it wrong isn't something you want to contemplate.

That's where I can help.

At www.suzicarter.com, you'll find my commercial property training and mentoring programmes, designed to help you develop the knowledge, confidence and judgement to make better investment decisions.

Whether you're moving from residential into commercial property, investing alongside a demanding career or looking to improve an existing portfolio, the aim is the same: