As we progress through life and our circumstances change, so too do our investment needs and strategies. However, there is one investment that should be in everyone’s portfolio, especially now.

Perhaps you are young and looking for somewhere to put away your money to have your capital grow, while allowing you to tap into your cash for large purchases if you need it. Maybe you already have a sizable savings and you just need a steady source of income that will pay you more than keeping it in the bank. Or perhaps you’ve lost a good chunk of your savings in recent years and find yourself ill prepared for retirement. Whatever your circumstances, commercial real estate investment is likely exactly what you need.

Commercial real estate can help you diversify your portfolio and provide stability, with a hybrid investment that is more secure than the stock market and definitely more profitable than your savings account.

Why invest in commercial real estate now? Prices and returns are attractive, but there is still plenty of room for your investment to grow. The economy is showing incredible strength, with growth in all major sectors, which indicates a solid framework on which jobs will continue to be added, incomes will rise and commercial property values will soar. And with the right advice, you will find entry into commercial real estate investment is a lot easier than you thought and you can enjoy real pride in the ownership of your investment.

Want to learn more about how you can benefit from commercial real estate investing in Canada or get more information on the types of returns you can expect? Contact Howard today by phone at 1 (866) 986-8673 or email him now at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

Thanks to zoetnet on Flickr for use of the photo!

In our first part of this blog, we discussed some of the categories of individuals who tend to invest in commercial real estate. Do you fit into one of the aforementioned categories? Here are a few more types of folks who are typical Canadian real estate investors.

Those Who Need To Diversify

Looking back at any of the crises that resulted in people losing their net worth and going bankrupt over the last few decades, we can see that in almost every case, disaster could have been avoided through diversification of assets. This may be hard for some people to swallow, but it is absolutely true. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and never leave all your eggs in one basket or you are just asking for trouble.

Residential Real Estate Investors Seeking To Move Up

Investors who are looking to graduate to the next level in the investment and real estate game should definitely be looking at commercial real estate options. If you have already spent some time as a landlord in the residential world, you’ll find a lot to like in commercial real estate. This may lead you to ask yourself: what took me so long?

Businesses

Whether they are just starting out or are getting ready for another round of expansion, business owners will find many benefits in commercial real estate. Perhaps the numbers work out better to own your own property? Can you offset your expenses by investing in a property with other tenants? Will buying real property when launching a new start up make it easier for you to get funding?

Do any of the above sound like you? Contact Howard today, risk and obligation free, by phone at 1 (866) 986-8673 or email him right now at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

Everyone knows that investing your hard-earned dollars is a critical part of any long-term financial strategy, Canadian or otherwise. But with so many investing options to choose from, and just as many places to look for advice on who should invest where, it can be difficult to decide whether you fit the profile of a ‘typical’ investor in any given project or plan.

Canadian commercial real estate should be an appealing investment option for a number of different groups of people. In this first half of our two-part series of investor profiles, we’ll look at some of the categories of individuals who tend to invest in commercial real estate.

Young Individuals and Couples

Young people have a lot to gain from getting into commercial real estate early. It can provide a vehicle to begin building equity, which can later be used to pay for big ticket items such as your first home, sending the kids to college, or taking care of aging parents. It can also serve as a first step on the path to obtaining a great retirement fund.

Those Seeking A More Flexible Lifestyle

Recent changes in the global economy have made more individuals aware of their desire for both freedom and flexibility. With the right investments, they can live the lifestyle they want, without compromising financial goals. Commercial real estate is an excellent investment tool to accomplish this by providing ongoing passive income without the need for hands on management.

People Approaching Retirement

Retiring in the next few years? You are no doubt well aware of the need to place your savings into investment vehicles that will produce regular income to take care of ongoing living costs. Many other investments do not offer the same capital growth, safety and easy management, and by taking advantage of advanced partnership structures, you will find that you still have flexibility and much easier access to your cash, whether it is needed for daily expenses or in the case of an emergency.

Anyone Seeking Higher Returns

These days, savings and retirement accounts are regarded as safe investments that unfortunately can’t be relied upon to offer high returns. Commercial real estate is a much better choice! When you look at not only the income generated by commercial real estate, but also the equity growth and tax advantages, you will probably find it very hard to justify not getting in.

Do any of the above sound like you? Contact Howard today, risk and obligation free, by phone at 1 (866) 986-8673 or email him right now at howardm@redevgroup.ca. And keep an eye out for the second half of this blog post tomorrow!

All signs point to 2012 being an incredible time of opportunity for those who make the move into commercial real estate investment. Canada’s western provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and in particular, cities such as Victoria, Regina, Edmonton and Calgary, are likely to prosper this year and for the foreseeable future.

Despite attractive market conditions, there are those who still wonder whether commercial real estate investing is for them. The easy answer, of course, is yes! There are few other investing options that can provide the same level of security, high returns, regular passive income and capital gains that commercial real estate investment provides. And let’s not forget that it’s nice to own something tangible, something that you can see and feel.

However, while the lure of commercial real estate investing and the profits it can bring are attractive, you must have realistic expectations. Becoming a commercial real estate landlord on your own is not without its hassles and headaches, especially if you have never done it before. Aside from the day-to-day work required of a hands-on landlord, specialized knowledge is required to navigate contracts, lease negotiations, and all of the other legal manoeuvres required in business today.

Fortunately, you don’t have to jump in by yourself and manage your own commercial investment properties. In fact, you probably shouldn’t even consider this for your first, and perhaps even second, time around. Despite how bullet-proof the current market appears, it is always wise to take a little time to learn from the experts and get your feet wet with a truly experienced professional by your side. Look for partnership opportunities that can lower your risks, provide ongoing guidance, and provide professional property management, for a high performing – and stress free – investment.

For those of you who want an to learn more about how you can profit from commercial real estate in Canada, and/or the best ways to take advantage of the great opportunities that are available, contact Howard Manley today either by phone at 866-986-8673 or email at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

Thanks to umjanedoan on Flickr for use of the photo!

Vancouver and Calgary tends to grab the limelight when it comes to commercial real estate investment opportunities in the news, but those who look a little closer know that Edmonton is one of the most undervalued and underestimated Canadian markets for growth and income potential. The city is being developed sustainably, packing a lot of value and security for those who desire not just high levels of regular income and dividends, but long term capital growth as well.

Edmonton may not be home to as many major corporate offices as Calgary, but several major players call the city home, many of whom have a large presence and a strong back bone in the industrial market. A good industrial market is the foundation in which any stable market is built on, so it’s no surprise that industrial properties in Edmonton have been in high demand for some time.

Further, the office sector in Edmonton has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years. New inventory has been well absorbed and vacancy rates continue to plummet, while demand and rents rise. The surge in office sector activity demonstrates a sound recovery, building on an already-solid industrial sector and shows that businesses are confident in a positive outlook and are not afraid to expand and add to payroll. A diverse tenant base has been hungry for office space, including accountants, engineers, lawyers, software developers, consultants, and many, many more. According to experts, this is a trend which is expected to continue for at least the next 10-12 years, which will offer income and stable capital gains for commercial real estate investors.

All of this leads to better prospects for the retail market, and subsequently, those commercial real estate investors looking for smart investments among shopping centres.

Would you like to learn more about how you can profit from commercial real estate in Edmonton, and get some more information on the local market and great opportunities that are available? Then contact Howard today by phone at 866-986-8673 or by email right now at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

Thanks to stellastella on Flickr for use of the photo!

We know that commercial real estate investment, particularly in Canada, is a very hot investment space right now. And for good reason, as commercial investing typically offers great security, a reliable return on money invested, and steady growth.

But there are many choices out there! Multi-family, industrial, office, and retail properties all offer viable investment opportunities, but each require specialized knowledge and present their own challenges.

Industrial

Unless you know a lot about industrial properties and a specific industry, this may be a sector left for those with intimate knowledge of it.

Multi-family property

While there is a new surge in development and interest in multi-family property, you probably will find that it is much more volatile, management intensive, and produces lower returns than your other options.

Office

The office sector is great and pretty straight forward. You will definitely find that vacancy rates in the Canadian office sector are dropping to incredible lows and management is relatively easy. However, unless you are catering to high end office space around Canada’s growing future cities, you may notice new virtual trends in business will eventually dampen occupancy rates and returns.

Commercial and retail

Finally, you have retail properties, with local strip malls or shopping centers standing out as being very attractive. Shopping plazas offer all the best of commercial real estate investment in terms of returns and growth, and they are something you certainly understand. Plus, with the current and forecasted surge in retail shopping and investment across Canada, this sector is most likely to post the best returns for the coming years.

To learn more about commercial real estate in Canada and to get more information on some of the great opportunities that are available today, contact Howard Manley today by phone at 1 (866) 986-8673 or via email now at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

Canadian commercial real estate is extremely attractive to investors these days. Whether established or just starting out, however, the question remains the same: what type of commercial property should you be looking at?

Commercial real estate offers great returns, income, equity growth, and great security for your capital, but one should never rush into any investment, regardless of its benefits. There are a number of decisions you need to make – ultimately, one of the most important is what type of property is right for you.

What are the factors you should consider?

Management, location, future growth prospects, and the amount of expertise required should be looked at closely. Many new investors imagine that investing in a small single-unit property is the way to go – after all, this is something small that they can afford and which is easily manageable. However, this really is not the best move. First off, a small single unit property means that you are relying on one tenant for your income, which is risky – how much faith will you put in any one tenant?

At the same time, foot traffic can be lower and the property may be too small to justify hiring an outside management firm, which means that you’ll have to manage it yourself. Probably not the best use of your time.

With today’s incredibly low mortgage interest rates and various partnership opportunities and vehicles that are available, the sensible choice is to invest in a larger and better quality property, which will offer more security and a higher return on investment. Multiple tenants will deliver steady income and higher rents, making a professional management team is more affordable. This also provides a much better ROI on any improvements you do, and most likely, a higher quality of tenant which will increase your growth and returns exponentially.

To learn more about commercial real estate in Canada and to get more information on some of the great opportunities that are available today, contact Howard Manley today by phone at 1 (866) 986-8673 or via email now at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

Thanks to seishin17 on Flickr for use of the photo!

REDEV presents the final segment of a four-part weblog series on the basics of commercial real estate investing. We’ll discuss the considerations you should keep in mind when preparing to make an investment, whether it is your first or one of many. If you’ve missed any of the previous parts of our series, please visit our blog to get caught up.

Exit strategy and next steps

If all goes as planned, your returns will be impressive and equity will grow steadily. But even the best case scenario should include a clearly defined exit strategy.

You can always choose to hold onto the property longer, but you should have an idea of how and when you will sell.

Once sold, it’s time to move on to another commercial property investment opportunity.

Contact us to learn more

Let’s discuss commercial real estate in Canada and the great opportunities available today. Contact Howard Manley today by phone at 1 (866) 668-7344 or email at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

REDEV presents the third of a four-part weblog series on the basics of commercial real estate investing. We’ll discuss the considerations you should keep in mind when preparing to make an investment, whether it is your first or one of many. If you’ve missed any of the previous parts of our series, please visit our blog to get caught up.

Taxes and management

Making more money is an obvious goal, and one that we all want to achieve with every investment. But more money can also mean more taxes. Are there opportunities that will minimize your tax liabilities on any gains and help you defer taxes until a time when they will be lower? What about investments that will mean tax free returns? A commercial real estate investment firm can offer advice on the best approach.

Good management also offers freedom from the headaches of day-to-day involvement in running a commercial property. Do you want to have to deal with vendors and tenants, or is it better to have a professional company managing on your behalf? Look for a company that is skilled at attracting new tenants, negotiating leases, and dealing with regular maintenance.

Contact us to learn more

Let’s discuss commercial real estate in Canada and the great opportunities available today. Contact Howard Manley today by phone at 1 (866) 668-7344 or email at howardm@redevgroup.ca.

REDEV presents the second of a four-part weblog series on the basics of commercial real estate investing. We’ll discuss the considerations you should keep in mind when preparing to make an investment, whether it is your first or one of many. If you’ve missed any of the previous parts of our series, please visit our blog to get caught up.

Growth and sustainability

Great monthly or quarterly income returns are obviously a good thing. They might even be what you are really looking for. However, if you have a need for that income and are not going to be re-investing it, you should look for a commercial real estate opportunity that provides great prospects for equity growth as well.

Immediate returns and high returns are attractive, but sustainability is even more important. Look at what is going on in the local market and consider whether this is an area that is experiencing growth or decline. Will there still be plenty of business for your tenants two years from now? Five? Ten?

Contact us to learn more

Let’s discuss commercial real estate in Canada and the great opportunities available today. Contact Howard Manley today by phone at 1 (866) 668-7344 or email at howardm@redevgroup.ca.