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Many of America’s wealthiest families are, for the first time, selling off properties from their long-held real estate empires.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) highlighted the struggles faced by New York’s commercial real estate sector, where tumbling property valuations are pushing some of the city’s wealthiest families to sell properties. The article cites the case of William Rudin, a real estate mogul who inherited a portfolio of properties from his grandfather, and was warned never to sell.
But last year, he did just that, and offloaded several core properties.
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Why?
There are plenty of factors, but the main issue is that office space leases have just not recovered since the pandemic. New York’s office vacancy rates are sitting at 15.2%, while San Francisco’s are a whopping 35.4%. These low occupancy rates have also meant falling prices for sellers, however.
The big question: is this the time to scoop up under-valued properties, or is it a sign to steer clear of the sector altogether?
Commercial real estate isn’t all doom and gloom
The answer is nuanced. Commercial real estate is a highly diverse market. It has plenty of challenges, and lots of opportunities, too.
Take office real estate, which accounts for most of the now-sold properties referred to in the WSJ article. Some companies are mandating a return to office, and New York City’s mayor has met with CEOs to plead for their return; yet, remote work still dominates.
On the other hand, real estate for shopping centers is facing the opposite challenge. A recent report from Cushman & Wakefield commented that “for the first time in years, the retail market is at a point of being supply-constrained — at least for space in quality shopping centers."
Heightened demand plus insufficient supply could drive increased rents, and strong returns for those invested.
In September, the U.S. central bank started moving aggressively in this new direction and cut interest rates by 50 basis points (bps). Rates were cut by a further 0.025% in November and again in December.
Commercial real estate typically appreciates in value when interest rates drop because buyers can afford to pay more for assets at lower borrowing costs — and First National Realty Partners (FNRP) is ideally situated to help investors take advantage of the current rate environment.
FNRP offers accredited investors access to these types of promising retail-anchored commercial real estate investments, without the leg work of finding deals yourself.
You can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all in one personalized secure portal.
For high demand, proven resilience, and continued adaptability of their services, these promising real estate investments have had a very different outcome compared to office spice in the pandemic’s aftermath.
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Investing in recession-resistant sectors
Another way to benefit from changing tides in commercial real estate is to focus on the businesses that have weathered many storms, from pandemics to recessions. The office space sector, in particular, has experienced significant disruption. As Rudin aptly put it, “the world has changed.”
Meanwhile, grocers and supermarkets have demonstrated remarkable stability in the face of both crises.
Even with a massive increase in e-commerce transactions compared to bricks-and-mortar, grocery stores have proven resilient. Turns out, picking a perfectly ripe avocado is a lot harder when you’re buying it through a screen.
Since these businesses are necessity-based, they tend to perform well during times of economic volatility and act as a hedge against inflation. And you can benefit from these same protections by investing in these commercial opportunities through FNRP.
The FNRP team has developed relationships with shopping centers across the U.S., as well as the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods.
They also offer white-glove service for investors, providing key market insights and finding the best properties both on and off-market, while investors can passively collect distribution income.
Don’t overlook residential opportunities
The WSJ noted that plenty of New York’s underused office space is being converted into rental apartments. New York City’s rental vacancy rate is at a 50-year low, at just 1.4%. The average rental price has increased 4% in the last year alone, to 69% higher than the national median.
Individual investors can still take advantage of this major growth without becoming a landlord, however. And you don’t need to be an accredited investor to add income-producing real estate to your portfolio, thanks to the rise of real estate crowdfunding platforms.
These platforms allow you to invest in shares of properties, like residential and vacation rentals, without ever even setting foot in the city or taking on property maintenance, taxes or other housing costs. WSJ reported that plenty of landlords have been spending heavily on new interiors to compete with one another.
Arrived is one of these accessible platforms, backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, where everyday investors can invest in shares of rental homes and vacation properties, allowing you to get your foot into the real estate market without taking on any of the expensive responsibilities of a landlord.
Arrived allows you to browse their curated selection of homes, each vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, you can choose the number of shares you want to buy and start investing with as little as $100.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.