It’s no secret that rising real estate rates are impacting residential home buyers and leading to cooling home prices throughout the United States. However, for commercial real estate investors, the rising rates are a mixed blessing. Joe Fairless, whose firm Ashcroft Capital manages billions of dollars in assets, offers insight into how rising interest rates are affecting the commercial real estate industry.
Commercial real estate prices are likely to remain stable or even rise in spite of rising inflation rates. Joe Fairless explains there are several reasons for this state of affairs. First, supply chain disruptions and worker shortages have limited the construction of new commercial real estate venues. At the same time, demand is still high, especially in select niches such as warehouse space, multifamily properties, and properties designed for use by medical facilities. Additionally, rising interest rates impact investors’ ability to borrow money to invest in real estate. They can even make it impossible for some investors to purchase potentially profitable yet expensive investment options.
Investors who have refinanced current investments may struggle to make payments, especially on loans with a variable interest rate. There is also the fact that supply chain disruptions that are helping to raise commercial real estate prices are also putting a squeeze on businesses that would rent or lease these spaces. Experts agree that commercial real estate values can remain stable in a strong economy even during inflationary periods; however, the economy is currently struggling to recover from the COVID-19 lockdowns and continues to struggle with various challenges.
At the same time, Joe Fairless notes inflation does have a positive impact on commercial real estate investment in some ways. The fact that commercial real estate space is typically rented or leased to tenants acts as a hedge against inflation in some ways, as renting costs rise along with rising inflation. Population migration due to inflation has opened up new market opportunities in areas where demand for certain properties is on the rise due to population growth. This trend could provide great opportunities for savvy investors who may not be able to afford investments in popular cities or states with skyrocketing inflation rates. Rising interest rates can cause some to choose other investment options, which means there will be less competition for good properties than there was in times past.
Joe Fairless has long encouraged individuals to invest in the commercial real estate market. Investment options range from warehouse space to multifamily dwellings to real estate investment trusts (REITs), and the profit margin can be high for those who pick the right investment option and know when to buy and sell their holdings. Inflation has certainly put a squeeze on the market as prices remain high and mortgage interest rates rise. Investors can lose money if they borrow more than they can afford and are unable to rent out the space in a timely, profitable manner. However, there are also updates an investor should consider. Reduced competition, rising rent prices, and new opportunities can enable savvy individuals to generate substantial passive income both now and in the future.