You probably know that the Internet has made it easier to research homes for sale, but the tech revolution also has hit the more specialized world of commercial real estate listings. A growing number of sites have information on commercial property for lease or sale, including offices, warehouses and retail space. But brokers warn that it's difficult for an entrepreneur to find a comprehensive list of commercial property listings without becoming overwhelmed by the options. Here's where to look for your company's new home:
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Check sites specializing in commercial property listings
LoopNet site offers photos, prices, square footage and even capitalization rates for a variety of property types throughout the country. Bizspace, run by the American City Business Journals chain, includes information on property in 16 markets throughout the country. Black's Guide started as a print guide to commercial property listings and now offers listings online.
I recommend: On
LoopNet, you'll be asked to register, and you can choose between a free basic service and more complete access for a fee.
Bizspace offers a guide to brokers in addition to listings.
Black's Guide requires free registration.
Hire a commercial real estate broker
If you need nothing more than a simple warehouse bay, you probably can handle the search yourself. If your requirements are more complicated, use a commercial real estate broker.
I recommend: Ask other entrepreneurs for names of good brokers. Your broker will have access to
CoStar, which is considered the gold standard of commercial property listings services.
Surf broker sites
Major commercial brokerages make it easy to search their listings, although you'll see only the properties they're trying to sell.
I recommend: Big players include
CB Richard Ellis,
Colliers International,
Cushman & Wakefield,
Grubb & Ellis,
Jones Lang LaSalle,
Marcus & Millichap and
NAI Global. All post their property listings online.
Look off the beaten path
Auction sites, auctioneers and even Craigslist offer properties for sale.
I recommend: Check
eBay's commercial listings and surf
Craigslist for your town. Also try old-line auctioneers such as
Sheldon Good & Co.
Avoid infoglut with specialized searching
Searching for general terms like "real estate" or even "commercial real estate" or "commercial property listings" can return more results than you know what to do with.
I recommend: Focus on exactly what you're looking for, whether it's
retail property listings or
real estate brokerage firms or
commercial real estate loans.
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