The High Street Is Dead. Offices Are Finished. Really?

Episode 94 – The High Street Is Dead. Offices Are Finished. Really? "The high street is dead." "Nobody wants offices anymore." "Why would anyone invest in retail?" Suzi heard comments very much like these while speaking about commercial property recently — and they got her thinking. Because there are certainly high streets she wouldn't touch with a bargepole, and there are offices she wouldn't buy at almost any price. But does that mean all high streets are dead? Or that all offices are finished? Absolutely not. In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi challenges some of the sweeping assumptions investors make about different commercial property sectors and explains why commercial property isn't one market. A struggling secondary high street with lots of empty units is very different from an affluent market town with strong footfall, thriving independent businesses and hardly anything available to let. And an enormous, outdated office building with little occupier demand is very different from a smaller office in a location where so much stock has been converted to residential that good-quality office space has actually become scarce. The important question isn't whether retail, offices or any other commercial property sector is "good" or "bad". It's whether THIS property, in THIS location, at THIS price, with THIS occupational market, makes sense. And that's where niching, local knowledge and proper research become so important. In this episode, you'll discover: Why sweeping statements such as "the high street is dead" can cause investors to overlook opportunities Why Suzi believes there is no single "retail market" or "office market" How to identify commercial property niches where genuine demand and scarcity may exist Why occupier demand matters just as much as investor demand What properties currently available to let can tell you about a market Why local commercial agents can provide invaluable evidence about what is — and isn't — letting How changing consumer behaviour can create opportunities rather than simply destroy them Why the conversion of office stock to residential can sometimes create scarcity in the remaining office market The danger of buying into fashionable sectors simply because everybody else is doing it How to distinguish between a genuinely struggling market and a sector that investors may simply have written off Practical ways to research a niche before committing your money Perhaps most importantly, Suzi explains why good commercial property investing isn't about following headlines. It's about understanding your market, your niche, your occupier and your property. So, the next time somebody tells you the high street is dead, ask them: "Which high street?" And when somebody tells you offices are finished, ask: "Which offices, in which town, at what size and at what rent?" Because the opportunity may be hiding in the detail everybody else has ignored. Could Your Assumptions Be Causing You to Miss Opportunities? Finding good commercial property isn't simply about searching for what's currently fashionable. It's about knowing where to look, what to look for and how to test whether the opportunity you think you've spotted actually stacks up. If you'd like to learn how Suzi approaches commercial property investing — from identifying your niche and understanding occupational demand to analysing deals, tenants, leases, risks and opportunities to create value — visit www.suzicarter.com. You'll find details of Suzi's commercial property training, the Commercial Property Academy, and the different ways you can work with her to become a more knowledgeable and confident commercial property investor.  Visit www.suzicarter.com And if you know an investor who has ever told you "the high street is dead" or "nobody wants offices anymore", send them this episode. You might have a rather interesting conversation afterwards!   Subscribe to The Commercial Property Podcast so you never miss an episode.