Appraisal of Commercial Real Estate

Valuing commercial real estate is essential for anyone involved in buying, selling, or investing in properties. This blog will simplify some key concepts in appraisal methods to help accurately evaluate commercial property values.

Key Terms to Know:

  • Appraisal Report: A professional appraiser document providing a property’s objective value estimate.
  • Cap Rate (Capitalization Rate): This rate shows the expected investment return based on the property’s net operating income (NOI) divided by market value.
  • Comparables: These are similar properties used to estimate a property’s value, considering factors like location and size.

Valuation Approaches Explained:

  1. Income Approach: This appraisal method calculates property value based on the present value of its expected future income. It uses NOI and the cap rate to translate income into a property value estimate.
  2. Comparable Sales Approach: This approach compares the property to similar ones recently sold, adjusting the price based on differences in size, location, etc., to estimate market value.
  3. Replacement Cost Approach: This approach, used mainly for newer properties, calculates value based on the cost of replacing the property with a similar one, factoring in land value and depreciation.

Valuing commercial real estate involves various factors and methods. The optimal approach depends on the property’s unique characteristics and available data. A reliable appraisal can effectively guide your valuation decisions. After receiving an accurate appraisal, many potential purchasers of commercial real estate may decide to lease rather than buy.