Some of the best commercial property investments have problems. But buy the wrong problem, and it could cost you a fortune.

Perhaps you've spotted a commercial property that's been sitting on the market for months. The rent is low, the building needs work or the tenant situation looks complicated.

Is that a fantastic investment opportunity that everyone else has overlooked? Or is there a very good reason nobody wants to buy it?

Knowing the difference is one of the most important skills you can develop as a commercial property investor.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I explain why I actively look for properties with problems — but only the right sort of problems!

An under-rented building, a short lease, poor management or an opportunity to subdivide might be something we can solve, creating value in the process.

But what if the real problem isn't the building at all?

What if there's simply no tenant demand, the local economy is declining or the property is becoming obsolete?

You can often solve a problem with a building. But you probably can't solve a problem with the market in which it sits.

Drawing on over 30 years in commercial property, I'll share how I distinguish opportunities from expensive mistakes, the questions I ask before investing and why a cheap property isn't necessarily a good deal.

• The problems I love buying. How under-rented properties, short leases, vacant units and poor asset management can create opportunities to add value.

• The problems I'd run a mile from. Why declining occupational demand, structural oversupply and changing market fundamentals can be much harder to overcome.

• Why cheap doesn't mean good value. How to distinguish a motivated seller and an attractive price from a genuinely sound commercial property investment.

• Can you actually solve the problem? Why cost, timescale, control and the ability to deliver your strategy matter.

• Will the market reward you? How to research tenant demand, rental values and future saleability before spending money improving a building.

• The importance of having more than one exit. Why you should consider what happens if your original plan doesn't work.

And I'll share three questions I think every investor should ask before buying a commercial property with problems:

1. Can I actually solve this problem?

2. Can I solve it at a sensible cost and within a sensible timeframe?

3. Will the occupational and investment markets reward me for solving it?

Because the best opportunities aren't necessarily the prettiest buildings or the cheapest properties.

They're often properties with problems we can solve, in markets where the underlying demand is fundamentally sound.

Perhaps you're an experienced residential investor who understands property but isn't yet confident about what makes a good commercial deal.

Maybe you're a successful professional or business owner with capital to invest, but you're worried about making an expensive mistake in a market you don't fully understand.

Or perhaps you're already investing in commercial property and want to become better at recognising opportunities others miss.

You don't need to buy more properties. You need to know how to buy the right ones.

That's exactly what I help investors do through The Commercial Property Academy and my commercial property mentoring programmes.

From understanding tenant demand and choosing your niche to analysing leases, identifying value-add opportunities and assessing risk, I help you develop the knowledge and judgement to make better investment decisions.

Visit www.suzicarter.com to discover how I can help you find and assess commercial property opportunities with greater confidence.

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You've worked hard to build your wealth. But how do you make that money work for you without creating another full-time job?

Perhaps you've built a successful business and have capital sitting in the bank. Maybe you're tired of the demands of residential property investing. Or perhaps you already own commercial property, but you're at a stage where you'd rather enjoy the income than take on another refurbishment or asset management project.

You want your money to work harder. You want more choice over how you spend your time. But you also don't want to make an expensive mistake with capital you've spent years building.

So, is commercial property a good place to park your money? And if it is, what would I actually buy?

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I explore how I approach buying commercial property for long-term rental income rather than actively creating value.

Because there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a relatively hands-off investment. But passive doesn't mean risk-free.

A long lease, a well-known tenant and an attractive yield might look reassuring on paper. But what happens if the tenant leaves? Is the rent sustainable? Will another business want the building in 10 or 15 years? And what happens if commercial property values fall?

Drawing on over 30 years in commercial property and my own investing experience, I'll explain what I'd look for, what would make me nervous and the questions I'd ask before committing my money.

• Income or value creation? Why the right commercial property investment depends on what you actually want your money — and your life — to look like.

• What I'd buy for relatively passive income. The importance of good locations, strong tenants, sensible lease lengths and sustainable rents.

• Why a high yield doesn't automatically mean a good deal. How to assess the return against the risks you're taking.

• The tenant test. Why a strong covenant isn't enough if the building itself has limited future demand.

• Will anybody want your property in 15 years? How technology, AI, changing business needs and occupational demand could affect your investment.

• What happens if your tenant leaves tomorrow? The questions I'd ask about reletting, costs, market rents and alternative occupiers.

• Borrowing, diversification and exit strategies. How to protect your capital, manage risk and retain options if circumstances change.

And I'll share one of my favourite tests for a long-term commercial property investment:

If the lease expired, the tenant handed back the keys and you were left with an empty building, would you still want to own it?

It's a question every commercial property investor should be able to answer.

You might have the capital to invest but feel uncertain about what to buy, where to look or how to judge whether a property is genuinely a good investment.

And when it's your own hard-earned money at stake, getting it wrong isn't something you want to contemplate.

That's where I can help.

At www.suzicarter.com, you'll find my commercial property training and mentoring programmes, designed to help you develop the knowledge, confidence and judgement to make better investment decisions.

Whether you're moving from residential into commercial property, investing alongside a demanding career or looking to improve an existing portfolio, the aim is the same: to build a property portfolio that supports the life you actually want to live.

Visit www.suzicarter.com to explore how I can help you become a more confident commercial property investor.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Commercial Property Podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who's worked hard to build their wealth and now wants to make that money work harder for them