3 more ways you can avoid rent increases
If you read my column last week, you learned two key ways to avoid a rental rate increase — know your owner and understand the value of your tenancy.
If the bottom of your birdcage lands the Real Estate section before you read it, here’s a brief recap.
Industrial lease rates have increased a whopping 134% over the past 10 years. Recall, our market for manufacturing and logistics space was awakening from the ether of the 2008-2010 financial reset – err, meltdown and there were bargains galore. Now with the classic increase in demand from pandemic-fueled buying and a pinched supply of available buildings, rates have skyrocketed!
You may be fortunate to rent from an owner who appreciates your worth as a tenant and wants to avoid a costly vacancy if you bolt. If this is your situation and you’re approaching a renewal, count yourself among the lucky. Conversely, if maximizing the monthly income is your landlord’s objective, you could face an increase of double what you’re currently paying.
But, there is hope. Keep in mind these three strategies to stem a spike in monthly payments.
Buy a building
Historically, buying property has been costlier than renting on a pure monthly outlay basis.
Meaning, if we stack a mortgage, allotment for property taxes, insurance and upkeep together, the total will be higher than most leases. Plus, you must come up with a sum to bridge the gap between what a bank will loan and your purchase price, some 10%-25%.
However, this is many times shortsighted when looking at a projection over the life of a company’s occupancy. You see, lease rates escalate over time, generally fixed at 3%-3.5% annually. And, when a term expires, the landlord will bump the number even higher to compensate for the market variance.
Currently, we’re seeing a huge boost in rental rates which eclipses that 3%-3.5% annual escalator. Some find it better to own, finance the buy with fixed debt, thus stabilizing payments and enjoying appreciation and the tax benefits that accrue.
A word of caution. If you enter the buying fray, be prepared. Structure your A-game with proof of a down payment, lender pre-qualification letter, and a well-reasoned story of your desire to buy.
Move to cheaper geography
Once, the Inland parts of SoCal were cheaper, newer and alternatives were plentiful.
If you’re a logistics provider and you look East, this affordability gap is quickly narrowing. However, there are still “deals” to be found. Don’t forget areas just outside the state borders such as Arizona and Nevada. You might even find a business climate that welcomes enterprises with goodies such as tax breaks, employment incentives and fewer regulations.
Do more with less
We toured an operation recently. Occupied was a big chunk of a larger address. Since they leased the space five years ago, several distribution centers had been added to their supply chain, thus lessening their need for the square footage they leased locally.
By trimming their premises by 40% a great building popped up which fit their requirement. Another client of ours took advantage of the relative softness in the office space market and peeled away that portion of the company. Eliminating the people component from their warehouse created several new buildings to consider.
Don’t forget: Your additional capacity might be found if you look up and maximize your stacking. Frequently, a group will believe they are out of space because their floor is consumed. Ignored is the two or three feet in height not used. With the advances of material handling equipment – you can literally use every inch if you narrow your aisles and pile your product high.
More on these later.
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104.