If you are looking for an investment opportunity commercial real estate probably should not be on the top of your list.
Office and retail vacancy rates were expected to increase by 20% and 13%, repectively. But now in the new Coronavirus world, companies will likely continue reducing their office footprint as a growing number of employees may permanently work from home.
With virus reduced work forces, numerous businesses may never reopen, commercial landlords are going to be scrambling to cover mortgages, insurance, maintenance and the all mighty property taxes.
If you are looking to make a move either to buy or change your footprint up or down, there will be deals out there. Reports were in some of the Chicago metro areas landlords were having difficulties keeping up with payments before the epidemic. So, make sure you do your due diligence on your new landlord before you sign.
Remember all of those strip mall vacancies before the quarantine? Expect more. The same for the other independent vacancies.