How to Make Money in Commercial Real Estate

When it comes to investing wealth, real estate has proven itself time and time again to be a reliable way to make money. With $32.6 trillion up for grabs globally, many are turning to commercial real estate to bolster their investment portfolios. If you want to try your hand in commercial real estate, here are a few ways to enter the market.

Become a Broker

One of the ways to make money in commercial real estate is to become a broker and help developers and investors find the perfect properties to suit their needs. While this bears some similarity to residential realtors, it is significantly more involved.

In residential real estate, clients are looking for one thing: a place to live. A commercial real estate broker’s clients will be looking for unique elements that suit their business or investment needs, including:

• Parking
• Proximity to public transportation
• Highway access for commuters
• Storage space
• Foot traffic (for retail spaces)
• Space to grow
• And more

Once you find the right property, commercial mortgage brokers will also need to help developers or investors identify and secure funding for their projects by working with different financial entities. Like residential real estate loans, commercial real estate loans come in many shapes and sizes. You’ll need to learn about all the different ways to secure funding and help clients navigate the commercial real estate financing process.

It might sound like a lot to juggle, but if you can do it, you can easily make over $100,000 per year—with some brokers reaching seven figures annually! Of course, commercial real estate brokers work on commission, so don’t expect to make much in your first few years as you build your reputation.

Invest in Commercial Real Estate

If the commission life isn’t for you, commercial real estate investment is another great way to earn money. Two of the most popular ways to invest in commercial real estate are:

1. Buy a property, make improvements, and sell for a profit
2. Buy a property and rent it to tenants

Real estate investing has the potential to generate a strong stream of income if you’re able to capitalize on market trends. Of course, there’s also plenty of risk involved, so make sure you do your research before applying for a loan and purchasing your first commercial property.

Work as a Commercial Real Estate Developer

Becoming a commercial real estate developer might take the most time and capital, but it has the potential to generate the most return on your investment.

Commercial real estate development is like starting from the ground up—quite literally. A developer buys a plot of land, builds a commercial property, and either sells it or rents it to tenants for income. Because you’re not buying an existing property, you can make it into whatever you need it to be to suit local business trends. Plus, brand-new buildings can typically be rented out for more money!

Since you are starting from scratch, commercial real estate development takes a bit more effort (and capital) to get started. Luckily, there are plenty of financial institutions that offer loan programs for each phase of the development process:

• Construction loans
• Land development loans
• Bridge loans
• Rehab or redevelopment loans

On average, commercial real estate developers earn around $80,000 annually, but that number can increase drastically depending on the real estate market and the choices you make. Many successful commercial real estate developers earn annual salaries in the millions of dollars.

Start Your Commercial Real Estate Journey

Are you ready to start your exciting journey in the commercial real estate market? No matter which path you take, it’s important to have enough capital to fund your business.

At Broadmark Realty Capital, we specialize in construction loans designed to suit the needs of commercial real estate investors and developers. With flexible loan terms and ample experience, we can get you the funds you need quickly, so you can capitalize on the next opportunity. Contact us and get your next commercial real estate project off the ground in no time.