Show Notes
Episode 90 – What Would I Do With £250,000 Today? If I had £250,000 to invest in commercial property today, what would I actually do with it? But actually, the number is almost irrelevant. Whether you have £100,000, £250,000 or £1 million to invest, the thought process should be exactly the same. And my answer probably isn't what you might expect. I wouldn't start by looking for a property. In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I explain exactly how I approach investing in today's commercial property market, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in the sector. Rather than simply telling you which type of property I would buy, I take you through the thinking and decision-making process I use before spending a single pound. Because one of the biggest mistakes I see investors make is starting with the deal. They see a property, like the yield or the price and then try to make it fit their strategy. I believe it should be the other way around. We look at how I would decide what I actually want the £250,000 to achieve, how that would influence the type of commercial property I target and whether I would use borrowing to increase my purchasing power. I also discuss the niches I would be looking at, the importance of understanding occupier demand and why I would be particularly interested in opportunities where I can create value rather than simply wait for the market to create it for me. That could mean improving the lease, increasing the rent, strengthening the tenant covenant, changing the use, splitting the property or identifying another asset management opportunity that other investors have missed. We also look at something I believe is hugely important in the current market: having more than one way out of a deal. Markets change. Interest rates change. Tenant demand changes. Your own circumstances can change. Building flexibility into an investment from the outset can make an enormous difference to both risk and return. And, importantly, I explain why a high yield would not necessarily persuade me to buy. A 10% or 12% yield can look incredibly attractive on paper, but if the tenant is unlikely to remain, the rent isn't sustainable or there is little occupier demand for the building, that yield can disappear very quickly. The question isn't simply: "What return am I getting?" It is: "Why am I getting that return – and what risk am I taking to get it?" In This Episode I cover how I would: Decide what I wanted my £250,000 to achieve before looking at properties.
Choose a commercial property niche based on my strategy and the underlying market.
Assess occupier demand rather than relying purely on investment comparables.
Decide whether, and how much, debt I would use.
Look for opportunities where active asset management could create additional value.
Assess whether today's market creates an attractive buying opportunity.
Build multiple exit strategies into a deal from the outset.
Balance income, capital growth and risk.
Avoid being seduced by apparently attractive high yields.
Decide whether a property is genuinely a good investment rather than simply a property that happens to be for sale.
If you are a residential property investor considering moving into commercial property, a business owner looking to invest surplus capital or an existing commercial investor wondering where you should deploy your money, this episode will help you think about the decision differently. Because successful commercial property investing isn't simply about finding a property. It is about knowing what you are trying to achieve, understanding what creates value and then finding the right property to deliver it. Learn More If you want to learn how to find, analyse and add value to commercial property investments, visit www.suzicarter.comfor commercial property training, resources, live events and information about working with Suzi. Subscribe to The Commercial Property Podcast so you don'
More from The Commercial Property Podcast
Episode 99 – Buy Some Commercial Property Problems. Run a Mile From Others! 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. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The problems I love buying. How under-rented properties, short leases, vacant units and poor asset management can create opportunities to add value.
Episode 98 – Want to Park Your Money in Commercial Property? Here's What I'd Buy 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. In This Episode, You'll Discover: Income or value creation? Why the right commercial property investment depends on what you actually want your money — and your life — to look like.
Episode 97 – What REALLY Drives Property Performance? With Max Scott What actually makes one property investment perform brilliantly over the long term while another struggles? It isn't simply about buying at the right price or finding the highest yield. In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter is joined by award-winning property investor Max Scott to explore the forces that really drive long-term property performance — and how understanding them can help investors make better decisions. Max has completed more than £120 million of property deals, investing across commercial property, mixed-use, residential, HMOs, blocks of flats and new-build developments in the South East of England and Dublin. Drawing on that experience, Max shares his framework for understanding the five forces that influence property performance, together with real-world examples of commercial property deals, different approaches to property finance and the lessons he's learned from building and reviewing investment portfolios. Suzi and Max also discuss the importance of looking beyond an individual deal and understanding the long-term trends shaping property markets. Because a property that looks good on a spreadsheet today still needs to perform tomorrow. The conversation also explores supported living property investment, portfolio strategy and why successful investors need to keep reviewing whether the properties they own are still delivering against their original objectives. In This Episode, We Explore: 📌 The Five Forces That Drive Property Performance The fundamental factors Max believes influence property values, demand and long-term investment performance. 📌 Real Commercial Property Deals Practical examples from Max's own commercial property investments and some of the lessons he's learned along the way. 📌 Commercial Property Finance and Funding Strategies Different ways property deals can be financed and why the funding structure can materially affect investment returns. 📌 Long-Term Property Trends How understanding wider economic, demographic and property-market trends can help investors make better-informed decisions. 📌 Supported Living as a Property Investment Strategy Max's experience of supported living, together with some of the opportunities and considerations investors need to understand. 📌 Why Your Portfolio Needs Reviewing Why buying a good property isn't the end of the investment decision — and why investors should regularly question whether an asset still deserves its place in their portfolio. 📌 Income, Returns and Building a Portfolio With Purpose Why your investment strategy should ultimately reflect what you want your property portfolio to achieve for you. What Really Drives Long-Term Property Investment Performance? One of the big themes running through this conversation is the importance of looking beyond the deal immediately in front of you. What's happening to demand? What are the longer-term trends? How are you financing the property? What could affect its future performance? And does the investment still fit the objectives you originally bought it to achieve? Whether you're considering your first commercial property investment, building a wider property portfolio or reviewing properties you already own, this episode will encourage you to step back from the individual deal and think about the bigger forces influencing your investment decisions. 🎧 Listen to Episode 97 of The Commercial Property Podcast: Why Some Properties Perform – And Others Don't: With Max Scott. Want to Build Your Own Commercial Property Portfolio? If this conversation has got you thinking about commercial property and you'd like help turning that interest into a clear investment strategy, Suzi can help. Whether you're an experienced residential investor considering commercial property, a busy professional with capital to invest, or a business owner looking to build wealth through commercial property
Episode 96 – If I Had £100k and a Full-Time Job, Here's What I'd Do to Invest in Commercial Property You've got £100,000 to invest, a demanding full-time job and an interest in commercial property. What should you actually do first? Suzi understands that position from firsthand experience — because only 11 years ago, she was there herself. She had a demanding corporate career, a young family and very little spare time, but she knew she wanted to build something that would eventually give her more financial freedom, more control over her time and more choice over how she lived her life. But this episode isn't about what Suzi did back then. It's what she would do NOW if she were back in that position, knowing everything she's learned since and having built a property portfolio of her own. And here's a clue: she wouldn't start by scrolling through commercial property listings looking for somewhere to spend the £100k! Instead, she'd start by asking a much more important question: What do I actually want my money to do for me? Do you want to actively asset manage commercial property, solve problems, create value, refinance, recycle your capital and go again? Or have you already worked hard to create capital through your career and simply want to park some of it into good-quality commercial property that can produce sustainable income? Those two objectives could lead you towards very different investments. Suzi also explains why knowledge is the key that unlocks the commercial property world. Once you understand the fundamentals, something that initially feels overwhelming can start to feel surprisingly doable. And if time is your scarcest resource, you need leverage too. With the right systems, technology, AI, a VA and a strong professional team, you don't need to spend every evening trawling property portals. Leverage your time. Don't outsource your judgement. In This Episode, You'll Discover: What Suzi would do today with £100k, a full-time career and limited spare time
Episode 95 – Business Rates and Empty Property: Problem or Opportunity? Would business rates put you off buying an empty commercial property? For many investors — particularly those moving from residential into commercial property — the thought of owning a vacant building with no rent coming in AND business rates to pay can be enough to make them walk away. But should it? Suzi Carter certainly isn't frightened of vacant commercial property. In fact, sometimes an empty property can be exactly where the opportunity lies. The key is understanding why the property is vacant, what it could cost you while you own it and, crucially, whether you have evidence that you can solve the problem. In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi explains how business rates work on empty commercial properties in England, including Empty Property Relief, the longer relief period available to qualifying industrial properties, and some of the legitimate ways business rates may be mitigated. She also looks at the recent Court of Appeal decision on so-called "box-shifting" business rates mitigation schemes, what it could mean for owners of vacant commercial property and why changes to rates mitigation could potentially create opportunities for informed investors. Because if other buyers become nervous about empty properties — while existing owners face increasing holding costs — could that create less competition, more motivated sellers and better buying opportunities for investors who understand the numbers? In this episode, you'll discover: How business rates on empty commercial property actually work