NAI Martens 

Will AI Keep Your Property Secure?

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How significant is artificial intelligence when it comes to property security? Given that, as The New York Times notes, home security and its cadre of AI assistance is expected to become a $47.5 billion business by 2020, could commercial real estate be far behind? “We put in the cameras to create a perimeter with no dead zones,” Edgeworth Security chief executive Ken Young told the Times with regard to property protection. Edgeworth is a Pittsburgh-based consultancy specializing in monitoring solutions. “Those cameras aren’t just everyday cameras, though – say, for…

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NAI Martens 

Should You Invest In Commercial or Residential Real Estate?

Martens Appraisal

Investing in real estate is a great way you can add diversity to your portfolio and spread out the amount of risk you’re taking on. What’s more, you can benefit from the fact that real estate investments have historically been less susceptible to major market swings. Real estate investments can be grouped into two broad categories – commercial and residential property – and each one has its pros and cons. If you’re dipping your toes into real estate for the first time, it’s important to understand how they differ. Commercial…

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Martens Companies 

How is The Highest and Best Use of a Property Determined?

Martens Appraisal

The concept of highest and best use is one of the fundamental principles that underlies real estate appraisal. Highest and best use requires that the appraisal considers not just the current use of the property but also the potential value associated with alternative uses. The Appraisal Institute has four tests that appraisers can use in order to narrow down all of the alternatives to one highest and best use of the property.  Four Tests for Highest and Best Use You can use the following four tests to find the highest and best…

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NAI Martens 

Five Tax Advantages of Buying a Commercial Property

Martens Appraisal

DISCLAIMER: NAI Martens and The Martens Companies are not tax experts. This article is presented for informational purposes only.  Consult your accountant or tax expert to determine what your potential tax savings would be.  Whether you buy a small apartment or a sizable commercial building, an investment in commercial property typically provides multiple tax breaks for a small company. Your financial or tax advisor can determine exactly how an investment would play out for your business, but many pursue this investment as both a place to run a company and…

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Martens Companies 

Hospitality Industry Executives Look Ahead to 2019

Martens Appraisal

Officials with public companies shared their full-year 2018 expectations on third-quarter earnings calls, but some shared thoughts on renovations, group business and more to come in 2019. The year isn’t over yet, but executives from public companies on third-quarter earnings calls were sharing what they expect to see in 2019. There are headwinds ahead for some hotel brand companies and real estate investment trusts, but the overall tone on calls in regards to next year was positive. Leslie Hale, CEO, RLJ Lodging Trust “The ongoing renovation at our largest asset,…

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NAI Martens, Wichita Commercial Real Estate Martens Companies 

What Is the Income Approach to Value?

Martens Appraisal

The Income Approach to Real Estate Valuation The income approach is one of three techniques commercial real estate appraisers use to value real estate. Compared to the other two techniques (the sales comparison approach and the cost approach), the income approach is more complicated and therefore it is often confusing for many commercial real estate professionals. In this article, we’ll walk through the income approach to property valuation step by step, including several income approach examples. What is the Income Approach to Valuation? The income approach is a methodology used…

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NAI Martens, Wichita Commercial Real Estate NAI Martens 

Retailers Add Lockers to Capitalize on Online Sales

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One of the latest trends in online sales is actually taking place in person. Online order pickup lockers are being installed in physical locations, something Amazon has been doing for a while now. The latest company to do this is do-it-yourself superstar retailer Home Depot, which, as Bisnow reports, has begun installation of their own pickup lockers at many locations. The lockers, which are designed to let customers order online and then come in to pick up their items without having to request employee assistance, “The lockers allow us to…

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Martens Companies 

What is the Cost Approach to Value?

Martens Appraisal

Appraisers use three different methods to estimate the value of a property. The income approach considers the value as the present value of future expected cash flows generated by the property. It is most accurate when valuing commercial properties with rental income in active markets. The sales comparison method relates the estimated value of the subject property to similar properties that have recently sold in the same market. This method is particularly useful when the comparable properties and the subject property are highly similar and were sold within the past…

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NAI Martens, Commercial Real Estate NAI Martens 

Grab a Bite to Eat and CoWork Too? Restaurants Jump in CoWorking

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When you think about it, it makes sense to turn restaurants into CoWorking spaces. The CoWorking model emerged after 2008 when the economy was in freefall and unemployment was in the double digits in many places. Coffee shops became the place to network, start a business, do freelance and contract work – anything to make money when there were no jobs. Those café entrepreneurs soon began launching businesses to great success. Many who left the traditional workforce have not – and likely will not – come back to the traditional…

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