Rush to commercial

First time buyers are entering commercial market

Many real estate executives say they have recently seen a significant uptick in the number of first-time buyers who are entering the commercial market. Many buy small apartment buildings or retailing centers or mixed-use properties that combine apartments with a few stores, real estate professionals say.

Some executives say the influx has been large enough to prompt them to try to track these types of buyers more diligently, as well as to reconsider their marketing efforts. “I call it the democratization of commercial real estate – everyone wants to participate, and access to capital is wonderful,” said Gary Gabriel, executive director of the metropolitan area capital markets group at Cushman & Wakefield.

A Rush to Commercial Property [NY Times]