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Why do so many businesses lease buildings instead of buying them

Seems like a waste of $
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
I have clients who own fast food restaurants and gas station...
napoleone
  01/29/26
tax write offs i believe and bad capital allocation
Naked odious roommate
  10/20/19
Many businesses aren’t in the business of holding comm...
scarlet boyish toaster heaven
  10/20/19
Too many idiots not thinking long term
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
It's likely more productive for them to re-invest back into ...
Talented slimy feces stead
  10/20/19
It isnt
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
You seem dumb. Owning property comes with a million headach...
Talented slimy feces stead
  10/20/19
Ljl but some powergoy landlord can handle them NBD
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
Okay, so you are dumb. Just making sure!
Talented slimy feces stead
  10/20/19
The headaches and risks mostly disappear when you are both t...
Hyperventilating Menage
  10/20/19
...
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
Because commercial real estate is capital intensive and most...
Talented slimy feces stead
  10/20/19
My buddy does accounting for a big company who just moved in...
cruel-hearted fat ankles rehab
  10/20/19
Truly Not Real
Ungodly Public Bath Gunner
  10/20/19
CR. His buddy probably can't do math. I look at leases and ...
Talented slimy feces stead
  10/20/19
Why would they own? Cost of capital too high to be invest...
Ungodly Public Bath Gunner
  10/20/19
This is dumbass MBA think. Once the building is paid off you...
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
just run (and somehow get financing for) two businesses at o...
Deranged Athletic Conference Round Eye
  10/20/19
i Think you meant higher margins. that aside, just bc it&rsq...
Ungodly Public Bath Gunner
  10/20/19
Cost of capital is low these days
talking mentally impaired sweet tailpipe
  10/20/19
Because they only think short term and it’s better on ...
Hyperventilating Menage
  10/20/19
this is the real answer
Abusive garrison
  10/20/19
...
Hyperventilating Menage
  10/20/19
...
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
A fool and his money are $oon parted
Henna mind-boggling locus
  10/20/19
Civilization begets specialization. When you drift away from...
Galvanic shaky address
  10/20/19
Clueless side hustle like owning property? How exactly d...
Hyperventilating Menage
  10/20/19
...
vibrant death wish
  10/20/19
Truly stupid schtick
Ungodly Public Bath Gunner
  10/20/19
(Biz school idiot)
Zippy Mischievous Center
  10/20/19
...
goy orbison
  01/29/26
What is the cap rate on CRE? 8%? I would assume if someone i...
Milky razzle-dazzle selfie
  10/20/19
It really depends on the situation but for a lot of business...
Overrated cracking hospital sneaky criminal
  10/20/19
...
Motley Famous Landscape Painting
  10/20/19
Update: Basically every "hip" brewpub in every fag...
goy orbison
  01/29/26
just do add a couple million to your start up costs
UhOh
  01/29/26
Real estate was cheap back then
goy orbison
  01/29/26
Do you think guys with a business plan that is “make s...
,..,,,,,,....,,,...,
  01/29/26
Mortgage is the same as a lease you just own it at the end
goy orbison
  01/29/26
Mortgage requires equity and is a 30-year commitment that yo...
,..,,,,,,....,,,...,
  01/29/26


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Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:50 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center

Seems like a waste of $

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004026)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 3:11 PM
Author: napoleone

I have clients who own fast food restaurants and gas stations. I always recommend they buy their real estate so they have something to sell down the road.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630967)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:51 PM
Author: Naked odious roommate

tax write offs i believe and bad capital allocation

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004028)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:52 PM
Author: scarlet boyish toaster heaven

Many businesses aren’t in the business of holding commercial real estate.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004032)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:53 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center

Too many idiots not thinking long term

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004034)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:56 PM
Author: Talented slimy feces stead

It's likely more productive for them to re-invest back into the business versus getting into the property ownership game.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004049)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:01 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center

It isnt

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004081)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:07 PM
Author: Talented slimy feces stead

You seem dumb. Owning property comes with a million headaches and risks. The vast majority of businesses can't handle either.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004118)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:15 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center

Ljl but some powergoy landlord can handle them NBD

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004162)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:16 PM
Author: Talented slimy feces stead

Okay, so you are dumb. Just making sure!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004163)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 5:26 PM
Author: Hyperventilating Menage

The headaches and risks mostly disappear when you are both the LL and tenant

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004407)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 6:06 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004521)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:55 PM
Author: Talented slimy feces stead

Because commercial real estate is capital intensive and most small to medium businesses don't have the cash to get into it. Owning, managing and maintaining commercial properties is also outside their area of expertise .

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004045)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 3:58 PM
Author: cruel-hearted fat ankles rehab

My buddy does accounting for a big company who just moved into a brand new gorgeous building for their headquarters. He told me that for the amount of rent they are paying, they could have paid for the cost of the building in three years. Unreal

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004059)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:06 PM
Author: Ungodly Public Bath Gunner

Truly Not Real

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004110)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:09 PM
Author: Talented slimy feces stead

CR. His buddy probably can't do math. I look at leases and building construction budgets all the time. Developers aren't making money hand over fist like his friend suggests. There's also a ton of risk involved. Just do risk your entire business to save a few shekels.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004124)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:05 PM
Author: Ungodly Public Bath Gunner

Why would they own?

Cost of capital too high to be investing in real estate

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004104)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:07 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center

This is dumbass MBA think. Once the building is paid off you have lower margins and won't be fucked over by terms of a lease changing etc

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004115)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:08 PM
Author: Deranged Athletic Conference Round Eye

just run (and somehow get financing for) two businesses at once!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004122)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:15 PM
Author: Ungodly Public Bath Gunner

i Think you meant higher margins. that aside, just bc it’s a positive IRR doesn’t mean it’s a good investment

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004158)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 10:02 PM
Author: talking mentally impaired sweet tailpipe

Cost of capital is low these days

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005429)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 4:53 PM
Author: Hyperventilating Menage

Because they only think short term and it’s better on paper short term.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004309)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 5:02 PM
Author: Abusive garrison

this is the real answer

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004325)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 5:25 PM
Author: Hyperventilating Menage



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004400)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 6:06 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004523)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 5:27 PM
Author: Henna mind-boggling locus

A fool and his money are $oon parted

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004416)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 6:08 PM
Author: Galvanic shaky address

Civilization begets specialization. When you drift away from your "core competency" into clueless side-hustles, you are probably going to lose your shirt.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004528)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 6:32 PM
Author: Hyperventilating Menage

Clueless side hustle like owning property?

How exactly do you think a company would “lose their shirt”? I don’t think

even the most dedicated MBA student would argue that.

All the hypothetical losses from owning land are in opportunity

costs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39004584)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 9:04 PM
Author: vibrant death wish



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005151)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 9:02 PM
Author: Ungodly Public Bath Gunner

Truly stupid schtick

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005138)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 9:47 PM
Author: Zippy Mischievous Center

(Biz school idiot)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005345)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 1:37 PM
Author: goy orbison



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630514)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 9:59 PM
Author: Milky razzle-dazzle selfie

What is the cap rate on CRE? 8%? I would assume if someone is running a business they expect a lot higher return than that, even on a leveraged basis.

I will say that it makes sense to own the real-estate over the long run, not because of strictly financial considerations, but rather because of the stability it brings.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005406)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 10:08 PM
Author: Overrated cracking hospital sneaky criminal

It really depends on the situation but for a lot of businesses it makes sense to own the real estate and it’s short term thinking to sell it.

However - doing something like a sale leaseback can come into handy if you know your gonna reduce your footprint in a few years for whatever reasons like redundancy or merger or facility consolidation, where you access capital up front that can be redeployed into higher RoI situations.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005471)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2019 10:23 PM
Author: Motley Famous Landscape Painting



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#39005548)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 1:38 PM
Author: goy orbison

Update: Basically every "hip" brewpub in every fag city is going out of business cause their rent went up while profits did not, if they owned their buildings they could downscale and weather the storm until zoomers learn to enjoy the taste of cold beer

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630524)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 1:41 PM
Author: UhOh

just do add a couple million to your start up costs

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630535)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 1:48 PM
Author: goy orbison

Real estate was cheap back then

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630588)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 2:08 PM
Author: ,..,,,,,,....,,,...,

Do you think guys with a business plan that is “make some beer and sell it - guess we’ll also have cool hats and t-shirts and get a dude to make wings or whatever” also have the capital and knowledge to make a smart multi-million dollar real estate investment? Which incidentally if they get it wrong will bankrupt them, whereas if they get fucked at lease renewal they can move their operation to a shittier neighborhood or get a new job?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630681)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 2:12 PM
Author: goy orbison

Mortgage is the same as a lease you just own it at the end

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630693)



Reply Favorite

Date: January 29th, 2026 2:29 PM
Author: ,..,,,,,,....,,,...,

Mortgage requires equity and is a 30-year commitment that you can’t easily walk away from. Nobody is giving a good mortgage for a startup business with no equity and no personal guarantee. Lease does not require equity (in many cases landlord will give you a free period or pay for improvements so it is effectively negative equity) and if shit goes sidewise you can just not renew, pay a termination fee if pre-agreed, or negotiate a favorable termination on the grounds “you don’t want to pay lawyers to sue the owner of a failed brewpub.” Obviously the calc is different if you are a big enterprise with wealthy owners who have other assets, but we’re talking here about people who can’t handle a rent increase so that seems not to be the case.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4367230&forum_id=2...id#49630777)