Commercial Real Estate - Don't Steal From Your Property

When you purchase a commercial property andproperty Taxes. This money is dedicated to
leave the Closing Table, you will take with youpaying the taxes when they are due - and if you
several different piles of cash you don't see in aspend it instead - or use it for ANY other
Residential Real Estate Purchase.purpose, you have just stolen from the property.
They come in the form ofEXAMPLE #2:
- Tenant Security DepositsIf you buy the property in the middle of the
- Pro-rationsmonth and the Seller has already collected the
- Creditsrent you will get a prorated share of the rent
And in a larger property, these can easily totalcollected. In this case, 1/2 of it. This money has
hundreds of thousands of dollars.been generated this month to pay next month's
WARNING:bills, leave it set aside in your operational account
We know of other commercial propertyfor use when the bills come due.
Educators who advise you take this money atIf you siphon off any of these funds for yourself
the close and use it to purchase additionalor other investments, you are setting yourself up
property. They crow about "Cash Back at theto run short of operational cash very quickly.
Close" as a major reason to move up toWhen this occurs your only recourse will be to
commercial property.ask your investors for more money, this is called
We strongly disagree - and absolutely discouragea Capital Call. AND there is nothing worse for your
you from taking cash out of ANY commercialreputation as a Project Sponsor than a quick
property at the Close!Capital Call.
That is because all of this Money has a dedicatedWe recommend you open three bank accounts
purpose.when you take over ownership
If you use this money for anything other than its1) Operations Account - For the monthly in and
intended purpose in this property - you are literallyout of income and expenses
Stealing it from the property and your Investors.2) Security Deposit Account - Best if it is interest
Taking this money can and will sabotage thebearing. Transfer all Security Deposits directly into
success of your investment.this account.
Always use this cash wisely and Only for its3) Reserves Account - Always keep your
intended purposes.reserve account topped up (we recommend at
Tenant Security Deposits -least one month of operating expenses). This is
Are to be returned to the Tenants when theyyour rainy day fund and can be an interest
move out. Set up an interest bearing account forbearing account as well.
them and transfer the appropriate amount ofWe recommend you raise enough money from
money directly from the closing table. This cash isinvestors to fill the Reserve Account at the Close
spoken for.of your Purchase. This way you will not need to
Pro-rations and Credits -make a Capital Call if the furnace goes out in the
Are money already set aside for operationalfirst 6 months of your ownership.
expenses and need to be kept off to the sideWith these accounts set up, simply transfer all
until these expenses are actually due.Closing Table funds into the appropriate account.
EXAMPLE #1:AND whatever you do, don't steal from your
If you buy the property on July 1st you willown property!
receive a credit from the Seller for 1/2 the year's