Brad Neihouser | Commercial Broker

Today, we’re diving into a sector of commercial real estate that might often go unnoticed or overlooked, farmland. Brokering the sale of farmland happens to be one of my specialties. I have had the opportunity to help many clients in the North Central Indiana region. On its face, the sale or lease of this property type might seem simple, but often, many layers of difficulty and moving parts make up a farmland transaction. Unfortunately, most farmland changes hands when there are significant life changes in a person's life, namely death or divorce. Farmland is one of the most tightly held commercial real estate assets, making these transactions sometimes emotionally difficult, complicated, and legally complex. One common scenario would be inheritance. Family dynamics can add any number of complications to a real estate transaction, but let’s say four children inherit the family farm.   There is now the potential for strong, conflicting emotions among the children, and any...

The last six weeks have brought an immense amount of change to the way we live our lives. As we move ahead some aspects will return to normal but regrettably, others may not . By nature, commercial real estate brokers are driven to create connections. We maintain sometimes decades long relationships with clients, we understand that a deal can be struck with a face-to-face conversation and slip away without one. So how will those of us that love to interact with people move forward, while still being respectful of our fellow human beings? I for one will be happy to shake your hand and will probably extend it but if the person on the other side of the table declines to shake my hand that will be fine. A simple greeting of it's fantastic to see you in person will do the job. I will continue to be available for in-person consultations, the lunch meeting will not go away for me! However, I understand that we all will come out of this likely with different level...

It seems the world has found itself in the middle of a storm. What are you doing for your clients to help them through this time of uncertainty? Are you checking in on them or are you hiding under your desk? What kind of tone are you taking? Are you a voice of calm & encouragement or have you adopted a more negative attitude? The best thing that we can do in this present time as commercial real estate professionals is to reach out to our past, present clients, continue our prospect calls, and reassure them all that we are available to help in their time of need. Maybe they need referred to their lender to get some payment relief until things settle down. Or maybe they need help contacting their landlord to discuss any delays in rent payments. Or just maybe they need some one to talk to. An encouraging voice telling them it's going to be alright and we're going to do our best to help them get through this together. Whatever the situation or circum...

Good afternoon!  Brad Neihouser here with Coldwell Banker Commercial Shook where I give location and investment advice to the owners and occupants of farmland, development land and industrial buildings in North Central IN. Today is Valentine's Day and love is in the air! Have you shown any love to those around you, today? In the day to day grind and hustle of this business, sometimes our personal relationships can pay the price. A great real estate broker is accessible to their clients for last minute showings, questions, concerns, and unexpected issues. But that can sometimes that can mean missed meals, games, recitals, and quality time with our families. Today I want to take a break from real estate advice and instead encourage you to show a little extra love to those around you. That doesn’t mean you need to spend excessive amounts of money. After all, you cannot put a price on quality time. Whether it’s going out to dinner or just time at home, whate...

This narrative, all too common in today's world, delves into the complexities families often face following the death of loved ones, specifically parents. It's a tale woven with struggles and disputes over inheritance that I've become quite familiar with in my professional career. Through this story, I hope to impart lessons that might help others navigate similar challenges. The story centers on a modestly sized, 240-acre farm operated by a couple who, over the years, not only cultivated their land successfully but also raised four children. As time marched on, the couple aged, and their children grew up. The son chose to stay and assist his parents with the farm, while his three sisters moved away, started their own families, and established independent lives. Following the couple's passing, the task of dividing their estate began—a process often fraught with emotion and complexity. The three sisters perceived their brother, who had taken over the farm's operat...

In today’s commercial real estate world, we tend to complicate things more than necessary. Really, it’s pretty simple.  Property owners are looking to sell, and buyers are looking to buy. In the same way, a landlord wants to lease their vacant spaces; at the same time, a business owner is looking for a place to rent. Many times, as brokers, we tend to muddy the waters and become part of the problem rather than part of the solution. As a commercial real estate broker, we have three jobs.  First ,  is to find out what real estate problems our clients have.  Are they leasing a space that is too small for their growing business? Is a property owner looking to downsize? Is an investor looking to expand his portfolio?  Whatever the problem is, identify it so that you can determine your approach to the assignment. Second ,  determine solutions to their commercial real estate problem.  Research the current real estate market, determine a...

Click Here To Watch Video Blog Question of the day . What keeps a commercial real estate client up at night? What do they worry about the most? The number one item on this punch list is what is my property worth in today's marketplace? It doesn't matter if it's a 200-acre farm, a 10-acre piece of land in the path of development, or the building owner trying to get his building leased out. They all want to know what it's worth.  If you are one of your clients has that problem, I can solve that problem. If you would be so gracious as to give me a call at 765 427 5052, we will have a no-obligation, no-pressure consultation.                                  Let's just talk a little bit. This has been Brad Neihouser with Coldwell Banker commercial real estate in Lafayette, Indiana.