Looking Beyond Returns:

When it comes to investing in commercial real estate, the financial rewards that come with a successful investment can be very appealing. However, current market conditions may prove that the real estate investment returns that investors have become accustomed to over the last 10 years, may now come with heightened risk. This is why it is equally important, when considering a new investment, to carefully assess potential risk alongside potential returns.

Each real estate investment carries its own set of rewards and risks which should be weighed against the individual needs of the investor; investors may consider the overall composition of their investment portfolio, their desire for capital preservation and/or capital appreciation, their current real estate allocations, their liquidity needs and what amount of exposure to market dynamics is acceptable for their respective portfolios.

Any investor may consider evaluating these criteria when selecting a commercial real estate investment that aligns with one’s individual risk tolerance and portfolio diversification goals:

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The four primary real estate investment strategies are core, core plus, value-add, and opportunistic and each strategy falls along a risk/return matrix, as shown below. Asset location, financing, and capital structure as well as the performance history of the sponsor also influence the risk profile of any real estate investment.

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An investment’s quality, financial and physical condition, and location are also factors in determining its risk. The following are the typical attributes for each of the four primary real estate investment strategies:

Core real estate investments are considered the lowest risk real estate strategy. The strategy may focus on acquiring high-quality, income-generating properties in established and prime locations. These investments typically offer steady cash flows, minimal vacancy risks, and long-term leases with creditworthy tenants.

Example: Newly Stabilized Class A Multifamily Acquisition
Investment Goal: Preserve capital with consistent distributions
Typical Attributes:

– Stable income
– Under 30% debt leverage
– Lower growth opportunity
– Often primary markets
– Lowest risk profile

Core plus investments involve acquiring properties typically offer stable income and may also have the opportunity for value enhancement through targeted improvements, repositioning, or proactive management strategies. These investments generally have a low to moderate level of risk and aim to generate both income and capital appreciation.

Example: Grocery-Anchored Retail Acquisition
Investment Goal: Preserve capital with moderate growth upside
Typical Attributes:

– Steady cashflow
– 30-55% debt leverage
– Stable long-term leases
– Moderate growth opportunity
– Lower correlation to market dynamics

Value-add real estate investments involve acquiring properties that require significant improvements, through renovations or repositioning strategies, aimed to enhance the property value and increase income potential. Value-add investments typically carry a higher level of risk compared to core and core plus investments but offer the potential for higher returns; existing occupancy makes these investments lower risk than new developments.

Example: Vintage Hospitality Acquisition
Investment Goal: Generate higher returns while limiting risk
Typical Attributes:

– Established or variable cashflow with room for growth
– 50-70% debt leverage
– Requires capital for property improvements
– Medium exposure to market dynamics

Opportunistic real estate investments may target assets or situations with significant potential for value creation, including ground-up developments or acquisitions requiring extensive repositioning. These higher-risk investments require experienced managers to achieve their desirable return profiles.

Example: Class A Multifamily Development
Investment Goal: Maximize Return Potential
Typical Attributes:

A well-diversified real estate portfolio includes complementary asset types spread across different sectors and geographic regions, each serving a key function to balance risk while aiming to deliver returns.

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• Minimize Exposure: A well-diversified portfolio helps mitigate the impact of individual property or geographic risks and can typically better withstand economic downturns, regulatory changes, or other industry-specific challenges.
• Income Stability: Exposure to assets across real estate sectors, such as retail, office, industrial, hospitality, or residential, may generate income at different times or in different economic environments, which can diversify sources of cash flow.
• Capital Appreciation Potential: Diversifying across sectors, geographic locations and property types increases the likelihood of capturing opportunities for capital appreciation across sectors and market cycles.

Ignite recognizes the complexities required to properly due diligence each commercial real estate investment and determine its risk profile. Thus, Ignite exclusively partners with sponsors that follow rigorous investment criteria and use proprietary research to evaluate sector, market, and property strength, focused on post-GFC recession and post-pandemic demand drivers, including population and employment growth, migration trends, new household formation, education attainment, rent growth, tenant profiles and lease terms, financial projections, and geopolitical and macroeconomic considerations. While the return potential of a commercial real estate investment is undoubtedly a critical consideration, expected return is only one part of the equation.

Ask yourself, what risk am I taking to get this return?

Ignite prioritizes its investor partnerships and aims to empower its investors through education and exclusive access to sponsors with strong track records across market cycles.

 

The information contained herein is for informational and educational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities. The information contained herein is not intended to and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice, or recommendation of any services or products for sale and is not intended to provide a sufficient basis on which to make an investment decision. Any investment in securities involves a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors and you should consult with an expert before making investment decisions. The views or opinions expressed herein represent those of Ignite Investments, LLC (“Ignite”) or its affiliated sponsors at the time of publication. No assurance can be provided that any of the future events referenced herein (including but not limited to projected or estimated returns or performance results) will occur on the terms contemplated herein or at all. While the data contained herein has been prepared from information that Ignite believes to be reliable, Ignite does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of such information. Please see Terms & Conditions for full disclosures.​

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