Buying a commercial property is exciting — but it’s also scary. What if you overpay? What if there are hidden costs waiting to bite you later?

In this episode, I share the two essential steps you must take before you commit to buying, so you can protect yourself from nasty surprises:

• ✅ Why you should always commission two valuations — one at market value and one at vacant possession.

• ✅ What a building survey really tells you (it’s not just about defects — it’s about who pays for them under the lease).

• ✅ Why spending up to £5,000 on due diligence can save you tens of thousands in the long run.
  

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to avoid overpaying and how to make sure you don’t get caught with unexpected bills.

We’re going Back to School at NC Real Estate with a brand-new 3-part live training series for commercial property investors:

Back to School: Finance, Tenant Demand & Systems for Commercial Property Investors

• 📌 Session 1: How to structure finance more creatively

• 📌 Session 2: How to prove tenant demand in any market

• 📌 Session 3: How to systemise your portfolio so it runs smoothly (without burning you out)
  

👉 Early Bird tickets are just £199 + VAT if you book before Wednesday 27th August. After that, the price rises to £299 + VAT.

🔔 Back to School Training — September 2025

Bridging finance, refinancing, and VAT are some of the most misunderstood areas in commercial property investment. Whether you are unsure about when to use bridging, how refinancing actually works, or why VAT is sometimes charged on commercial properties, this episode breaks it down in plain English.

By the end of the episode, you will have the clarity you need to make better decisions on your deals — and you will see why VAT is not as complicated as it first appears.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How bridging, refinancing, and VAT all fit together in structuring commercial property deals.

• What bridging finance is, when to use it, and the pros and cons.

• Why investors refinance, how lenders assess deals, and how refinancing links to bridging.

• When VAT applies on commercial property, whether tenants mind paying VAT on rent and service charges, and why VAT can actually be beneficial.

• How VAT registration works: the 40 business day timeline, who can register (individuals, SSAS, companies), and why registration applies only to the property rather than your entire portfolio.
  

Want to get on our newsletter list so that you hear about the September Back to School Masterclass series? Email [email protected] and we'll get you registered.

 On 7th August 2025, the Bank of England cut the base rate to 4% — a move that’s already sparking questions from commercial property investors. Prime yields often move in line with the base rate, and with yields tightening, is now the right time to buy… or should you wait?

In this episode of The Honest Property Investment Podcast, I break down:

• What the rate cut means for prime yields

• Why tighter yields can make deals more competitive

• How to approach investing when borrowing is cheaper but returns are slimmer

• The value-add strategies that still make sense in this market — including ESG upgrades
  

Whether you’re actively looking for your next deal or just keeping an eye on the market, this episode will help you decide how to position yourself for the months ahead.

Links & Resources:

• Book a strategy call
  

• Free investment calculator

  Take the quiz

One of the biggest fears I hear from commercial property investors is, "What happens if my tenant stops paying rent?" It’s a worrying situation, but there are clear steps you can take to protect yourself and your property.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly what to do if a tenant stops paying rent:

• The crucial first step you must take before you even contact the tenant.

• When (and how) to use forfeiture – and why timing matters so much.

• How the Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery (CRAR) process works and when it’s appropriate.

• Other legal and practical options for recovering arrears.

• Negotiation strategies that can help you protect long-term income and property value.

• How to reduce the risk of rent arrears in the future.
  

Whether you’re new to commercial property investment or have been at it for years, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to deal with rent arrears the right way.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Need help dealing with rent arrears? Book a call with me and my team at NC Real Estate – we’ll help you work out the best next steps.

Understanding the legal terms in commercial leases is essential for protecting your investment and avoiding costly surprises. In this episode of The Honest Property Investment Podcast, I break down the key sections of typical Heads of Terms and explain what each one means in plain English.

Whether you're negotiating your first commercial lease or adding to your portfolio, this episode will help you feel confident about what you’re agreeing to.

• What Heads of Terms are and why they matter in the leasing process

• The most important clauses you must understand before signing, including:

  • Rent, rent-free periods and rent reviews

  • Break clauses and how to use them effectively

  • Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) leases and what they mean for you

  • Permitted use and alteration clauses

  • Reinstatement and dilapidations obligations

• Which clauses could save (or cost) you money if you overlook them

• Take our free quiz: What Commercial Property Should You Buy Next?

• Book a call with the NC Real Estate team: ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall

At NC Real Estate, we help commercial property investors build high-performing, income-generating portfolios that have the potential to increase their value — without the overwhelm.

If you enjoyed this episode, please:

• Follow The Honest Property Investment Podcast so you never miss an episode

• Share it with another property investor who would find it useful

• Leave a 5-star review – it really helps others find the podcast

What You'll Learn in This EpisodeResources and Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAbout NC Real EstateHow You Can Support the Podcast

You’ve found a commercial property. The yield looks decent on paper. But… how do you actually know if it’s good enough?

In today’s episode, I’m answering one of the most frequently asked questions from commercial property investors: How do I know if the yield is good enough to justify the investment?

I’ll walk you through:

• What yield really tells you – and what it doesn’t

• What factors influence whether a yield is “good” or not

• What I compare it to when analysing deals

• Red flags to look for when yields look too good

• And how to decide if a property is really going to meet your goals
  

If you’re relying on yield alone to make your decision, this episode will help you avoid some very expensive mistakes.

🎧 Listen now to learn:

• How to calculate Gross and Net Initial Yield

• The real difference between a 6% and an 8% yield

• When a high yield signals opportunity… or trouble

• What I tell my clients when they ask the same question
  

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Use the NC Real Estate Investment Calculator to test your numbers

• New to commercial property? Start here: Getting Started With Commercial Property
  

Book a complimentary strategy call: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall

If you’ve ever found yourself Googling commercial property investment and ending up more confused than when you started — you’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m cutting through the noise and showing you what actually matters when investing in commercial property. I’ll walk you through the exact process I use with my clients to move them from feeling overwhelmed to confidently investing — no hype, no jargon, just straight-talking advice that works.

Here’s what I cover:

• Why there’s so much conflicting advice out there — and how to spot what’s worth listening to

• What really matters when you’re buying commercial property

• The 5-step method I use with clients to help them focus, take action, and invest with confidence

• Real client stories (like Luke and his industrial strategy) that show how getting clear leads to results
  

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 🎯 Take my free quiz Find out your next step on your commercial property investment journey: https://nextcommercialproperty.scoreapp.com/
  

• 📞 Book a free call with my team Want to invest confidently and know what to focus on? Let’s chat: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/book-a-call
  

• 🛠️ Explore my tools, podcast archive, and client resources https://ncrealestate.co.uk
  

• 📲 Follow me on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes insights and tips: https://www.instagram.com/ncrealestateltd/
  

• 💼 Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashacollinsncre/
  

If you enjoyed this episode...

Please rate, review, and share it with someone else who’s been stuck in the overwhelm. The more investors who find honest advice that works, the better our industry becomes.

Download the notes for this weeks podcast HERE

Access the What commercial property type to buy next quiz at ncrealestate.co.uk

Listen to Marks podcast episode HERE

What You’ll Learn:

• Why there’s no universal “best place” to invest—and how to find the right one for you

• How to align your strategy, goals, and property type with the right location

• Where to research local tenant demand and market trends

• Tools and techniques for identifying opportunities on and off market

In this week’s podcast, I discuss how to choose the right location for your next commercial investment, including what data to review, how to read market signals, and how to spot areas with strong occupier demand.

I'm sure you've seen the memes... this week I'm going through all the recession indicators I've seen in the commercial property market.

If you've seen any, I want them in the comments section please, the weirder the better!

This is a controversial topic... mainly because of the speed that you work at and what is going on in your home life.

This week I go through what works for me to create space in my life to continue to invest in commercial property.

If you would like help with this please book a call with my team HERE.