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How to Catch a Commercial Real Estate Lifeline

Have you ever heard the story about the man who rows out to sea, jumps in the water, lets his boat float away, proclaiming "I am a man of faith. God will save me."?

A fisherman spots him treading water and throws him a lifeline. The man pushes it away and says, "No, thank  you. I am a man of faith. God will save me."  The fisherman shakes his head and calls the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard helicopter races to the man, lowers the recovery basket, drops a diver and waits.  The man pushes the basket and the diver away and proclaims, "I am a man of faith. God will save me."  The helicopter leaves, dropping a life jacket in the water, wishing the man luck. The man treads water, watches the life jacket float off, and then he drowns. He arrives in heaven, meets God, and says, "What's the deal? I'm a man of faith and you didn't save me."  God says, "Really? I sent you a fishing boat, Coast Guard helicopter, diver, basket, and a life jacket." Sometimes we spend time looking everywhere else for answers to our challenges except at what we already have in front of us.  When if you take stock at the tools you have, you may be surprised at how easily you may be able to solve your problems.

• For instance, if you're having cash flow problems, have you considered lowering your asking rents to stimulate demand for space in your building?

• If you're losing too much cash flow to the IRS every April 15, have you considered running a cost segregation study that may make you eligible to recapture the last 5 years of lost deductions?

• Or, if your bank is breathing down your neck about your pending loan maturity date, have you considered forming a joint venture to dilute your equity interest in your property or offering your bank participation in the future of the property?

Don't be a man of blind faith.  Sometimes everything you need is at your fingertips, waiting for you to take advantage and solve your dilemmas today. Got a dilemma? Email me with your issue at Jeremy@Mansardcre.com.  Include your name, email address, and a brief description of your situation.  I'll espond within 24 hours of reading your message with 3 solutions you can try today to solve your real estate situation. Get free weekly email updates of this blog. About the Author: Jeremy Cyrier, CCIM is the founder/principal of MANSARD Commercial Properties and member of the CCIM Institute faculty. He delivers thoughtful, large scale commercial real estate solutions to the individual challenges owners and tenants face. Jeremy Cyrier, CCIM was elected by Banker & Tradesman as one of its New Leaders in 2009. You may reach Jeremy at Jeremy@Mansardcre.com.