Economic Outlook on Non-Residential Permits in Niagara and Hamilton

Throughout the past few years there has been a whirlwind of growth in the non-residential sector with large projects such as LR Wilson Hall at McMaster University in Hamilton and the Outlet Collection and Meridian Centre in the Niagara Region. As a result of their completion, non-residential permits in Niagara and Hamilton were down 40% in 2014. The two regions aren’t the only part of the country...

Brownfield redevelopment opportunities in Niagara Falls

Image courtesy of the City of Niagara Falls Community Improvement Plans (CIP) provide a variety of financial incentive programs to encourage redevelopment in key areas. As part of an ongoing series, I will be assessing the CIPs of specific areas within the Greater Horseshoe. Today, I will be focusing on Brownfield sites in Niagara Falls.  Niagara Falls has a unique story in relation to...

The importance of conducting a financial analysis of an office lease

If you are searching for an office in the commercial office market in Niagara or Hamilton, one that makes the best sense for your business financially and operationally, you should be conducting a financial analysis of each lease proposal. Entering into a lease is a long term decision decision for your company and a financial analysis will allow you to have transparency and complete understanding of the...

New community improvement plan opportunities in St. Catharines

The City of St. Catharines recently released a new Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2015, replacing a previous plan which expired in late 2014. The new plan reflects a re-evaluation of the City and also includes a tailored improvement upon the former programs, as the previous CIP had been in effect for a decade and there has been significant commercial developments and redevelopments in the City...

A classify office buildings in the commercial office market into different classes

The Connaught Hotel from The National Post- current and proposed extension For many years downtown Hamilton has lived with an undesirable reputation, many Hamiltonians, including its oldest residents, have avoided the declined downtown area. The City has slowly been climbing back from the effects of a 2009 recession and as of spring 2015 the downtown core of Hamilton has moved into a new phase, one that...

Identifying the classification of commercial office buildings

When searching for a commercial real estate investment in Niagara and Hamilton, it is beneficial to have an understanding of the classifications of office buildings in the commercial office market. This will help you to properly identify your needs to your commercial real estate agent. Office buildings can be classified as either Class A, Class B, or Class C building. It is important to understand that...

The difference between usable and rentable square feet

When looking at commercial real estate in Niagara and Hamilton, you'll eventually encounter the question of usable or rentable square feet. If you're making a commercial investment, you know the value of income producing properties in the commercial real estate market and will be looking to expand your real estate portfolio. If you are not investing, you may be examining the commercial office market and...

Understanding commercial real estate metrics

Investing in commercial real estate can be a great way to balance your real estate portfolio, especially if you are more accustomed to buying residential properties. Investing in the commercial sector can be lucrative core investments. It can offer sustainable additional income and gives you a level of control in what you’re investing in. In order to understand commercial real estate investments, you...

A new solution for the Canadian Motor Speedway

Back in February, I addressed the current state of the Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS). The timing was perfect because on Monday March 9, 2015 there was a exciting update in the project. As I previously mentioned, the largest delay in the process has been establishing infrastructures and deciding you would be footing the bill. The solution to the issue of Bowen Road and the QEW may finally have been...

Finding the best location for a commercial investment

Now is the time for commercial investments, but how do you find the perfect community for commercial development? How can you tell which communities have the best commercial investment potential? When talking about real estate, “location, location, location” is true for both residential and commercial properties. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a location. Here are a few...

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