Stability, Diversity, and Strength

An investment in Commercial Real Estate (CRE) is an investment in your future. For business owners, purchasing your building means building equity, paying yourself rent (rather than someone else), and stabilizing your expenses from year to year.

It’s taking control of your future for the sake of yourself and your business.

For investors and those who plan on having tenants, owning Commercial Real Estate is possessing something of concrete value. Potentially, it can produce passive income for years to come, a high rate of return, and an inheritance for your heirs.

Those who own property can leverage it throughout their Real Estate Lifecycle. Use its equity in future real estate investments; reinvest in your business; or fund your retirement!

Hilliker Corporation has been assisting entrepreneurs and investors with their Commercial Real Estate Purchases since 1986. And as St. Louis’s leading local brokerage, we’re positioned to help you make your next successful CRE investment.

Customizing Your Solution

At Hilliker Corporation, we match you to available property by learning about you first.

We start by discovering your goals. We ask:

• What will this property help you to do?
• How will it serve you or your business?
• What are your hopes and dreams for the next decade and beyond?

Business owner or investor, we’ll find out what you want to accomplish, what you can afford, and how much risk you’re comfortable with.

If your property is meant to hold a specific business, we’ll want to learn all we can about it. This includes what kind of space you’re looking for, where you need to be, and what amenities you value. Some of our discovery questions will include:

• Do you need heavy foot traffic?
• Where do you need to be located?
• Do you need to be near — or even visible from — a highway?
• What special equipment, storage (indoor or outdoor), or other industry-specific requirements will you or your tenants have?What does it need to look like?
• How much parking will you need?
• What sort of zoning will you require?

We’ll want to know what kind of space you’re looking for, and can help you evaluate your options if you’re not sure:

• Office
• Industrial and Manufacturing
• Warehouse
• Showroom
• Multi-Tenant Retail
• Institutional (School, Church, Governmental, or Health Care Organization)
• Multi-Family Residential
• NNN Retail
• Raw Land
• Sometimes the perfect fit is a blend of several of these.

Perhaps you have another property that you want to sell, rolling the proceeds forward into other investments. We can help you plan and execute a 1031 Exchange or a Reverse 1031 Exchange, allowing you to defer taxes and maximize your profits.

Finding property to purchase is a collaborative process, and Hilliker brokers become your right-hand advocate through it all.

The St. Louis real estate market is multifaceted and intricate, and our brokers know it intimately. Even when the kind of property you’re looking for might not be readily available, Hilliker brokers are determined and creative. We find opportunities where others might not think to look.

We rely on multiple channels to find great leads. First, we stay on top of all industry databases, but that’s not all. Each of us cultivates an extensive network of brokers, business owners, and real estate professionals. Individually, we serve and give to a variety of non-profit, governmental, and community-building organizations. We’re invested in St. Louis — we understand it and want to watch the region thrive.

Internally, each of us stays in constant communication with our fellow Hilliker brokers. We assist each other with our complementary experience and advice. We’re also able to help you fill out the rest of your real estate success team: Attorneys, CPAs, contractors, architects, lenders, and more.

Furthermore, we have an eye for quality buildings, land, and deals. We’ll lend our wisdom and experience to help guide you into a decision that works for you.

When You’ve Found “The One”

Once you’ve found the property that makes sense for you—your business, your goals, and your budget—Hilliker Corporation brokers will help you make a formal offer.

First, we’ll make sure you’re paying the right price for the property in question. The process is called “valuation,” and it’s a complex one. Since there is no plug-and-play formula for determining a property’s value, we rely on thorough research, collaboration, knowledge of the market, and intimate familiarity with the region.

If a property has tenants, you’ll need to evaluate them as well. As property management specialists, we can help you understand lease agreements, tenant creditworthiness, and the capitalization rate (rate of return on a property). Then, we can even help you manage your property to whatever level you desire—including finding a steady stream of quality tenants.

Finally, we get to work drawing up and negotiating the contract. When it comes to the hard work of lining out the details, Hilliker Brokers are smart and tough negotiators. But we also protect your reputation, endeavoring to find a way for all parties to walk away with a “win.”

Getting to Close

The space between a signed contract and “closed” can be a busy time. There are inspections to schedule, municipality and zoning requirements to satisfy, due diligence deadlines to meet, and sometimes even contractors to manage.

As your Commercial Real Estate broker, we act as the hub around which all this activity takes place. Though we can’t do it all, we help you stay on top of things. We’ll take care of as much of the process as we can. Then, we’ll let you know precisely what you’ll need to do, where you need to be, and when you’ll need to be there.
And though most transactions go smoothly, you have an ally when things don’t go according to plan. We’re willing to fight for you or alongside you when the going gets tough.

Your Commercial Real Estate Life Cycle

Every property purchase is part of a much larger picture. As your broker, we want to be there for you throughout your entire Real Estate Lifecycle.

Startup

For those making their first investment, Hilliker is a lifetime partner. When you start with us, you know you’ll have someone to grow with you as your goals, business, and life circumstances change.

Growth and Maturity

Perhaps you own property already and want to leverage what you have into a better investment or a more diverse portfolio. We’ll help you evaluate your options and create a plan for success.

Exit

Is it time to move out of your current investments and into something that will lead you through retirement? With our sister company, Westwood Net Lease Advisors, we can help you find Triple-Net (NNN) properties. NNNs require minimal time and effort, create a passive income, and can one day provide for your heirs.
Whether you’re buying your first property or you’re an experienced investor, you can count on your partners and advisors at Hilliker Corporation.