Episode 101 — Would I Buy a Vacant Commercial Property Right Now?

Would I buy a vacant commercial property in today's market?

Absolutely! But only if it's the right property, in the right location, at the right price.

Some of the best commercial property opportunities come from buildings that other investors overlook. But there's a big difference between buying a property with a problem you can solve and buying one with a problem that could cost you a fortune!

Just because a property is vacant doesn't mean it's an opportunity. And just because it...

100 Episodes Later… It's My Turn in the Hot Seat! 30 Years of Commercial Property Unfiltered

The Commercial Property Podcast | Episode 100 | Suzi Carter MRICS

100 episodes! Who'd have thought it?!

Well, this one's a little different.

After 99 episodes of asking the questions, I'm finally the one in the hot seat!

And we're not holding back.

We're talking about the deals, the mistakes, the lessons learnt the hard way, the highs and lows of investing, and what more than 30 years and three property cycles have taught me about commercial property.

But we...

Episode 99 – Buy Some Commercial Property Problems. Run a Mile From Others!

Some of the best commercial property investments have problems. But buy the wrong problem, and it could cost you a fortune.

Perhaps you've spotted a commercial property that's been sitting on the market for months. The rent is low, the building needs work or the tenant situation looks complicated.

Is that a fantastic investment opportunity that everyone else has overlooked? Or is there a very good reason nobody wants to buy it?

Knowing the difference is one of the most important skills yo...

Episode 98 – Want to Park Your Money in Commercial Property? Here's What I'd Buy

You've worked hard to build your wealth. But how do you make that money work for you without creating another full-time job?

Perhaps you've built a successful business and have capital sitting in the bank. Maybe you're tired of the demands of residential property investing. Or perhaps you already own commercial property, but you're at a stage where you'd rather enjoy the income than take on another refurbishment or asset management project.

You want your money to work harder. You want more ch...

Episode 97 – What REALLY Drives Property Performance? With Max Scott

What actually makes one property investment perform brilliantly over the long term while another struggles?

It isn't simply about buying at the right price or finding the highest yield.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter is joined by award-winning property investor Max Scott to explore the forces that really drive long-term property performance — and how understanding them can help investors make better decisions.

Max has completed more than £120 million of property deals, investing across commercial property, mixed-use, residential, HMOs...

Episode 96 – If I Had £100k and a Full-Time Job, Here's What I'd Do to Invest in Commercial Property

You've got £100,000 to invest, a demanding full-time job and an interest in commercial property. What should you actually do first?

Suzi understands that position from firsthand experience — because only 11 years ago, she was there herself.

She had a demanding corporate career, a young family and very little spare time, but she knew she wanted to build something that would eventually give her more financial freedom, more control over her time and more choice over how she lived her li...

Episode 95 – Business Rates and Empty Property: Problem or Opportunity?

Would business rates put you off buying an empty commercial property?

For many investors — particularly those moving from residential into commercial property — the thought of owning a vacant building with no rent coming in AND business rates to pay can be enough to make them walk away.

But should it?

Suzi Carter certainly isn't frightened of vacant commercial property. In fact, sometimes an empty property can be exactly where the opportunity lies.

The key is understanding why the property is vacant, what it cou...

Episode 94 – The High Street Is Dead. Offices Are Finished. Really?

"The high street is dead."

"Nobody wants offices anymore."

"Why would anyone invest in retail?"

Suzi heard comments very much like these while speaking about commercial property recently — and they got her thinking.

Because there are certainly high streets she wouldn't touch with a bargepole, and there are offices she wouldn't buy at almost any price.

But does that mean all high streets are dead? Or that all offices are finished?

Absolutely not.

In this epis...

Episode 93 – Stop Waiting to Feel Ready: How Commercial Property Investors Actually Get Started!

How long have you been thinking about investing in commercial property?

A few months?

A year?

Maybe longer?

If you keep telling yourself you need to learn a little more, understand the market better, wait for interest rates to change, find the perfect deal or simply feel more confident before you start…

This episode is for you.

Because after more than 30 years in property, Suzi Carter has learned something very important:

You will...

Episode 92 – Why Good Residential Investors Get Commercial Property Wrong!

You've successfully invested in residential property for years. You understand property, finance, tenants and how to create value.

So moving into commercial should be fairly straightforward… shouldn't it?

Not necessarily.

In fact, some of the instincts that make you a successful residential investor can lead you to make expensive mistakes in commercial property.

Because commercial property isn't simply residential property with a business tenant.

The rules are different.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter reve...

Episode 91 – Would Anyone Buy This Property From Me in Five Years?

You might have found a great commercial property. The numbers stack up, the tenant looks good and the yield is attractive.

But there's another question you need to ask before you buy:

Who is going to buy it from you when you want to get out?

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explains why some of the most important decisions about selling a commercial property should actually be made before you buy it.

Because your...

Episode 90 – What Would I Do With £250,000 Today?

If I had £250,000 to invest in commercial property today, what would I actually do with it?

But actually, the number is almost irrelevant.

Whether you have £100,000, £250,000 or £1 million to invest, the thought process should be exactly the same. And my answer probably isn't what you might expect.

I wouldn't start by looking for a property.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I explain exactly how I approach investing in today's commercial property market, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in the sector...

Episode 89 - New EPC Rules Explained: What Every Commercial Property Investor Needs to Know (with Jonathan Murton)

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations are changing, and they could have a significant impact on commercial property investors, landlords, developers and business owners over the coming years.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter is joined by EPC expert Jonathan Murton of Murton & Co to cut through the confusion surrounding the proposed Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), EPC ratings and the latest government proposals.

Together they discuss what the draft regulations could mean for commercial...

Episode 88 – Before You Buy Your Next Property… Ask Yourself This First

If you were starting your investment journey today, knowing everything you know now, would you build exactly the same portfolio?

It's a simple question, but after more than 30 years in commercial property, Suzi Carter believes it's one that every investor should ask themselves.

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi explores why the biggest investment decisions you'll ever make aren't necessarily about choosing your next property. They're about deciding whether your current investment strategy is still the right one for the...

Episode 87 - Thinking of Buying Commercial Property Overseas? Listen To This First

Have you ever been tempted by the idea of buying commercial property overseas?

Perhaps you've spotted what looks like an incredible deal, been attracted by higher headline yields or are considering diversifying your portfolio internationally. Investing overseas can be an excellent way to spread risk and uncover new opportunities, but only if you understand that commercial property doesn't work the same way in every country.

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explores the key differences between investing in commercial...

Episode 86 – Why Some Investors Spot Commercial Property Opportunities That Everyone Else Misses

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explains why the biggest advantage in commercial property investing isn't finding secret deals—it's learning to see opportunities that other investors simply overlook.

The most successful commercial property investors don't rely on luck or exclusive access to off-market properties. They understand the market. They understand businesses. They know how to interpret what's happening in the wider economy, identify changing supply and demand, and recognise the opportunities hiding in plain sight.

Drawing on o...

Episode 85 – What a Heatwave Can Teach You About Commercial Property Investing

What does a summer heatwave have to do with commercial property investing?

Quite a lot.

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, commercial property expert Suzi Carter explains why successful commercial property investors need to think beyond buildings and understand the external forces that shape tenant demand, property values and long-term investment performance.

Using the recent UK heatwave as an example, Suzi explores how weather, climate change, consumer behaviour, economic conditions and demographic trends can all influence the commercial pr...

Episode 84 – Sometimes the Best Investment Is the One You Don't Make!

How many times have you worried about missing out on a deal?

For many investors, the fear of missing an opportunity leads to rushed decisions, compromised due diligence and buying properties that simply don't fit their long-term strategy.

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explains why some of the most profitable investment decisions you'll ever make are the properties you choose not to buy.

Successful commercial property investing isn't about buying more buildings. It's about buying th...

Episode 83. One Property, Multiple Opportunities: How Title Splitting Can Transform a Deal – with James Lynch

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter is joined by property investor, and her long time client, James Lynch to explore one of the most powerful ways investors can unlock value from a commercial or mixed-use property: title splitting.

James shares how he went from getting started in property investing to scaling his portfolio rapidly, adding 55 units in just 16 months through a combination of creative thinking, strategic acquisitions, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious.

...

Episode 82: How Do I Know Whether It's a Good Deal? The Questions Every Commercial Property Investor Should Ask

One of the most common questions I hear from both new and experienced investors is simple:

"How do I know whether it's actually a good deal?"

The truth is that successful commercial property investing isn't about finding the perfect property. It's about understanding how to assess opportunities against your own investment goals and making decisions based on facts rather than emotion.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I share the practical...

Episode 81: The Great Commercial Property Wealth Transfer – Why the Next Decade Could Create Huge Opportunities for Investors

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explores one of the biggest trends currently shaping the UK commercial property market: what she calls The Great Commercial Property Wealth Transfer.

Across the UK, many long-term commercial property owners are reaching retirement age, refinancing pressures are increasing, and legislative changes are creating additional challenges for landlords. As a result, a growing number of commercial property assets are expected to change hands over the coming years.

For investors wh...

Episode 80 - The Truth About AI in Commercial Property Investing

In this episode of the The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explores the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in commercial property investing and shares a balanced, real-world perspective on where AI can genuinely add value — and where investors still need experience, judgment, and commercial awareness.

AI is becoming a huge talking point across almost every industry, and commercial property is no exception. From sourcing opportunities and analysing locations to identifying trends and improving efficiency, AI has the potential to help investors move faster and make more...

Episode 79 - The Art of Reading a Commercial Lease Without Feeling Overwhelmed

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter breaks down one of the most important — and often most intimidating — aspects of commercial property investing: understanding commercial leases.

For many investors moving from residential into commercial property, leases can initially feel overwhelming. The terminology, clauses, legal language, and sheer length of some agreements can put people off before they even get started. But the reality is that leases are one of the biggest drivers of value in commercial property investing.

In t...

Episode 78: The Most Profitable Commercial Deals Are Often the Least Instagrammable;
Why Experienced Investors Focus on Income, Leases, and Tenant Demand — Not Pretty Buildings

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explores one of the biggest mindset shifts investors must make when moving from residential into commercial property investing.

In residential property, social media is full of glossy refurbishments, luxury interiors, and dramatic before-and-after transformations. But in commercial property, some of the most profitable deals are often the least attractive on the surface. In fact, many experienced investors actively seek out buil...

Episode 77: Why Every Commercial Property Investor Must Watch the Bond Markets

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter explores why every commercial property investor should pay close attention to the bond markets — and in particular, UK gilt yields — when making investment decisions.

Suzi breaks down the relationship between bond markets, interest rates, investor sentiment, and commercial property pricing in a clear and practical way. She explains how rising or falling gilt yields can directly influence borrowing costs, commercial property yields, and ultimately the value of property assets across the market.

The...

Episode 76: Upward Only Rent Reviews Have Been Banned – So Where is the Opportunity?!

In this episode of the Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter breaks down one of the biggest proposed changes to commercial property leasing in decades — the Government's move to ban Upward Only Rent Reviews in certain commercial leases.

For many investors, this has triggered concern around valuations, lending, lease structures, and future income security. But as Suzi explains in this episode, periods of uncertainty and market change often create some of the greatest opportunities for knowledgeable commercial property investors.

Suzi...

Episode 75: Lease Renewals Explained – The Process, the Pitfalls and the Profit Opportunity

In this week's episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter dives into one of the most important — and often overlooked — areas of commercial property investing: lease renewals.

Many investors focus heavily on finding deals and buying assets, but what happens after purchase can be where serious value is protected, created, or lost. Lease renewals are a perfect example of this. Handled well, they can strengthen income, improve valuation, reduce risk, and make a property far more attractive to lenders and future buyers.

Suz...

Episode 74: Why Sentiment Governs Markets — And How You Can Use It to Your Advantage in Commercial Property Investing

In this week's episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I'm diving into something that most investors completely underestimate—but that quietly drives almost every decision made in the market: sentiment.

If you've ever wondered why markets feel irrational, why prices rise too far or fall too fast, or why the best opportunities often appear when everyone else is sitting on their hands, this episode will really help you join the dots. Because behind all the data, yields, and s...

Episode 73: The 7 Numbers Every Commercial Property Investor Must Know (and What They Actually Mean!)

In this week's episode, I'm breaking down what I believe are the seven key numbers every commercial property investor needs to understand if they want to assess deals properly and invest with confidence. Because the truth is, once you understand these numbers, commercial property becomes far more straightforward — and far less intimidating.

We go beyond just listing the metrics and really dig into what they actually mean in practice. From yield and how it reflects risk, through to passing rent versus ER...

Episode 72.The Window Is Open — But Not for Everyone: Who Should (and Shouldn't) Be Buying Commercial Property Right Now

There's a lot of noise in the market right now.

Global uncertainty, shifting sentiment, and headlines that can make even experienced investors pause. But if you've been listening to me for a while, you'll know this is exactly the kind of environment where real opportunity starts to emerge.

The key is understanding that this isn't a market for everyone.

In this episode, I'm sharing a grounded and strategic view of th...

Episode 71: See What Others Miss: How to Use the News to Spot Profitable Commercial Property Opportunities Before Everyone Else

In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most underrated skills in commercial property investing — the ability to spot opportunities before they become obvious.

Because the truth is, the best deals don't come from scrolling portals all day. They come from understanding what's happening in the world around you — and joining the dots faster than everyone else.

I'll walk you through how to use the news, market signals, and your own investor mindset to i...

Episode 70: Build It. Protect It. Keep It. — Wealth Strategies Every Investor Should Know With Kevin Whelan of Wealth Builders

In this episode, I'm joined by Kevin Whelan from Wealth Builders to talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention… not just how to build wealth, but how to protect it and, crucially, how to keep it in the family.

Because let's be honest—most investors focus heavily on making money, but far fewer have a clear plan for what happens next. And without that plan, a lot of that hard-earned wealth can slowly (or quickl...

Episode 69: Future-Proofing Your Commercial Property — AI, Automation and the Next Wave of Tenants

What will commercial property look like in five or ten years' time—and are you investing with that future in mind?

In this episode, Suzi Carter explores how AI, automation, and shifting working patterns are reshaping the types of tenants occupying commercial space—and what that means for investors today.

As technology continues to evolve at pace, some business models will thrive, while others may struggle to adapt. The key to long-term success in commercial property is not just buying well—b...

Episode 68: The Biggest Fears in Commercial Property Investing — And What Really Stops Investors Getting Started

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter tackles one of the biggest barriers that stops investors moving into commercial property — fear.

Many investors assume commercial property is more complicated, more expensive, or riskier than residential. But in reality, many of these concerns are based on myths or misunderstandings.

Drawing on over 30 years in the commercial property industry, Suzi breaks down the most common fears she hears from investors — particularly those transitioning from residential property — and explains h...

Episode 67: "I Don't Need to Develop… Really?!"

One of the questions I'm asked most often by residential investors moving into commercial property is this:

"Do I have to develop to make money in commercial?"

In this episode, Suzi Carter unpacks why the answer is usually no.

She shares practical insight into how experienced commercial investors reduce risk, create value, and grow income through smart buying and proactive asset management — without taking on unnecessary development risk.

This episode is all about understanding where value really comes from in commercial property, and how...

Episode 66: All Money Out Within 3 Months of Purchase: Client Case Study with Panikkos Euripides

How do you get all your money out of a commercial property deal just three months after purchase?

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter is joined by her client, Panikkos Euripides, who shares a real-life commercial property case study showing exactly how he structured his first investment deal to recycle all his capital quickly.

Coming from a background in commercial lease consultancy, Panikkos breaks down how his professional expertise, and working with Suzi, gave h...

Episode 65: The Commercial Investor's Guide to Tenant Conversations on Site

Before you buy a commercial property, there's one conversation too many investors skip — the conversation with the tenant.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter breaks down why tenant conversations are one of the most powerful (and underused) due-diligence tools available to commercial investors.

Suzi shares practical, real-world guidance on how to approach tenants confidently, build rapport without overstepping boundaries, and ask the right questions to uncover insights you won't find in the legal pack. These conversations can reveal t...

 Episode 64: How to Sense Check a Commercial Property Rent

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, Suzi Carter breaks down how to sense check commercial property rents with confidence—one of the most critical skills for any investor moving into commercial.

Suzi explains why rent is never "just a number" and how it's driven by tenant demand, property size, configuration, location, and affordability. She walks listeners through how to assess rental values properly, avoid overpaying, and use comparables and PropTech tools to support evidence-based decisions.

The episode also explores real-world negotiation strategies, current m...

Episode 63: Sale & Leaseback in Commercial Property – Smart Strategy or Costly Mistake?

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, commercial property expert Suzi Carter breaks down sale and leaseback transactions — a powerful but often misunderstood strategy in UK commercial property investing.

Sale and leasebacks can unlock capital for business owners without disrupting operations, while offering investors secure income, long leases, and reduced letting risk. But when executed poorly, they can quickly become an expensive mistake.

Suzi explains how sale and leaseback deals really work, why they appeal to SME investors and business owners, and the criti...

Episode 62: Starting With the End in Mind – How to Invest in Commercial Property Strategically

How do successful commercial property investors make better decisions, reduce risk, and build predictable income?
They don't start with the deal — they start with the end goal.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, commercial property investor and mentor Suzi Carter explains why strategic planning is the missing link for many investors transitioning from residential to commercial property.

Suzi breaks down what it really means to invest strategically in commercial real estate, why clarity on your finan...