Investing in commercial real estate is one of the best ways to invest extra capital while also building up business skills and relationships, but it’s also a tricky industry to master! Here are just a few tips to help out anyone who’s interested in the commercial real estate investing business:

• If you’re new to the industry, start out by talking with other real estate agents. Getting to know the local market — or whichever market you’re interested in — will help you feel more confident in the deals you make. You may also be able to get some tips for navigating the market, and some guidance to help you during the process of buying and selling real estate for the first few times.
• Don’t feel obligated to jump right in and start buying up property like crazy. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time to do your research first, because commercial real estate investments can be a bit expensive (and therefore, a bit risky). It’s best to start off slow and get a strong understanding of what the process is all about, rather than feeling pressured to compete with other big-time investors.
• Remember that commercial real estate investing is best done when you have plenty of business connections — and not just connections with other commercial real estate developers and investors, but connections with professionals in many industries throughout the community. Taking the time to network with others is an important investment, just like buying a piece of property!
• If you take a risk and it doesn’t turn out well, don’t be discouraged. There are always going to be rough patches and it happens to every investor. Keep in mind that markets constantly shift and that you’ll be able to earn back what you lost if you make careful decisions in the future.