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Case Study: Office Building in a Post-COVID Market

13 minPRO
5/6

Key Takeaways

  • Post-COVID office investment requires honest assessment of structural demand changes, not cyclical recovery hopes.
  • Three strategic alternatives — hold, sell, convert — should be evaluated based on forward returns, not sunk costs.
  • Office-to-residential conversion can create significant value but requires specific building characteristics and development expertise.
  • Negative leverage (when borrowing costs exceed property yield) is a critical warning sign requiring immediate strategic action.
  • Capital preservation through a clean exit often outperforms throwing good money after bad in declining sectors.
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Test Your Knowledge

1.When a property's borrowing cost exceeds its yield, what is this called?

2.In the case study, why was the "hold and re-lease" strategy the weakest option?

3.What principle should guide forward-looking CRE decisions?