Net Lease Investment Strategies Can Level the Bumps in the Economic Road

What a difference a few months can make. After a year of virtually no activity, vaccines are rolling out with greater frequency, the world is preparing to get back to their offices and the nation generally, the economy and the commercial real estate market specifically are all pivoting toward recovery. 

The fact that we have to pivot underscores the cyclical nature of economic issues. Most pundits are pointing to a full recovery next year, but investment goals still have to be met, and individual investors still have needs to fulfill, such as retirement and estate planning. This is especially true on the heels of this particular economic crisis, wherein (according to CNBC), nearly a third of all Americans decreased or stopped their retirement savings. 

We see single-tenant net lease investments as the bridge over those troubling questions (with a nod to Paul Simon), as the industry’s most consistent and reliable source of steady income.  The average lease term for the 11 industry verticals that we track is 11.6 years. That obviously can vary a bit quarter-to-quarter as we see with new listings coming to market.  But the overall impact is one of steady returns over the long haul. And all are creditworthy national and regional brands, the Dollar Generals, Walgreens and Taco Bells of the world, names that have proven their longstanding relationships with their customers through major economic swings, this latest one included.

The triple-net structure of these leases is another upside consideration tailor-made especially to the investor who prefers to let the property do the work. With tenants signing up to shoulder the burden of all related expenses (taxes, insurance, maintenance), the investor can retreat to a passive position and simply enjoy the rewards.

Are all net-lease investments the same? Of course not. The odd nature of now-retreating quarantine guidelines has put downward pressure on all retail performance. But quick service restaurants, especially those with drive throughs, are just one example of a net-lease tenant that remained relatively stable through the slowdown. Ditto dollar stores and pharmacies.

Obviously, there are miles to go before we fully recover (with another nod to Robert Frost). That said, smart investors can start planning now to let the proven performance of wisely chosen single-tenant net-lease deals fast-track the return of assets lost last year while simultaneously positioning them to ride the wave of the coming upcycle.