Commercial Property Investor Podcast

When you are deep in the daily operations of managing and growing a property portfolio, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. In this episode, Jerry explains why he is taking a temporary, strategic pause from the weekly podcast to focus on restructuring his portfolio, progressing multiple new acquisitions, and shifting toward a private finance funding model. Taking a step back to evaluat...

Are you looking at commercial buy-to-let properties with a sitting tenant but feel unsure how to tell if it’s a genuinely sound investment or a financial trap? In this episode of the Commercial Property Investor Podcast, host Jerry Alexander breaks down the exact 11 point checklist he uses to evaluate traditional investment-grade commercial opportunities before spending money on solicitors a...

In commercial property, we are often told that success is about "doing deals." But what if the most profitable decision you make this year is the deal you decide not to do? In this episode, Jerry explores the often-overlooked concept of opportunity cost and why staying stuck in a mediocre project can prevent you from ever reaching your long-term goals. We discuss how to remove the emotional attach...

Why are we still using a 1970s playbook to solve 21st-century inflation? For years, property investors have been at the mercy of a "blunt instrument": central banks raising interest rates to crush demand every time inflation ticks up. But what if the problem isn't that we’re spending too much, but that we aren’t producing enough? In this episode, Jerry explores a significant shift in e...

When you start in commercial property, it is easy to have a very fixed idea of who your customers will be. You might think you are "buying an office" for "office tenants," but the reality is often much more varied, surprising, and flexible. In this episode, Jerry pulls back the curtain on the diverse range of customers that have used his buildings over the years - from global brands like Uber and...

If you listen to the news or scroll through social media, it’s easy to feel like the commercial property market is slowing down or that everyone is just waiting to see what happens next. But that doesn't reflect the reality of what’s happening on the ground. In this episode, I share a "check-in" on the deals recently completed by members of the CPI network. We move past the general mar...

Two people can walk down the exact same high street and see two completely different things. One sees empty units and a struggling economy; the other sees a shift in usage, emerging clusters, and a clear direction of travel. In this episode, Jerry explores why the high street is often misunderstood by those looking through an outdated lens. We move past the headlines about the "death of retail" to...

One of the biggest fears for residential investors moving into commercial property is the "horror story" of business rates. The idea of being liable for a significant bill regardless of whether your building is occupied or performing well is enough to put many people off the asset class entirely. In this episode, Jerry breaks down the 2026 Business Rates Revaluation to provide clarity on the curre...

 Are you stuck in a loop of podcasts, books, and webinars but still haven't made your next (or first) commercial move? In this episode, Jerry explores a recurring pattern from his recent strategy calls: investors sometimes don't lack information; they lack clarity. When you have too many options and no filter, every deal looks like an opportunity but it could actually be a big distraction. Je...

Scaling a property business requires more than just finding deals; it requires a repeatable system, a rock-solid reputation, and the ability to align your interests with high-net-worth clients. In this episode, Jerry is joined by Andy Babbayan, an investor with a truly unique background—from the British Army's bomb disposal unit to managing over 100 property projects in a single summer. Andy...

"I didn’t really know what the podcast was going to become". Six years and 364 episodes later, Jerry reflects on the journey from a nervous first recording with a single lapel mic to building a global community of commercial investors 🤯. In this special anniversary episode, we go back to the "why" behind the show. Whether you are a long-time listener or you've just discovered us, this is a...

Many property investors have access to plenty of information about commercial property. But despite that, many still feel stuck — unsure what strategy to follow, what deal to pursue, or what the right next step should be 🤯 In this episode of the Commercial Property Investor Podcast, Jerry reflects on a recent series of strategy calls with podcast listeners and shares the most common questio...

Heads of Terms is one of those phrases you’ll hear constantly in commercial property deals. Agents mention it. Solicitors refer to it. Investors talk about it. But what does it actually mean? In this episode, Jerry breaks down what Heads of Terms are, where they sit in the deal process, and why they’re such an important step before solicitors get involved. Whether you're buying a comme...

The ground is shifting in the commercial property world—not through one dramatic event, but through a series of subtle, steady undercurrents. In this episode, Jerry explores why the "Winner Takes All" dynamic isn't about the biggest institutions dominating the market, but about the investors who are agile enough to notice the moving sands. From evolving work patterns and demographic shifts t...

Why is it that two people can start with the same education, the same capital, and the same goals, yet twelve months later, one has a growing portfolio while the other is still "refining their criteria"? It turns out the difference isn't about intelligence or money—it's about the transition from the vague to the specific. In this episode, Jerry explores how "perfectly logical" preparation ca...

"I only have £50,000—what can I actually do with that?" This week, Jerry dives deep into a listener question from James, who asked for a realistic strategy for those who don't have a million-pound portfolio. For many, £50k represents years of restraint and saving, but it often carries a heavy weight of expectation that can lead to "analysis paralysis." In this episode, we challen...

Following our deep dive into industry data, we’re shifting gears from the "what" to the "how." In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on over two decades of hands-on experience to explore what happens when the pandemic-induced "demand shock" fades and storage starts behaving like a normal business again. If you’ve noticed that occupancy feels more "fragile," or that inquir...

In this episode, we step away from the extremes and take a cold, hard look at what is actually happening in the self-storage sector as we move through 2026. Following a fantastic start to the year and our recent Commercial Property fundamentals course, I’ve been reflecting on why some investors "get motoring" while others stay stuck in inertia. Often, that inertia comes from conflicting stor...

"The office is dead" makes for a great headline, but for the active investor, the reality is far more exciting. In Part 2 of our office series, we look at why the current "mismatch" between old buildings and new demand is creating the biggest investment opportunities in a generation. We break down the "active investor's game," explaining why solving specific building problems is more profitable th...

The headlines say the office is finished, but the reality on the ground tells a much more nuanced story. In the first of a two-part deep dive into the office sector, we move past the polarized "work-from-home vs. office" debate to look at how our relationship with space has fundamentally shifted. LEARN ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTALS: If you want to learn more about investing in Commercial Property, why no...

"The expert said no, so it must be impossible." If you’ve ever uttered those words, this episode is for you. After 20 years in commercial property investing, Jerry has learned a vital, sometimes expensive lesson: Professional advice is not gospel—it is an interpretation. While architects, accountants, and valuers are essential to your success, they view your project through the lens of...

Welcome to 2026! Today’s episode is a little different. There are no technical deep dives into yields or lease structures. Instead, we’re taking advantage of the "clean page" that New Year’s Day provides to have an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about the reality of building a commercial property business. In this episode, Jerry reflects on a transformative 2025—a y...

Merry Christmas! Whether you are listening to this on Christmas morning escaping the kitchen chaos, out for a festive walk, or catching up during that "blurred" week between Christmas and New Year, thank you for being here. In this special holiday episode, Jerry takes a break from the heavy technical deep dives to offer a moment of reflection. 2025 has been a "flat" year for many in the UK commerc...

Industrial property has long been the "boring" backbone of commercial investment—and that is exactly why it works. As we wrap up our deep-dive sector updates for 2025, we’re looking at the asset class that provides the space businesses genuinely need to function, regardless of economic fashion. In this episode, we move past the "Amazon-style" mega-warehouses to focus on what matters to...

This week, the tables are turned for our guest, Neil Munday, founder of the Sterling Business Podcast and a key property developer in Stirling, as Jerry catches up with him about his most ambitious project to date: the multi-faceted commercial redevelopment at 45 King Street. Neil shares the fascinating story of how he leveraged his extensive corporate background to tackle this complex, mixed-use...