5 Important Factors to Consider when Investing in Healthcare Real Estate

Healthcare is one of those industries that is on a never-ending upward trajectory around the world. Simply put, every country has a need for a better healthcare system and a greater number of top-quality medical institutions from a variety of fields within the medical profession. As a highly lucrative and ever-expanding industry, healthcare is one of the best industries to invest in in the real estate realm.

Whether you own a real estate business and want to make a long-term investment or if you have a team of medical professionals who are looking to buy a property and build a thriving medical practice, you need to know the key variables that are at play before signing on the dotted line. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five key factors you need to consider when looking to invest in healthcare real estate.

The pros of owning vs leasing medical real estate

Many medical professionals who are looking to open their own practice will first look into leasing a space instead of owning, and there are some wise reasons behind it. Firstly, leasing allows you to move fairly easily to a new location once the lease term is up, and it doesn’t incur the risks and responsibilities associated with ownership. However, over the long-term it can be overly expensive and wasteful. While you might be tempted to lease, any experienced real estate agent will tell you that buying is the best long-term option.

Owning medical real estate brings numerous advantages to the table, like avoiding the risks of elevated rent, which is bound to happen at some point. If you do your research and pick the right location, then you won’t have a need to move and will retain full ownership of the property so that you can build your brand’s reputation and visibility in the local market.

Conducting due diligence on the property

Of course, you shouldn’t invest in healthcare real estate without conducting thorough research and ensuring a comprehensive due diligence process. After all, this is a grand investment you’re about to make, so you have to make sure that all papers are in order and that there are no liabilities that might catch you off guard in the following months and years.

With that in mind, be sure to check the property’s tax history and make sure everything is in order. Next, check the property’s condition and assess the amount of work and investment capital needed to bring it up to code. Lastly, make sure that the property has a clear title by checking for any outstanding liens.

Purchasing a property with sustainability in mind

As an investor in such a competitive and oftentimes wasteful industry, one of your primary goals should be to ensure sustainability and eco-friendliness in order to minimize financial waste and build an appealing brand. After all, medical professionals want to work in a top-quality workspace, while modern patients want to enjoy their stay at their chosen institution.

You can start by considering the long-term potential for energy savings, and plan to install LED light fixtures like those made for clean rooms that serve a specific purpose while helping with energy conservation. Next, consider the equipment you’ll be using and how it helps conserve energy, as well as the potential of the property to be outfitted with sustainable materials.

Calculating and preparing for operating costs

All this talk about sustainability isn’t for naught, because it will help you minimize operating costs in the long run. In turn, this will allow you to plan your investment and allocate financial resources more efficiently. You might even be able to take out a smaller loan than you initially planned. Be sure to talk to your key players to assess all the costs and prepare your budget for procurement, maintenance, and even expansion in those first few crucial years.

Consider the market trends and locations

Choosing the right location for your medical practice, however big or small it may be, is crucial for your long-term success. On the one hand, the property needs to be accessible and close enough to make it worth the patient’s while to drive over, but it should also be far away enough from the competition so that you don’t have to compete with other clinics. Make sure to do extensive market research to find the ideal location, one that will facilitate long-term growth and help you build a recognizable and trustworthy brand in your local market.

Wrapping up

The healthcare industry is growing around the world, and it’s important that investors know how to choose the ideal properties to build their medical practices. Take these considerations to heart to find the best real estate opportunities in the healthcare sector.

About the author:  Mike Johnston is an avid blogging enthusiast and experienced freelance writer with a focus in real estate, home improvement, and the construction industry. He is a regular contributor to the Smooth Decorator blog.