What You Need to Invest in Life Sciences Real Estate
There’s no denying that life sciences rule the world. From the study of microorganisms to plants, animals, and humans, it’s a lucrative business finding out what makes the world tick. And yet, not many people think of going beyond investing in research and development. For example, did you even know that life sciences real estate exists? This combines two very profitable industries, and you stand to make a lot of money if you invest in life sciences.
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How to Get into Real Estate Investing in Life Sciences
Keep reading to see what you need to get into real estate investing in the life sciences niche.
Research and Analysis
Before you make any type of investment, you must perform research and analysis first. Otherwise, you’ll go into things blindly, and it’s likely you’ll make some unwise choices.
For this type of real estate, you’ll want to find out the current and projected trends in the life sciences industry. If you can understand the demand for life sciences properties in your target location, then you can assess potential tenants or buyers too.
This might help you determine whether you should expand your search for real estate, as your local area may not be ideal. For instance, if there’s a science hub a few hours’ drive away, you might be better off investing there than in your hometown.
Evaluate the overall real estate market stability and growth potential in the region too. A stable market with favorable growth prospects will increase the value of your investment over time.
Location
We touched upon it earlier, but where you invest will matter significantly. Ideally, you’ll choose a strategic location with a strong life sciences ecosystem. Look for areas that are close to research institutions, universities, hospitals, and biotech clusters.
If you’re able to secure real estate in these hot spots, it’ll be easier to attract top-tier tenants. In addition, you can improve the property value too.
Infrastructure and Amenities
Life sciences properties have specialized needs for infrastructure and amenities. Think along the lines of flexible laboratory spaces, cleanrooms, and specialized HVAC systems. They’ll also need access to utilities, such as power, water, and waste disposal (they’ll likely require biological waste disposal as well).
When browsing properties, ensure that the ones you invest in meet the unique requirements of life sciences companies. If you’re used to investing in normal residential and commercial properties, then this will be a bit different.
Regulatory Compliance
The life sciences sector is heavily regulated, which means the properties you invest in must comply with all relevant regulations to a T. It can be beneficial to work with life sciences regulatory specialists here, as they can immediately tell you if a property is problematic, and what you’d have to do to rectify these issues.
Plus, these properties should have the necessary permits for the types of activities that’ll take place on the premises. If you aren’t sure what’s required, consulting with lawyers is a great start.
Risk Assessment
A vital part of smart investing is performing risk assessment, so don’t skip this step. Just because science is an industry that’ll never die out doesn’t necessarily mean any real estate you have will automatically be successful.
You’ll need to determine the risks associated with the life sciences industry you’re considering, in addition to the specific properties you’re looking at. Understand the potential challenges and how they could impact your investment.
It’s up to you to decide what financial gambles you’re willing to take. However, you should always understand your limitations before putting any money down.
Flexibility and Adaptability
If you’ve kept your ear to the ground, then you’ll know that life sciences often evolve rapidly. This means you should expect the companies to as well.
You don’t want tenants to outgrow your property quickly, so search for properties that offer flexibility for tenants to expand or adapt their spaces. That way, you’ll retain these clients as their research and development requirements change.
Tenant Profiles
Once you’ve bought a property, then the next logical step is to get it rented out or resold ASAP. It’s good to figure out which type of tenants you desire before you purchase the property so you can hit the ground running right away, but it’s ok if you do this after the sale goes through.
Identify potential tenants or buyers for the property. Look for established life sciences companies or startups with solid financials and growth prospects.
If you’re looking for stability for your investment, then consider long-term leases. Securing them with reputable companies is almost a sure way to ensure you have steady income for the foreseeable future.
Property Management
Investing and managing property on your own can be too much to handle for one person. Thankfully, there are plenty of property management companies that can lend a helping hand.
However, not many are experienced in maintaining life sciences properties, so make sure to screen them carefully. They need to be able to ensure that your property will be well-maintained and the tenants’ needs are met promptly.
Exit Strategy
Even if you’re not planning on selling the life science property anytime soon, you should have a clear exit strategy in mind before you make the investment. Think of it as a backup plan, as you never know when you’ll hit financial hardship.
Understand the potential resale value of the property and how you can liquidate your investment if needed.
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Start Investing in Life Sciences Real Estate
If it wasn’t on your radar before, then life sciences real estate should definitely be now.
It carries both opportunities and risks, so understand these things beforehand. Doing your due diligence and researching the market can also help. As long as you don’t make impulse decisions, you should have a positive experience.
Keep browsing our blog page if you want to know more about invest in life sciences.
