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The Need-to-Know Guide: Commercial Real Estate Investing

Written by Ignite Funding | Jun 20, 2025 3:00:00 PM

When you're diving into something new, what's the first step? You Google it. Interested in cooking? You search “best recipes for beginners.” Want to learn how to knit? You type in “knitting tools and patterns.” From there, you're flooded with blogs, videos, and guides telling you exactly how to get started and what you’ll need. But what if you're curious about investing, not the usual stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, but something alternative, like commercial real estate? Where do you even begin? How do you know if it’s the right fit for you? And how can you be confident you’re making smart investment choices?

That’s exactly what this blog is designed to help with.

At Ignite Funding, we strive to make this process as easy as it can be for you to get started. This blog was created to provide you with a need-to-know guide on what commercial real estate investing is, how you can get started, and how you can implement this guide to learn about commercial real estate investment strategies.


 

What is commercial real estate?

Owning a house is considered residential real estate, but what about commercial real estate? Commercial real estate includes office buildings, shopping centers, retail stores, malls, warehouses, factories, apartment complexes, hotels, hospitals, schools; the list goes on. Basically, any property used for business purposes falls under commercial real estate. So, what is commercial real estate investing? It’s the process of purchasing, owning, leasing, or financing these types of properties to generate steady cash flow for you.

Ignite Funding offers a diverse selection of investment opportunities for our clients to choose from at any given time. Our open investments update in real time, so you will always be in the know of what investments are available or have closed (Funded Investments - Ignite Funding). Available investments are on a first-come, first-served basis, but don’t rush your decision-making! There are always more investments to come.

The Benefits of a Commercial Real Estate Investment

While it may not be as straightforward as investing in traditional stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, commercial real estate can offer significant benefits once you overcome the initial barrier to entry. So, what are the benefits, especially when it comes to investing with Ignite Funding? For starters, Ignite Funding offers a passive way to get involved in commercial real estate without the headaches of property ownership. And the advantages? There’s plenty to be excited about!

Returns – Investors will see a 10% to 12% annualized return on their investment. That is more money in your pocket.

Diversification – From the list of commercial real estate types I mentioned earlier, you can pick and choose where to allocate your funds using the available investments offered by Ignite Funding. This allows you to spread your investments and potentially achieve greater returns. We’ll explore more about diversification when we get into investment strategies.

Ease – Getting started with Ignite Funding is simple. It begins with an initial application form. But if you’re not quite ready to take that step, you can schedule a FREE consultation to find out if you qualify. It’s also a great opportunity to ask any questions you have about Ignite Funding and the available investment opportunities. Schedule your consultation here.

Acceleration- One thing we haven’t covered yet is the time frame. Most lenders focus on long-term investments, which might not suit everyone. But at Ignite Funding, we specialize in short-term loans, typically 9 to 18 months. That means you’ll see your money working for you and returned in a much shorter time frame.

Control – We do not tell you what you need to invest in. YOU get to choose where your money goes.

Flexibility – While you can invest in cash, many people may not have liquid cash lying around, but do not worry. You can invest with Ignite Funding using your business, IRA, or custodial accounts. These options make it more accessible to you to grow your portfolio.

Transparency - One key benefit of choosing Ignite Funding as your investment partner is our commitment to full transparency. Every quarter, we release our Loan Portfolio Performance Record, keeping you informed about the status of the loans and exactly what’s happening with your money.

These benefits come with investing through Ignite Funding, but it’s important to do your due diligence and make sure we’re the right fit for you. If not, no hard feelings! You can find all the information, and more about why Ignite Funding might be the right choice for you on our website: (The Reason People Invest with Ignite Funding).                                                                                                                                              

Commercial real estate investment strategies

We have already covered two strategies: diversification and due diligence. But what do they really mean? And are there more? Let’s start with diversification. You’ve probably heard the saying, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” The same idea applies to commercial real estate. It’s important not to concentrate all your investments in just one or two properties, or even just one geographical location. Like the traditional stock market, commercial real estate can be unpredictable. But there’s no need to worry, Ignite Funding will educate you on your investment options and help you understand what fits your strategy and risk tolerance. Ultimately, the decisions are always yours to make.              

Now, let’s talk about due diligence in commercial real estate. It all comes down to doing your research, no impulse buys. You wouldn’t walk into a dealership, close your eyes, spin around, and point at a random car in the lot, right? Don’t do that here either. As mentioned before, make sure Ignite Funding is the right fit for you. Next, carefully review the borrower’s history and the specifics of each loan. If an opportunity doesn’t feel right, explore our other investment options. We conduct thorough due diligence on every borrower and provide detailed investment overviews for each real estate loan to give you full transparency, so you can decide what’s best for you. Finally, consider the current political climate. How might the policies of the current administration impact your investments? Will they help or hinder your goals? While opinions may vary, what matters most is how these factors affect your individual investment strategy.         

How do you get started?

Now that there’s a solid understanding of what commercial real estate investing involves, the essentials needed, and the importance of due diligence, you are ready to move forward. Ignite Funding makes the process straightforward by offering a streamlined application designed to quickly determine eligibility. It starts with scheduling a consultation to discuss investment interests and goals. Once the application is submitted and approved, investors can begin selecting investments and start earning passive income.

For those interested in exploring this opportunity further, a free consultation is available here (Schedule A Consultation – Ignite Funding) to help take the first step into commercial real estate investing.

Wrapping it up

This information can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time investors. Many of our investors have experienced the same initial nervousness and hesitation about using their funds for commercial real estate. However, investing in this sector has the potential to provide a level of financial security previously unattainable. As investors continue to explore their options with IRAs or extra cash, gaining a clear and simple breakdown of what it takes to get started is essential.

Now that a foundational understanding has been established, the next step is to deepen that knowledge, much like advancing skills in cooking or knitting by trying new techniques and more challenging projects. For commercial real estate and trust-deed investments, this means diving into finer details and expanding expertise.

Helpful resources are available, including podcasts on the Ignite Funding YouTube channel (Media – Ignite Funding) and insightful blogs (Ignite Funding – Latest from the Blog), designed to elevate investment knowledge and confidence.

One key figure to watch is Carrie Cook, President of Ignite Funding. Beginning her journey in the marketing department, Carrie leveraged her knowledge of commercial real estate and trust deed investing to rise to leadership. Keep an eye out for live webinars featuring Carrie, where she shares her approach and mindset to support investors on their path to success.