100 Episodes Later… It's My Turn in the Hot Seat! 30 Years of Commercial Property Unfiltered
100 Episodes Later… It's My Turn in the Hot Seat! 30 Years of Commercial Property Unfiltered The Commercial Property Podcast | Episode 100 | Suzi Carter MRICS 100 episodes! Who'd have thought it?! Well, this one's a little different. After 99 episodes of asking the questions, I'm finally the one in the hot seat! And we're not holding back. We're talking about the deals, the mistakes, the lessons learnt the hard way, the highs and lows of investing, and what more than 30 years and three property cycles have taught me about commercial property. But we're also talking about something much more personal. Why did I start investing in the first place? What was I really trying to achieve? And how did a career in commercial property turn into a mission to help other people change their lives? Because here's the thing. I didn't start investing because I wanted to own lots of buildings. I wanted a different life. I had a successful corporate career, a young family and a pretty clear picture of what I wanted my future to look like. More freedom. More choices. More time to do the things that mattered to me. Commercial property became the vehicle to help me get there. It certainly wasn't all plain sailing! I've seen markets boom and bust, made investments I'm proud of, learnt some expensive lessons and discovered that some of the best opportunities are the ones other people overlook. And now, having worked with hundreds of investors through The Commercial Property Academy, I've seen just how much can change when someone moves from feeling uncertain about commercial property to knowing what they're looking for, spotting opportunities and having the confidence to act. That's the part of my work I love most. So for this special 100th episode, we're going behind the scenes of my own journey, exploring what I've learnt about investing, business and life — and why I believe commercial property can be such a powerful way to create a different future. Whether you're a residential investor considering commercial, a successful professional or business owner wanting more choice in life, or an existing commercial investor looking to build a better portfolio, I hope there's something in this conversation that makes you think. And perhaps encourages you to take that next step. What We Get Into Why I really started investing in property The story behind my move from corporate life to building my own commercial property portfolio, the dream board that helped me get clear on what I wanted, and why having a compelling reason to invest matters more than simply wanting to make money. 30 years, three property cycles and some expensive lessons What I've learnt from investing through changing markets, why experience changes the way you see risk and opportunity, and why the deals that look most attractive aren't always the ones worth buying. Finding the opportunities other investors miss Why I look for properties with problems I can solve, how relationships and off-market opportunities can make a difference, and why understanding the occupational market is often more valuable than chasing the next apparently cheap deal. Buying well, creating value and thinking about the exit Why the purchase price matters, how I assess opportunities to add value, and the question I always want answered before buying: Who is going to buy this property from me afterwards? Why capable people sometimes struggle to get started I've worked with successful business owners, professionals and experienced residential investors who are more than capable of investing in commercial property — but still find themselves stuck. We explore what's holding them back and how knowledge, a clear strategy and the right support can change that. The power of asking 'Who?' instead of 'How?' One of the most useful shifts in business and investing: recognising that you don't need to know how to do everything yourself. You need to know how to find the right people, ask better questions and build a team around you. Why I created The Commercial Property Academy How my own motivation evolved into a mission to change lives through commercial property investing — and why seeing other people grow in confidence, make their first investments and create more choices for themselves and their families means so much to me. How I see today's commercial property market What three property cycles have taught me about market sentiment, uncertainty and opportunity — and why I believe the key is finding structurally sound markets where there are problems we can solve, rather than relying on the market to rise. My Biggest Message After 30 Years If there's one thing I hope comes across in this episode, it's this: Commercial property is not the end goal. It's what commercial property can make possible. For some people, that's replacing their income. For others, it's building wealth, leaving a corporate career, spending more time with family, or simply having the freedom to make different choices. There's no single version of success. But there are better and worse ways of investing, and getting the right knowledge, strategy and support can make an enormous difference. That's what I've spent the last 30 years learning — and what I now love helping other people do. A Special Gift to Celebrate 100 Episodes To mark this milestone, I've created a free guide: My 10 Most Important Commercial Property Lessons These are ten of the most important lessons I've learnt from over 30 years in commercial property and three property cycles. Not just theory. Practical insights from buying, managing and creating value in commercial property — including lessons learnt when things didn't go quite to plan! Inside, I share some of the principles that have shaped how I invest, assess opportunities, manage risk and make decisions. Download your free guide here: https://hub.commercialpropertyacademy.co.uk/podcast Want to Build Your Own Commercial Property Portfolio? If this episode has got you thinking about what commercial property could make possible for you, I'd love to help. Perhaps you're already a successful residential investor and want to diversify. Perhaps you've built a successful career or business but want your money to start working harder for you. Or perhaps you're already investing in commercial property and want to become a more confident, knowledgeable investor. Whatever your starting point, the important thing is developing a strategy that fits your objectives, understanding what makes a good investment and knowing how to find and assess opportunities. That's exactly what we help people do through The Commercial Property Academy. You can explore the training, community and mentoring available at: www.suzicarter.com And if you're not sure where to start, get in touch and tell us a little about what you're hoping to achieve. Finally, Thank You! 100 episodes is a milestone I'm enormously proud of, but it wouldn't mean nearly as much without you listening. Thank you for the messages, the questions, the feedback and for being part of this journey. Here's to the next 100 episodes, more great conversations and, most importantly, helping more people see what's possible through commercial property. If you've enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who might benefit from hearing it.
