Entity vs. Asset Purchase: A Creative Commercial Real Estate Strategy
Sometimes the best commercial real estate deals aren’t found on LoopNet or the MLS. They come from thinking creatively — and knowing how to structure a transaction. In this session, Doc Haller introduces the idea of an entity purchase versus an asset purchase and shares a real-world case study that shows how powerful this approach can be.
Thinking Beyond the Ordinary
Most investors default to an asset purchase — buying the property itself and getting a new loan. But what if there’s a smarter path? An entity purchase means acquiring the company (corporation, LLC, or other entity) that already owns the property. Done right, this can create:
- Discounted purchase opportunities
- Immediate cash flow from existing leases
- Creative financing structures with reduced down payment requirements
The Real-World Case Study
Doc recounts how one of his mentees — brand new to commercial real estate — wanted to acquire a strong, cash-flowing office building. Doc:
- Connected with a trusted agent-attorney he’d worked with before.
- Leveraged a pocket listing opportunity (an informal agreement to sell off-market).
- Gathered the details: size, NOI, tenants, leases, asking price, and seller’s terms.
- Structured the deal as an entity purchase instead of a standard buy-and-finance.
This strategy opened the door for his mentee to secure a premium property without the typical hurdles.
Want to hear how the negotiation unfolded, step by step? Watch the full video above — Doc explains exactly how this creative deal came together.
Creative strategies like this are just one piece of the puzzle. Inside the Commercial Real Estate Class, Doc Haller shows you step by step how to find, fund, and structure deals of every type.
