What Investors Really Mean When They Ask for a “Preferred Return”
February 23, 2026
A Clear Definition A preferred return (often shortened to “pref”) is the minimum rate of return that investors are entitled to receive before the sponsor or operating partner participates in profits. It’s typically expressed as an annual percentage and applies to the investor’s contributed capital. In plain terms, it means the deal is structured so...
Emma CarpenterHow Zoning and Entitlements Impact Commercial Land Valuation
February 09, 2026
What Zoning Really Does (and Why It Matters) Zoning is straightforward in theory, but it becomes more nuanced once you start evaluating land value or development potential. At its core, zoning defines what uses are permitted on a property, but it also influences how efficiently a site can be developed and how the market evaluates risk. Where invest...
Emma Carpenter76-Acre Site Near Knightdale Sold for New Development
February 05, 2026
A 76-acre property in a prime location near Knightdale is set to become a new single-family neighborhood, adding more housing to a fast-growing part of eastern Wake County. The site at 5805 Grasshopper Road in Raleigh sold yesterday for $2.8 million and is located just off the outer loop. Pickett Sprouse Commercial Real Estate broker Vernon Averett...
Robyn MooringCommon Mistakes First-Time CRE Investors Make
February 02, 2026
1. Underestimating the Importance of Location and Market Dynamics In residential real estate, location matters—but in commercial real estate, it’s often the single most important factor driving performance. First-time investors sometimes focus too narrowly on the building itself: the price, the condition, or the projected return. What gets overlook...
Emma CarpenterCITEL Officially Closes on Former STIHL Facility in Hillsborough
January 12, 2026
Hillsborough, NC, January 12, 2026 – The sale of the former STIHL industrial facility at 315 Executive Court in Hillsborough’s Meadowlands Business Park officially closed Friday, January 9, marking a major milestone in CITEL’s relocation of its U.S. operations to Orange County. The 82,900-square-foot property was purchased by the global manufacture...
Robyn MooringWhen Is the Right Time to Move Your Online Store Into a Brick-and-Mortar?
September 02, 2025
1. You’ve Outgrown What E-Commerce Alone Can Do For many online businesses, the decision to go physical doesn’t stem from lagging performance—it stems from momentum. If you're hitting consistent monthly revenue goals, and you're seeing high engagement on social platforms or frequent customer questions about local pickup, you may be approaching a ce...
Emma CarpenterBeyond the Perc Test: Why Soil Studies Are Essential for Land in North Carolina
August 22, 2025
What Is a Perc Test (and Why It’s Outdated)? A traditional perc test involved digging a hole, filling it with water, and measuring how long it took to drain. If the water absorbed at an acceptable rate, the soil “passed,” meaning it could likely support a septic system. While this approach gave some insight, it was limited. Drainage speed alone do...
Emma CarpenterPickett Sprouse Broker Vernon Averett Recognized in CoStar Powerbroker Quarterly Deals Awards
August 05, 2025
Pickett Sprouse Commercial Real Estate is proud to announce that Broker Vernon Averett, CCIM has been recognized in the Q2 2025 CoStar Powerbroker Quarterly Deals Awards for his role in two high-profile transactions in the Raleigh/Durham market. Vernon served as the landlord representative in one of the quarter’s Top Retail Leasing Deals for his wo...
Robyn Mooring