Buy Industrial & Warehouse Property in Southern California
How We Help Buyers
1. Define Your Criteria
We start by understanding exactly what you need — size, clear height, loading configuration, power requirements, yard space, zoning, location, and budget. Getting the criteria right upfront saves time and prevents you from touring properties that won't work.
2. Full Market Survey
We pull all available inventory across every relevant platform — CoStar, AIR, LoopNet, and our internal network — and filter it against your criteria. You receive a curated survey of properties that actually fit, not a raw data dump.
3. Off-Market and Pre-Market Outreach
Some of the best opportunities never hit the open market. We conduct direct outreach to property owners, tap our broker network, and leverage Lee & Associates' relationships across Southern California to surface properties that match your needs before they're widely available.
4. Property Tours and Analysis
We tour properties with you, evaluate each one against your criteria, and provide honest assessments — including red flags, functional deficiencies, and realistic cost-to-fix estimates where relevant. We help you avoid overpaying for a building with hidden issues.
5. Offer Strategy and Negotiation
We advise on pricing relative to comparable sales, structure your offer to be competitive without overpaying, and negotiate on your behalf through the full process — price, terms, contingencies, and close of escrow timeline.
6. Due Diligence and Close
We coordinate the due diligence process, help you understand what inspections and reports are needed, flag issues that warrant renegotiation, and work with escrow and title to get the transaction closed on time.
Who We Work With
Owner-Users
Businesses looking to purchase a building to operate from — whether relocating, expanding, or transitioning from leasing to owning. We help you find the right fit, evaluate the economics of buying versus leasing, and structure a competitive offer in a market where well-located owner-user buildings move quickly.
Investors
Buyers seeking leased industrial properties for income and long-term appreciation. We help investors evaluate cap rates, assess tenant credit and lease term, and identify value-add opportunities across the greater LA and Inland Empire markets.
1031 Exchange Buyers
If you're selling another property and need to identify and close on a replacement within IRS deadlines, timing is critical. We prioritize your search, move efficiently through the process, and coordinate with your qualified intermediary and tax advisor to help you meet your exchange timeline.
Out-of-Area Buyers
Buyers relocating to or investing in Southern California from other markets who need a local expert to navigate submarket dynamics, pricing, and deal structure. We provide the on-the-ground knowledge and relationships that out-of-area buyers can't replicate on their own.
Why the Southern California Industrial Market Requires Local Expertise
The greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire industrial market is one of the most active and competitive in the country. Values and vacancy rates vary significantly from submarket to submarket — a building in the South Bay carries very different pricing than one in the San Gabriel Valley or Inland Empire East. Functional specs that matter in one submarket may be less critical in another.
Beyond pricing, the deal dynamics here are competitive. Well-located owner-user buildings frequently receive multiple offers. Off-market opportunities require existing relationships to access. And the difference between a good deal and a costly mistake often comes down to submarket-specific knowledge that only comes from active, ongoing market participation.
We work these markets every day. That access and context is what we bring to every buyer engagement.
Our Coverage Area
We specialize in industrial real estate from the greater Los Angeles to the Inland Empire markets, including: Long Beach, Carson, Torrance, Gardena, Compton, Rancho Dominguez, Wilmington, Paramount, Santa Fe Springs, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Irwindale, Signal Hill, Pomona, City of Industry, and Ontario, serving surrounding submarkets including LA South Bay , LA Central, Mid-Counties, San Gabriel Valley, Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does buyer representation cost me anything?
In most commercial real estate transactions, the buyer's broker is compensated through the seller's commission. In practice, buyer representation is typically provided at no direct cost to you. We'll be upfront about how compensation works on any specific transaction.
How long does it take to find and close on an industrial property?
It depends on how specific your requirements are and how competitive the market is for your target size and location. A realistic timeline from beginning your search to close of escrow is typically 3 to 6 months, though it can move faster when the right property is available and both parties are motivated.
What's the difference between buying and leasing industrial space?
Buying builds equity, provides long-term cost certainty, and gives you full control over the space. Leasing preserves capital, offers flexibility, and keeps your options open if your space needs change. The right answer depends on your business's growth trajectory, available capital, and how long you plan to stay in the space. We can help you model both scenarios.
Can you help me find off-market properties?
Yes. Direct outreach to property owners and broker-to-broker networking are a core part of how we work. Some of the best opportunities we find for buyers are never publicly listed.
What size properties do you work with?
We work across the full size spectrum — from small owner-user buildings under 10,000 SF to large distribution facilities over 200,000 SF. We'll tell you upfront if a search falls outside our typical scope.
What should I look for when buying an industrial building?
The most important factors are clear height, loading configuration (dock-high vs. ground-level doors), electrical power, yard depth, zoning, and freeway access. Beyond the physical specs, lease status, environmental history, and deferred maintenance are critical due diligence items. We walk every buyer through what to evaluate and what questions to ask.
What is an SBA loan and can I use it to buy an industrial property?
The SBA 504 loan program is a common financing tool for owner-users purchasing commercial real estate. It allows qualified buyers to acquire a property with as little as 10% down, with favorable long-term fixed rates on a portion of the financing. We can connect you with lenders experienced in SBA 504 financing for industrial acquisitions.
I received an unsolicited offer on a property I own. Should I sell?
That's a separate question but a common one — and we're happy to help you evaluate it. We can provide a complimentary market valuation so you know whether the offer is at, above, or below market before you respond.
Start Your Property Search
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll put together a curated survey of available properties — listed and off-market — that match your criteria. No obligation, no pressure.
Contact Ron Mgrublian at Lee & Associates Los Angeles – Long Beach.
