Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions commercial buyers, sellers, and investors ask most often when working with Ali Bolourchi across the Greater Toronto Area.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of commercial properties do you work with?

We help clients buy, sell, and lease multi-family apartment buildings, retail plazas, industrial and warehouse space, office buildings, land, farms, and businesses for sale across the Greater Toronto Area.

How does the buying and selling process work?

We start by understanding your investment goals, then handle everything from market analysis and property sourcing to negotiation, due diligence, and closing, keeping you informed and involved at every step.

What areas do you cover geographically?

We serve the entire Greater Toronto Area and York Region, including Toronto, North York, Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, Aurora, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville, and Georgina.

How are your fees structured?

As with most real estate transactions, our fees are commission-based and discussed upfront before any engagement begins, so there are no surprises along the way. Contact us for details specific to your transaction.

What makes you different from other commercial real estate brokers?

Ali Bolourchi has been in real estate since 2002 and full-time since 2005, bringing a data-driven, engineer's approach to pricing and timing, plus direct access to a trusted network of architects, mortgage brokers, and real estate lawyers.

How do buyers typically finance a commercial property purchase?

Most buyers use a commercial mortgage from a bank or credit union, though terms and down payment requirements vary a lot by property type and use. Ali works with a trusted network of mortgage brokers who specialize in commercial lending and can help you understand what you'll qualify for before you start shopping.

How long does a typical commercial deal take from offer to closing?

Most commercial deals take 60 to 120 days from accepted offer to closing, once you factor in due diligence, financing, and any required approvals. Land, farms, and businesses with more complex financials can take longer. Ali gives you a realistic timeline specific to your deal once you're under contract.

What's included when I buy an existing business, like a restaurant or convenience store?

It depends on the deal, but a business sale typically involves the lease assignment or a new lease, existing equipment and fixtures, and inventory, which is usually priced separately at closing. Some sales also include goodwill, meaning you're paying for an established customer base and reputation, not just the physical assets. Ali reviews the full asset list with you line by line before you commit.

How does zoning affect what I can do with a commercial property?

Zoning determines what a property can legally be used for, whether that's retail, industrial, multi-family, or agricultural, and it affects everything from renovations to adding a second use on site. Buying a property without confirming zoning matches your plans is one of the most common and costly mistakes in commercial real estate. Ali checks zoning and permitted uses with the municipality before you make an offer, not after.

Should I lease or buy commercial space for my business?

It comes down to your cash flow, how long you plan to operate at that location, and whether you want to build equity or stay flexible. Leasing preserves capital and makes it easier to relocate; buying locks in your occupancy cost and lets you benefit from any appreciation. Ali walks through the numbers on both paths so you decide with real data, not a guess.

I don't live in the GTA. Can you still help me buy or sell here?

Yes. A good share of our clients invest in the Greater Toronto Area and York Region from elsewhere, including from outside Canada. Ali handles property tours, inspections, and local logistics on your behalf, and coordinates with your lawyer and lender so you can complete a purchase without being on the ground for every step.

What documents should I prepare to sell my commercial property or business?

For a property, that typically means recent financials (rent roll and expenses for income properties), a current survey, and any environmental or building reports on hand. For a business sale, add two to three years of financial statements, an equipment and inventory list, and your current lease. Ali gives you a checklist specific to your property or business before you list.

What should I know before buying vacant land or a development site?

The value of vacant land comes down to what you're allowed to build on it, so zoning, official plan designations, and servicing (water, sewer, hydro) need to be confirmed before you offer, not assumed after. Development timelines through municipal approvals can also run much longer than a typical resale purchase. Ali works through these details with you and brings in architects or planners from his network when a deeper review is warranted.

What should I look at when buying an apartment building or income property?

The two numbers that matter most are net operating income, what the property earns after operating expenses before financing, and the cap rate, that income measured against the purchase price. Together they tell you how the property is actually performing, not just what the listing claims. Ali pulls the rent roll and expense history apart with you so you're pricing the deal on real numbers.

What's different about buying a power of sale property?

A power of sale is a property being sold by the lender after the owner defaulted on the mortgage, so it's typically sold as-is with less disclosure than a standard sale, often at a competitive price. That can mean real opportunity, but it also puts more due diligence on you since the seller isn't required to disclose defects the way a homeowner would. Ali walks clients through exactly what to verify before bidding on one.

What's unique about buying a farm property in this market?

Farm purchases involve considerations a typical commercial deal doesn't, like agricultural zoning, Greenbelt or Oak Ridges Moraine restrictions, water rights, and well or septic systems, plus supply-managed quota if the farm is operating. Buyers range from working farmers to investors holding land for the long term, and the right approach depends on which one you are. Ali has handled crop, livestock, and hobby farm transactions across York Region and can walk you through what applies to your property.

I've never bought commercial real estate before. Will you work with a first-time buyer?

Yes. It's a big part of what Ali does. He spends more time up front with first-time buyers explaining how commercial financing, due diligence, and closing differ from residential, so you're not learning those differences under deadline pressure mid-deal.

SERVICE AREA

Proudly Serving the Greater Toronto Area

Our deep roots in the Greater Toronto Area give us unparalleled insight into local market dynamics, zoning regulations, and emerging growth corridors. We cover the entire GTA and York Region.

  • Downtown Toronto

  • Richmond Hill

  • Markham

  • Vaughan

  • North York

  • Aurora & Newmarket

  • Whitchurch-Stouffville

  • Georgina & Keswick

Toronto, ON, Canada

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Meet Your Broker

Ali Bolourchi

BSC, MS, PSA, ABR®, REALTOR® Broker

REMAX® Your Community Realty, Brokerage*

416-886-2000

info@ali.realtor

Ali Bolourchi has been in real estate since 2002 and full-time since 2005, bringing a data-driven, engineer's approach to pricing and timing, plus direct access to a trusted network of architects, mortgage brokers, and real estate lawyers.

Ali Bolourchi, Broker, REMAX® Your Community Realty
Ali Bolourchi Real Estate Team, REMAX® Commercial and REMAX® Your Community Realty
In support of SickKids

Proud Member of

  • TRREB (Toronto Regional Real Estate Board)

  • CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association)

  • OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association)

  • CCC (Canadian Commercial Council of REALTORS®)

  • CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)

  • NAR (National Association of REALTORS®)

  • PSA (Certified Pricing Strategy Advisor)

  • ABR® (Accredited Buyer Representative)

  • AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America)

Office: 905-731-2000 | Mobile: 416-886-2000 | info@ali.realtor

Office: 8854 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C 0T4

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