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Viking Enterprise LLC is part of eXp Commercial, an agent-led, cloud-based commercial real estate brokerage with agents across the globe.

Your Trusted Katy / Fulshear & Houston Commercial Real Estate Brokerage

Viking Enterprise LLC is part of eXp Commercial, an agent-led, cloud-based commercial real estate brokerage with agents across the globe.

Looking to invest, buy, sell or lease? We can help.

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Looking to invest, buy, sell or lease? We can help.

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eXp Commercial - Viking Enterprise Team's real estate network provides unparalleled commercial real estate services to Tenants and Landlords around the Katy- Houston area. Our knowledge, experience, and reputation sets us apart from many firms.

A commercial property owner might have various plans that would necessitate the services of a commercial real estate broker. Some of the common scenarios include:

1. Selling the Property: If the owner decides it’s time to sell the property, a commercial real estate broker can help determine the market value, market the property effectively, and negotiate with potential buyers to get the best possible price.

2. Leasing Space: For property owners looking to lease out part or all of their commercial space, a broker can help find suitable tenants, negotiate lease terms, and ensure the lease agreements meet all legal requirements and serve the owner’s best interests.

3. Acquiring More Properties: Owners looking to expand their portfolio would benefit from a broker's knowledge of the market, access to listings, and negotiation skills to secure additional properties at favorable terms.

4. Property Management: While not all brokers offer this service, some commercial real estate brokers or their affiliates offer property management services. This can be particularly appealing for owners who prefer a hands-off approach or are managing properties from a distance.

5. Market Analysis: Owners considering future developments, renovations, or rebranding of their property might engage a broker for a comprehensive market analysis. This helps in understanding current market trends, the demand for different types of spaces, and potential returns on investment for various strategies.

6. Refinancing: In situations where a property owner is looking to refinance their property, a commercial real estate broker can provide valuable insights into the property’s current market value, assist in gathering necessary documentation, and even help in finding the best financing options.

7. Partnership or Investment Opportunities: Owners interested in exploring partnerships, joint ventures, or seeking investors for expansion or development projects might use a broker to find and vet potential partners or investors.

8. Consulting on Zoning and Use Changes: When contemplating a change in the use of the property or dealing with zoning issues, a broker with experience in local regulations and the specific property type can provide guidance and strategic planning assistance.

9. Exit Strategy Planning: For owners looking to plan an exit strategy from their investment, whether it’s through a strategic sale or a gradual winding down of operations, brokers can provide market insights, timing advice, and valuation services to optimize the exit process.

In any of these scenarios, the expertise and services provided by a commercial real estate broker can save the property owner time and money, while also providing access to a wider network of potential buyers, tenants, and industry professionals. Give us a call today!

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🏠 Affordable Housing or Tax Loophole? The Truth About Harris County's $10M Loss 📉

🚨 Hidden Tax Breaks: How Landlords Profit While Harris County Loses Millions 💰

Commercial Real Estate

December 30, 2024•3 min read

🚨 Hidden Tax Breaks: How Landlords Profit While Harris County Loses Millions 💰

🏠 Affordable Housing or Tax Loophole? The Truth About Harris County's $10M Loss 📉

Imagine a promise: a system designed to bring affordable housing to our communities, ease the burdens of skyrocketing rents, and support those struggling to make ends meet. Now, imagine that promise manipulated into a loophole—one that funnels millions into the pockets of a select few, leaving local schools, police departments, and hospitals with the bill.

This is the reality Harris County faces as secret tax cuts for landlords strip over $10 million annually from local tax rolls. These deals—executed under the guise of affordable housing—are not just loopholes. They’re a betrayal of the very communities they were meant to uplift.

The Cost of Quiet Deals

In recent years, three far-flung Texas agencies have erased $635 million in property value from Harris County's tax base. Their tool? Public Facility Corporations (PFCs) and Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs), programs originally intended to promote affordable housing. Yet, instead of reducing rents meaningfully or addressing Houston's critical housing shortage, these programs have become a "get-rich-quick scheme," benefiting developers at taxpayers' expense.

Deals are made in secret. Landlords receive hefty tax exemptions—sometimes lasting up to 99 years—without any accountability to local governments or residents. Meanwhile, agencies in places like Cameron County collect fees reaching $1 million per project. The Houston Independent School District, law enforcement, and public health services lose vital funding year after year.

Who Really Benefits?

Affordable housing should prioritize people. But in these deals, it seems the primary beneficiaries are developers and outside agencies. A Houston developer, for example, used tax exemptions to increase the value of apartment complexes before flipping them for a $100 million profit. All this while rents in these "affordable" units saw little to no reduction.

Public officials like Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey have called out these practices, labeling them "disruptive and deplorable." And they're right—these agreements are designed to enrich a few while saddling local taxpayers with the cost.

A Growing Problem Across Texas

Harris County isn't alone in facing these challenges. Statewide, hundreds of such deals have been struck, exploiting vague laws to maximize profits. Marketing brochures even pitch these exemptions as a way to boost property values without reducing rents—undermining the very concept of affordable housing.

And yet, as millions of dollars flow into the hands of developers, the communities they claim to serve see little to no benefit.

Fighting Back

There is hope. Recent state legislation now bans PFC projects outside their sponsor agencies' boundaries, and lawmakers are pushing for similar restrictions on HFCs. However, these measures don’t address the long-term damage already done. Decades-long tax exemptions remain locked in, meaning communities will continue to bear the burden for years to come.

Local officials, like Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, are stepping up to investigate and take legal action against bad actors. But systemic reform is still urgently needed to ensure these programs truly serve their intended purpose.

A Call to Action

As residents of Harris County, we all have a stake in this issue. Affordable housing is not just a line item on a budget—it’s a foundation for thriving communities. We need programs that truly serve those in need, not schemes that exploit legal gray areas for profit.

If these loopholes aren’t closed, the consequences will only compound. Our schools, hospitals, and essential services will face further strain, and the dream of accessible housing will remain out of reach for many.

Let’s demand transparency. Let’s hold developers and agencies accountable. And let’s work toward real solutions that prioritize people over profit.

After all, the promise of affordable housing is too important to let it be broken.

What are your thoughts on this issue? How can we, as a community, push for meaningful change? Share your insights in the comments or reach out—we’d love to hear your voice.

I’m an experienced Commercial Real Estate Broker & Mortgage Broker, please feel free to reach me at 281-222-0433.

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Harris County Tax LoopholesPublic Facility Corporations (PFCs)Affordable HousingHousing Finance Corporations (HFCs)Houston DevelopersProperty tax exemptions

Bill Rapp, CRE Broker

I am a Houston commercial broker, with residential experience, as well as a lending background. I have been in the real estate industry for 14 years and counting, and I have worked in many roles within the industry and each has given me a unique perspective of the industry as a whole. My dedication to clients is rooted in this industry knowledge, but also includes my desire to go the extra mile in networking to source off market opportunities for my clients. Me and my team at eXp Commercial have a cutting-edge technology package that gets the widest exposure for each transaction. eXp Commercial offers a nationwide network through which we can deliver the best exposure and professional advice to achieve our clients’ goals while also minimizing their risk. Clients appreciate my methodical method of discovery in our initial consultation. Through which we can get to know each other and their specific’s business’s needs and objectives on a granular level. Our processes help navigate each transaction and its potential pitfalls through to a successful outcome for our clients. It is my stated goal to provide our clients with extensive market analysis and expertise that fosters innovative solutions and rewarding commercial real estate opportunities.

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eXp Commercial - Viking Enterprise team real estate network provides unparalleled commercial real estate services to Tenants and Landlords around the greater Katy & Houston MSA area. Our knowledge, experience, and reputation sets us apart from many firms.