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Your Trusted 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.

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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💰 CAM Fees Explained: How to Avoid Surprises in Your Commercial Lease 📉

📊 What Are CAM Charges? A Landlord & Tenant Guide to Commercial Leases 🏢

Commercial Real Estate

July 28, 2025•3 min read

📊 What Are CAM Charges? A Landlord & Tenant Guide to Commercial Leases 🏢

💰 CAM Fees Explained: How to Avoid Surprises in Your Commercial Lease 📉

🧾 CAM Charges Explained: What Every CRE Investor & Business Owner Should Know

When signing a commercial lease, one line item that often confuses tenants and even landlords is CAM charges. CAM, or Common Area Maintenance, refers to the shared expenses tenants pay to maintain the property’s communal areas — think landscaping, parking lot upkeep, exterior lighting, and building security.

Understanding CAM charges is essential for making smart leasing and investment decisions. Here's what you need to know.

💼 What Are CAM Charges?

CAM charges are part of what’s known as a triple net (NNN) lease, where tenants are responsible for their share of property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. CAM fees cover the ongoing costs of shared areas used by all tenants in a commercial building or center.

These areas may include:

· Parking lots

· Hallways & lobbies

· Elevators

· Landscaping & irrigation

· Security services

· HVAC and lighting systems (in common zones)

🧮 How Are CAM Charges Calculated?

CAM is typically divided pro rata — based on the tenant’s square footage relative to the total leasable space. For example, if a tenant occupies 2,000 SF of a 20,000 SF retail center, they’d owe 10% of the total CAM expenses.

Some leases are "fixed CAM" (predictable monthly charges), while others are "variable CAM", where tenants are billed actual costs each year — which can lead to sticker shock if budgets aren’t clear upfront.

⚠️ What to Watch for in CAM Agreements

Before signing your lease, review these elements carefully:

· CAM caps: Does the lease set an annual limit on increases?

· Admin fees: Are you being charged a management or overhead fee on top of CAM?

· Audit rights: Can you request receipts or breakdowns of how CAM fees were spent?

· Exclusions: Some costs, like capital improvements or repairs from natural disasters, should not be included in CAM.

🏢 For Landlords: CAM as a Revenue Tool

For property owners, well-structured CAM charges help recover operating expenses and boost NOI (Net Operating Income) — which directly impacts your property’s valuation.

However, transparency matters. Clear and fair CAM structures build long-term tenant trust and help avoid costly disputes or vacancies.

💡 Pro Tip for Tenants

Always ask for the prior year’s CAM reconciliation and budget projections for the upcoming year. Compare them to your proposed share of occupancy. A good broker or attorney can help spot red flags.

✅ Conclusion

Whether you’re a landlord looking to recover expenses or a business tenant planning your monthly occupancy cost, understanding CAM charges is key to negotiating better deals and protecting your bottom line. If you need help breaking down your lease terms or want to explore better options, our team at Viking Enterprise is here to help.

📞 Let’s decode your lease together.

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triple net leasecommercial lease termsCAM Chargescommon area maintenance feesNNN lease explainedCAM Reconcilliation

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.