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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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🧼🏢 The Car Wash Investment Boom: Bonus Depreciation, Sale-Leasebacks, and Why Buyers Are Racing In 🚀💸

🚗💰 Why Car Wash Properties Are One of the Hottest Commercial Investments Heading Into 2026 💦📈

Commercial Real Estate

January 26, 2026•3 min read

🚗💰 Why Car Wash Properties Are One of the Hottest Commercial Investments Heading Into 2026 💦📈

🧼🏢 The Car Wash Investment Boom: Bonus Depreciation, Sale-Leasebacks, and Why Buyers Are Racing In 🚀💸

U.S. Car Wash Properties: One of the Most Aggressively Pursued CRE Asset Classes of 2026

Car wash properties have quietly transformed from an operational business play into one of the most aggressively pursued commercial real estate niche asset classes heading into 2026. What is driving the surge is not hype—but a rare alignment of tax policy, limited supply, strong unit-level cash flow, and redevelopment optionality.

The result is rising transaction velocity, elevated pricing, and fierce competition for assets that historically traded infrequently.

Bonus Depreciation Has Supercharged Buyer Demand

The passage of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” reinstated 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying equipment, immediately expanding the buyer pool for car wash assets. Express car wash formats—with heavy concentrations of depreciable equipment—benefit disproportionately from this change.

For investors, this means:

·Significant front-loaded tax sheltering

·Improved after-tax returns

·Increased willingness to accept lower going-in yields

Unlike prior tax cycles, pricing has not compressed materially. Instead, competition has intensified, particularly for stabilized express washes with modern equipment.

Transaction Volume Accelerated in Late 2025

Industry sources estimate that U.S. car wash transaction volume reached roughly $350 million in the second half of 2025 alone, driven largely by:

·Sale-leaseback transactions

·Portfolio trades by expanding operators

·Strategic acquisitions of legacy sites for conversion

According to market participants such as Compass Commercial and SRS Real Estate, owners are not selling due to distress—but rather to capitalize on tax advantages while retaining operational control.

Los Angeles: The Extreme Case Study

Nowhere is the trend more pronounced than Los Angeles County, where car wash sites are trading at $1,000 to $1,900 per square foot, far exceeding average retail pricing.

Several structural forces drive this premium:

·Severe zoning restrictions on new car wash development

·Community opposition and environmental review hurdles

·Extremely high land costs

·Heavy car dependency and dense population patterns

Even older hand-wash facilities are commanding premium valuations when paired with redevelopment or conversion potential.

Operators, Investors, and Owner-Users Are All Competing

Strategic operators such as LUV Car Wash are actively acquiring legacy properties and converting them into high-throughput express formats, particularly in supply-constrained metros.

At the same time, buyer demand now includes:

·Passive net-lease investors

·SBA-backed owner-users

·Redevelopment-focused investors

Car wash sites offer income-in-place plus optionality, including:

·Retail pad redevelopment

·EV charging hubs

·Quick-service restaurant conversions

This flexibility supports valuations even in uncertain capital markets.

Signs of Maturation—and Why That’s Healthy

While fundamentals remain strong, the sector is not without risk. Rapid private-equity-funded expansion has strained weaker operators, highlighted by Zips Car Wash filing for Chapter 11 and shedding underperforming locations.

This does not signal sector weakness—it signals capital discipline returning. Strong operators with well-located assets continue to attract capital, while marginal locations are being repriced or repurposed.

Bottom Line for Investors and Business Owners

Car wash properties heading into early 2026 sit at the intersection of:

·Durable, service-based cash flow

·Highly favorable tax treatment

·Limited new supply

·Strong alternative-use value

Operational risk is rising for overleveraged platforms, but well-located express car wash sites in supply-constrained markets remain among the most competitive CRE assets available today.

For investors and owner-users alike, this is no longer just a business play—it is a strategic real estate allocation.

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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.