Retail acquisitions using master lease / lease-to-own structures — broker perspective

[Naqi Taylor]

Curious to hear broker and principal perspectives on structured acquisitions in the commercial retail space.

In some transactions where buyer and seller are aligned on price, I’ve seen deals close using master lease or lease-to-own structures — essentially where the buyer operates the property and makes agreed payments while the purchase price and exit are locked upfront. These are often used to bridge timing, capital markets, or tax considerations, with broker commissions fully protected.

For those who’ve been involved in these types of retail deals, what tends to make them workable vs. difficult from a brokerage and seller standpoint? And are there particular seller profiles or retail assets where you’ve seen this structure work best?

Appreciate any insight — always helpful to hear from those with hands-on experience executing these.