FEATURED TOPICS
BREAKING DOWN THE FUTURE OF NNNs: PART 3: COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE
CAM: The Overlooked Power of NNN
In triple-net (NNN) leases, taxes and insurance usually get all the attention. They’re fixed, easy to model, and rarely spark debate. But the third leg—common area maintenance (CAM)—is where deals often gain or lose momentum.
Why CAM Matters:
• Transparency: Tenants can live with costs they understand. What they won’t accept are surprise bills or unclear definitions of what falls under CAM.
• Predictability: Smart landlords budget conservatively and cap annual increases. That stability is worth just as much as a competitive base rent.
• Value Creation: High-quality CAM isn’t just about mowing the lawn or changing filters. It’s about keeping tenants happy, improving renewal rates, and protecting the long-term value of the asset.
The Boulder Factor: In Boulder County, tenants are dissecting total occupancy costs more than ever. We’ve seen tenants walk from a deal over confusing CAM charges—and we’ve seen them sign on to slightly higher base rent because CAM was managed fairly and clearly spelled out.
The CrabtreeTeam Takeaway: CAM isn’t just a line item. It’s a landlord’s philosophy in action. Managed poorly, it erodes trust and drives turnover. Managed well, it becomes a competitive edge that keeps tenants in place and assets strong. The third leg of NNN isn’t an afterthought—it’s the lever that keeps the whole structure standing.
THE LESSON THE RIVER TAUGHT ME – By Scott Crabtree
The river doesn’t care about your plan.
A few weeks ago, I was rafting with my family and a few other families on the Main Salmon River for a week. We hit several rapids, including some class IVs, but nothing we hadn’t rowed before. Then we came to Big Mallard Rapid. We scouted it—no problem, I thought. I’ve got this move—until the river had a different plan.
We hit the line a bit too far left, the current pulled us into the wall, and suddenly we were scrambling to read the line, react fast, and stay upright—with an unplanned bump off the rock face.
I’ve learned this: you can’t muscle your way through a river, even if you’ve run it successfully many times before. You have to feel it. Read it. Respect it. And most of all—you have to listen.
Back at the office, sitting in a team meeting, it hit me: the same is true in commercial real estate.
Too many brokers try to force a deal downstream based on numbers alone. But that approach misses the flow beneath the surface—the client’s values, long-term goals, and unspoken needs. That’s where the real opportunity lives.
At CrabtreeTeam, we’ve built our approach around listening beyond the deal—what we call our 360-degree approach. We ask deeper questions, uncover unexpected value, and help clients navigate the whole journey—before, during, and long after closing. Real estate isn’t about force. It’s about flow. And we’ve learned how to read it.
WHAT WE’RE READING
COSTAR INSIGHT – In conversation: Capital markets expert discusses improving climate for office investment.
COSTAR INSIGHT – Commercial property executives say recovery has arrived. Five biggest real estate services firms raise outlooks int he same quarter for first time since 2020.
COSTAR INSIGHT – One year later: How Amazon opened the floodgates for the nation’s return-to-office push.
BOULDER NEWS
NEDERLAND SAYS IT’S BUYING ELDORA SKI RESORT
FEATURED LISTINGS
101 S. Taylor Ave | Flex / Office | $14,013,500 ($250/SF)
6101 Lookout Dr |INDUSTRIAL / FLEX |$12,680,000
6315 Monarch Park Pl |INDUSTRIAL / FLEX | $3,759,140 | $15.00/RSF NNN
6924 N 79th St | RETAIL |$1,193,253
3020 Carbon Pl |OFFICE | $902,650 | $22.00/RSF NNN
1855 S. 57th Ct | OFFICE | $24.00/RSF NNN
2555 30th St | DEALERSHIP |$30,000/Mo Gross
RECENTLY CLOSED DEALS
625 Main St • Louisville • SALE • Retail • $1.2M
1002 Griffith St • Louisville • SALE • Office • $545k
1351 Emery St • Longmont • SALE • Multi-Family • $515k
216-218 E. Saint Clair • Longmont • SALE • Multi-Family • $490k
1327 Emery St • Longmont • SALE • Multi-Family • $490k
1775 Cherry St • Louisville • LEASE • Office • 80,612 SF
2011 Cherry St • Louisville • LEASE • Industrial • 12,587 SF
1855 S. 57th Ct • Boulder • LEASE • Office • 9,124 SF
5455 Spine Rd • Boulder • LEASE • Industrial • 5,765 SF
1223 Pearl St • Boulder • LEASE • Retail • 3,553 SF
1855 S. 57th Ct • Boulder • LEASE • Office • 3,416 SF
6260 Lookout Rd • Boulder • LEASE• Office • 3,294 SF
1965 33rd St • Boulder • LEASE • Industrial • 3,239 SF
3390 Valmont Rd • Boulder • LEASE • Retail • 2,972 SF
734 Pearl St • Boulder • LEASE • Office • 2,970 SF
2206 Pearl St • Boulder • LEASE • Office • 2,681 SF
5455 Spine Rd • Boulder • LEASE • Office • 2,500 SF
1638 Pearl St • Boulder • LEASE • Retail • 2,500 SF
1926 14th St • Boulder • LEASE • Retail • 956 SF
CRABTREETEAM NEWS
As always, our team has been on the go all summer long! We kicked things off by getting the whole gang together for Kelly and Levi’s wedding back in May. Since then, the Crabtree family enjoyed their annual trip to Cape Cod along with an epic float on the Salmon river. The Crabtrees also welcomed a new member to the family – a super adorable English Cocker Spaniel named Hinckley!
The Nyiris took a family trip to Steamboat and have been soaking up their first summer with their daughter, Stevie. The Fields crew spent time in Georgia enjoying time with extended family. Since their wedding, the Stones have been doing lots of trail running, mountain biking, and climbing all around the Gunnison Valley.
Another summer has flown by and we are excited to see what fall has in store for us all.
