Prime Soquel Village commercial property on 2 legal parcels with the long-term established tenant the US Postal Service offering stable income, making for an excellent investment. The facility includes 9 parking spaces on-site, with 2 handicapped spaces, an ADA access ramp, a rear loading dock, double pane windows, 3-phase power, and a brick exterior, and received $50,000+/- in major plumbing updates completed in March 2022.
The building is listed in the County Records as 2952 SF on two APN's: Parcel 030-153-25 (the main parking lot parcel, which totals 4,922 SF.) and Parcel 030-153-26 (the primary building parcel, which totals 9,017 SF.) for a combined total lot size of 13,939 SF. The current lease runs through August 31, 2025, at $65,422 GSI ($5,451.83 per month, or $1.95/SF) plus two 5-year options, with rent going to $71,964 in Sept 2025 ($5,997.02 per month, or $2.14/SF) and $79,160 in Sept 2030 ($6,596.72 per month, or $2.35/SF). It is also worth noting that the current lease only lists the building as having 2803 SF and references the 9,017 SF main parcel but not the parking lot parcel and the property adjoins public parking.
The property occupies an ideal mid-county location with high foot and car traffic to the front alongside the popular local shops and restaurants of Soquel Village, while also enjoying direct access to the tranquil picnic areas and creek-side footpaths and walkways of the Heart of Soquel Park to the rear. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the dual benefits of reliable rental income and the continued prospect of long-range appreciation.
At first glance an investor may note that the cap rate on this property is currently out of line with the cap rates on post offices in general these days given the recent rise in interest rates, however, the property has greater value as a long-range investment than most, due to the desirability of its location which is sought after by prospective business buyers and developers who prize its premium location and zoning.
For a point of reference, our recent listing of the nearly identical but vacant building that the Post Office used to occupy directly next door at 4746 Soquel Dr sold 2 years ago for a similar price per square foot to a real estate company that now occupies it as their central office of operations.
They chose it because of its immediate proximity to popular shops and restaurants of Soquel Village, with the county park and recently developed River Walk directly behind it which make it a desirable spot that will continue to grow in popularity as the adjacent properties like 4768 Soquel change their orientation over time away from the bustling activity of Soquel Drive to capitalize on the access to open parking and southward-facing views across the tranquil park and footpaths that invite the viewer to share in their natural beauty.
As for the current owners of 4768 Soquel, they have a low tax base in the property and are earning good income relative to their original investment so they are not motivated to sell if they don’t get close to their asking price, so they are inclined to live out the term of the existing lease which has two 5-year extensions, which essentially turns the investment into a land-banking play.
The investment is therefore being offered at a premium relative to its current Capitalization Rate based on the above additional factors.