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An investor is evaluating a multi-tenant retail property in Edmonton. The property has a weighted average lease term (WALT) of 2.3 years. How does this metric affect the property's value and marketability?

Correct Answer

B) A 2.3-year WALT raises turnover and income risk, typically meaning a higher cap rate (lower value), and may deter lenders and investors

Weighted average lease term (WALT) is a critical metric for commercial property investment analysis. A short WALT of 2.3 years means most leases expire soon, creating risk of tenant departure, downtime, and re-leasing costs. This uncertainty leads investors to demand a higher cap rate (reducing value), and lenders may be more cautious in financing. In Alberta's market, where retail can be affected by oil sector downturns, a short WALT amplifies risk.

Answer Options
A
A short WALT has no impact on value, because an appraiser capitalizes the current rent roll regardless of when the leases expire
B
A 2.3-year WALT raises turnover and income risk, typically meaning a higher cap rate (lower value), and may deter lenders and investors
C
A shorter WALT always increases property value, because expiring leases let the owner reset every rent to market sooner and capture the upside
D
WALT only matters for office properties, not retail, because retail value rests on sales volume rather than lease length

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Key Terms

WALTlease termtenant turnovercap rate
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