The Lease Renewal That Changed Everything
The wealth you're giving up every month—and what your landlord hopes you never calculate.
Christine’s voice was tight, the kind of frustration that simmers just beneath fear.
“Paige, I just received a notice from my landlord and they’re renovating the entire building’s common areas. My triple nets are going up 150%. And they want me to renew with a 4% annual escalation on my base rent for the next five years.”
She’d been in her 1,500 square foot wellness practice for seven years, where the sound of the fountain in her waiting room had become part of her brand. Every treatment room, every peaceful corner, every carefully designed space—she’d invested over $175,000 creating the perfect environment for her clients.
The Renovation Power Play
Now her landlord wanted to “improve” the building. On her dime.
“What does this actually mean for my monthly payment?” she asked.
“Let’s run the real numbers,” I said. “But first, tell me—how much have you paid in rent over the last seven years?”
The pause told me everything.
“I’ve never added it all up.”
The Number That Stopped Her Cold
We calculated it together over the phone. Seven years of gross rent, including those “minor” 3% annual base escalations she’d absorbed without thinking.
$252,853.
That wasn’t just rent—it was like handing over the deed to someone else’s future, month by month.
“Wait, that’s... that’s a massive down payment on a beautiful house.”
But we weren’t done.
“Now let’s calculate the next five years with these new terms,” I said. “Your base rent with 4% annual escalations, plus the dramatic triple net increase.”
Year one: $48,750
Year two: $50,700
Year three: $52,725
Year four: $54,840
Year five: $57,031
Total gross rent? $264,046.
Combined with what she’d already paid?
A little over half a million dollars.
“Now Christine,” I said, “I know rent is a business expense. You’re writing it off. But after twelve years and half a million dollars, how is that money working to build YOUR wealth?”
“It’s not.”
“Right. Your landlord might give you a fresh coat of paint or new carpet every few years. But when you own? You give yourself the ability to grow your money, leverage equity to expand your business, even create passive income opportunities. That’s wealth-building.”
The Question That Changed Her Trajectory
“Christine,” I said carefully, knowing this would shift everything. “What if we explored purchasing instead?”
“I can’t afford to buy. I don’t have the down payment.”
“That’s what everyone thinks. But I’ve helped countless entrepreneurs find ways to access capital they didn’t know existed. You’re already affording $3,250 a month—rising to $4,050 with these new terms. Yes, rent is deductible, but so is mortgage interest and depreciation. The difference? With ownership, those same deductions work alongside equity growth to build your personal wealth.”
I’ve seen clients with less cash flow become owners.
Shoot, I once nearly walked away from a deal because I didn’t see the full picture at first glance.
Silence.
But this time it wasn’t frustration. It was revelation.
“Where would I even find a down payment though?”
“There are strategies most business owners never consider. When you know your numbers, you know your power.”
The Math Your Landlord Hopes You Never Do
Here’s what landlords count on: You’ll try to negotiate. They’ll say no. They’re betting you won’t move—the disruption to your practice, losing your buildout, starting over. They’re counting on the next tenant loving your second-generation space with all your improvements already in place.
They’re also banking on you never realizing that your current rent payment could qualify you for a mortgage.
That you won’t discover you’re already paying enough to be an owner, not a tenant.
What Changed When She Walked Away
Christine? She didn’t sign that renewal.
Today, three years later, she owns her practice space. She’s building personal wealth—steadily, month after month—as her equity compounds with every payment.
When she saw the equity number after three years of ownership, she gasped. ‘I can’t believe this is mine,’ she said.
And those triple nets?
While she still pays the pass-through expenses—real estate taxes, building insurance, and CAM—she now has a voice in how the common area maintenance is allocated and spent.
No more surprise renovations.
No more landlord’s investment strategies disguised as “improvements.”
She manages those decisions to avoid the costly surprises that used to wreck her budget.
Before You Sign Your Renewal
If you’re facing a lease renewal—or will be soon—stop.
👉Calculate what you’ve already paid.
👉Calculate the next five years with escalations.
👉Write down that total.
Then ask yourself:
Who is that money building wealth for?
Yes, rent is a business expense.
But it’s an expense that builds someone else’s empire, not yours.
When you know your numbers, you know your power.
And that power can transform your financial future.
The Rest of Christine’s Story
You know Christine walked away from that lease renewal and chose ownership. But what happened in those three years will change how you think about your rent payment forever.
The equity she built? That was just the beginning. The real transformation came from the confidence, control, and financial security that ownership delivered.
Wondering what Christine discovered when she ran her numbers after three years of ownership?
In Wise Moves “Goodbye Rent, Hello Ownership Part 1,” I reveal Christine’s complete transformation—exactly how she built $67,000 in equity in three years, plus my Down Payment Sourcing Worksheet and three action steps to start your own transition this week.
Join Wise Moves for $9/month
Get Christine’s Complete Strategy →
Ready to discover where your down payment might be hiding? You’re closer than you think.
Download my free guide: “Closer Than You Think: 5 Ways to Find the Cash for Your Commercial Property Down Payment” and discover the cash sources you didn’t know you already had.
As a CCIM with over 30 years and $750M+ in closed commercial real estate transactions, I’ve helped countless entrepreneurs like Christine make this transition. The math usually shocks them. The results always exceed their expectations.
With VentureWise love,
Paige 💛
Trusted by women entrepreneurs and CRE professionals closing seven- and eight-figure deals.
About Your Advisor, Paige:
Paige Coker Heiman, CCIM, helps women entrepreneurs use commercial real estate to build lasting financial security and the peace of mind to handle life. With $750M+ in deals and 30+ years of experience, she delivers proven strategies for stability, growth and freedom.
Where financial security meets peace of mind.🏦💛
Real advisory guidance. Real results.