How Deals Die at the Last Minute in Commercial Real Estate & How to Protect Yours

Most commercial real estate deals that fall apart don't die during negotiation. They die in the final week — during due diligence — when something surfaces that nobody caught earlier. In Episode 3 of Zoned Commercial, I walk you through everything that can kill your deal before closing — and exactly what to check, in what order, so you are never caught off guard. I am Roy Malkison — licensed realtor, loan officer, insurance agent, and business broker. I have seen deals unravel days before closing. This episode is the checklist I wish every buyer had from day one. In this episode we cover: — What due diligence actually means in commercial real estate — and how long you have — Title search and title insurance — what clouds on title look like and how they stop a closing — The environmental report (Phase One) — what triggers it, what it finds, and what happens when it does — Property inspection — the structural, mechanical, and system issues that kill deals — Survey issues — easements, encroachments, and boundary disputes — Zoning verification — confirming the property can legally do what you plan to use it for — Lease and tenant audit — estoppel certificates, rent rolls, and what tenants can hide — Financial document review — actual NOI vs. what was marketed — Lender re-underwriting — when the bank changes terms after the appraisal comes in — The top five deal killers and how to protect your earnest money when they hit