Sell Your Commercial Building in Northern Virginia

You built a business in this building. We help you sell it for what it’s worth, to the buyer who values it most. Office, flex, industrial and office condo sales across Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William Counties.

$752M+

closed since 2019

$354/SF

near-record owner-user flex sale in Loudoun

commercial brokerage in Loudoun by volume

5 Years

Best of Loudoun Winner,
2022 to 2026

How do I sell a commercial building my business occupies?

You have three options. You can sell it vacant to another business, which usually brings the highest price because owner-users pay for space they can move into. You can sell it and lease it back, so you unlock your equity without moving. Or you can sell it with tenants in place as an investment. Serafin Real Estate, based in Leesburg, has sold owner-user buildings across Northern Virginia, including a $12.5M flex building in Sterling at a near-record $354 per square foot and a 270,000 SF industrial facility in Berryville for $14M.

Your buyer is a business, not just an investor

Most brokers price a building on its income. When a business owner is the likely buyer, four other things set the price.

The User Premium

A business that needs space will often pay more than an investor, because owning beats leasing for them over the long run.

Buyer Financing

Owner-users can buy with SBA 504 loans that need as little as 10% down. That widens the buyer pool and supports a higher price.

Occupancy and Timing

Whether you deliver the building vacant, leased or partly leased changes who buys it and what they pay.

Scarcity

Small and mid-size buildings for sale to users are rare in Loudoun and Fairfax, especially flex and industrial near Route 28.

Move out, stay put, or sell with tenants

The right sale depends on your plans for your business and what the building looks like today.

Sell it vacant to another business

Best for: owners who are relocating, retiring or consolidating.

We market the building to businesses that need space now. At 21205 Ridgetop Circle in Sterling, we found a local company displaced by data center redevelopment and sold the building for $12.5M, a near-record $354 per square foot.

Sell with tenants in place

Best for: owners whose building is partly leased.

A partly leased building can still sell to a user who takes the vacant space and keeps the rent. 351 Station Road in Berryville was about 53% leased, and we sold it to an owner-user for $14M.

Sell it and stay: the sale-leaseback

Best for: owners who want their equity but not a move.

You sell the building to an investor and sign a long-term lease to stay. At 10371 Central Park Drive in Manassas, a sale-leaseback with new 15-year NNN leases turned a hard-to-sell property into an $8.5M sale with multiple offers.

Who will pay the most for your building?

The same building can be worth very different amounts to a business owner and an investor. Here’s how each one looks at it.

	Owner-user buyer	Investor buyer
Who they are	A business that will occupy the building	A private investor, 1031 buyer or fund
What they pay for	Space they can use, location and control of their facility	Rental income, lease term and tenant strength
How they see vacancy	An advantage: room to move in	A risk: income they have to replace
Typical financing	SBA 504 or 7(a) loans, often 10% down	Conventional loans or 1031 exchange funds
Best fit for	Vacant or partly leased buildings	Fully leased buildings or sale-leasebacks

We price your building for both buyer types, then market it to the one likely to pay more.

Recent owner-user and industrial sales

A few of the building sales we can share.

“I tried to sell my very unique property in the past… I then listed the property with Serafin Real Estate and saw almost immediate traffic. Joe was able to sell my property when no one else could.”

Chris C., NVMS Inc

10371 Central Park Drive, Manassas

Who's buying commercial buildings in Northern Virginia

Owner-user buyers here are growing local businesses: contractors and trades, medical and dental practices, government contractors, and companies displaced as Loudoun’s flex parks turn into data centers. Leased buildings draw private investors, 1031 exchange buyers and family offices. We know both groups by name, which is why we can match your building to the buyer who values it most.

10%

down payment for owner-user buyers using SBA 504 loans

15 Yrs

NNN leaseback term in our Manassas sale

Building types we sell

Office buildings Office condos Medical office Flex Industrial and warehouse Retail buildings Mixed-use

Commercial building sales across Northern Virginia

Loudoun County

Flex, industrial and office

Ashburn, Leesburg, Sterling, South Riding, Aldie, Purcellville, Brambleton

Fairfax County

Office, flex and office condo

Chantilly, Herndon, Reston, Fairfax, Centreville, Clifton, Great Falls, McLean

Prince William Co.

Industrial and flex

Woodbridge, Manassas, Gainesville, Bristow, Haymarket, Lake Ridge

Also Serving

Beyond the 3 Counties

Arlington, Alexandria, Clarke County and Winchester

ABOUT THE BROKER

Joe Serafin

Owner and Principal Broker, Serafin Real Estate

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Joe has closed more than $1.3 billion in commercial real estate since 2005. He founded Serafin Real Estate in 2019 to focus on this region, selling owner-user buildings, investment properties and specialty assets for the business owners who built them. Joe serves on the MAREMA board and writes SRE’s quarterly Commercial Real Estate Report.

Frequently asked questions about selling a commercial building

1. Will I get more selling to a business owner or an investor?

It depends on whether the building is occupied. A vacant or mostly vacant building usually brings the most from an owner-user, who will pay a premium for space they can move into. A fully leased building is priced on its income, so investors set the price. We value your building both ways before deciding how to market it.

2. Can I sell my building and keep running my business there?

Yes. In a sale-leaseback, you sell the building to an investor and sign a long-term lease to stay. You unlock your equity without moving, and the investor buys a building with a committed tenant. Our Manassas sale-leaseback closed at $8.5M with 15-year NNN leases in place.

3. What is an SBA 504 loan, and why does it matter when I sell?

An SBA 504 loan lets a business buy the building it will occupy with as little as 10% down. The buyer must occupy at least 51% of an existing building. Because these buyers need less cash, more of them can compete for your property, which supports a stronger price.

4. Should I sell my building vacant or leased?

Vacant buildings appeal to owner-users and often sell for more per square foot. Leased buildings appeal to investors and sell on income. If your building is partly leased, a user can take the vacant space and keep the rent, as the buyer did at 351 Station Road in Berryville.

5. How long does it take to sell a commercial building?

Timing depends on the building and the buyer’s financing. Buyers using SBA loans typically need more time to close than cash or conventional buyers. We build your move-out or leaseback timeline into the contract so it works for your business.

6. Can I sell my building without my employees or customers knowing?

Yes. We can market your building confidentially, directly to qualified buyers under NDA, with no sign on the property and no public listing until you’re ready.

7. Do you sell office condos?

Yes. We sell office and medical office condos across Northern Virginia, including Leesburg, Chantilly and Ashburn. Condos follow the same playbook: priced for both users and investors, and marketed to the buyer likely to pay more.

8. What do I need to get ready before selling my building?

Gather your survey, any leases, two years of operating costs (taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance), and condo documents if it’s a condo. Note any recent roof, HVAC or parking lot work. A clean package keeps buyers confident and protects your price through closing.

Thinking about selling your building?

Start with a confidential conversation. We’ll tell you what your building is worth to a business owner and to an investor, and which path puts more money in your pocket. No obligation, and no sign on your building.

Or email Info@serafinre.com