What are the steps in an off-market sale?
- Private introduction. You contact the buyer directly (or respond to a discreet inquiry). No listing agreement, no exclusivity.
- Information exchange. You share the property basics, then the trailing-12-month financials and rent roll under discretion.
- Researched offer. The buyer values the property on its real income and presents an offer with the reasoning shown.
- Agreement and diligence. A standard purchase agreement is signed; title, inspection, and document review proceed quietly.
- Closing on your timeline. Escrow and title close the transaction the same way any sale closes. Tenants are informed at handoff.
When does an off-market sale make sense?
- You value privacy — tenants, staff, or partners shouldn't learn of a sale from a listing site.
- You want certainty and a known timeline instead of months of marketing.
- You'd rather keep the commission in the price.
- The property is inherited, part of a partnership change, or tied to a life event where a quiet exit matters.
- You're simplifying a portfolio and want a clean, direct transaction.
What are the honest trade-offs?
A public listing exposes the property to the widest pool of bidders, which can matter for trophy assets in hot markets. A private sale trades that breadth for speed, discretion, and certainty. Many owners find the difference smaller than expected once commissions, carrying costs during a long marketing period, and retrade risk are counted — but it is a real trade-off, and an honest buyer will say so.
Curious what a private, off-market offer looks like?
Tell us about the property and we'll follow up discreetly. No public listing, no commissions, no pressure — or text us at 202-932-7527.
Prefer the full overview first? Visit invest.simplysolvd.com
Frequently asked questions
- What does 'off market' actually mean?
- An off-market (or private) sale is one that never gets publicly listed. Instead of marketing the property through brokers, listing sites, and showings, the owner deals directly with a buyer. The transaction still closes through the normal channels — purchase agreement, title, escrow — it's the marketing stage that's skipped.
- Is an off-market sale legal and safe?
- Yes. There is no requirement to list a property publicly to sell it. The same protections apply as any real estate transaction: a written purchase agreement, title search, escrow, and closing through a title company or attorney. You can have your own attorney review everything.
- Why would an owner skip the broker process?
- Privacy, speed, and certainty. No tenants, employees, or competitors learn the property is for sale; there are no commissions (often 4–6% on commercial deals); no months of marketing and showings; and no retrading after a public process stalls. The trade-off is that you work with one buyer's offer instead of running an auction.
- How do I know a private offer is fair?
- Ask to see the math. A credible buyer values the property on its documented trailing-12-month income and current rent roll, and shows how the offer was reached. You can compare that against the cap-rate math yourself — see our valuation guide — and you're never obligated to accept.
- Who typically buys off-market commercial property?
- Private acquisitions groups, family offices, and experienced investors who want stabilized, income-producing property and are set up to move directly — with proof of funds, standard contracts, and a defined closing process.