Warehouse and industrial space from Denver to Weld County.

The short answer North of Denver, warehouse and industrial space for sale or lease is concentrated in Longmont and along the I-25 corridor through Frederick, Dacono and Firestone, with smaller buildings and flex in Erie, Lafayette and Broomfield. Choose by loading, clear height, power and yard first, then location. Business owners who occupy the building can often buy with an SBA 504 or 7(a) loan.

Goff CRE Group, brokered by Nassar Realty, represents businesses buying and leasing industrial, warehouse and flex property across Boulder County and southwest Weld County. Flex is where most of our experience is; if a smaller flex unit fits your use, our flex space guide is the place to start.

Buying a warehouse

Owning a warehouse fixes your occupancy cost, builds equity and ends the renewal cycle. It also puts the roof, paving, HVAC and property taxes on you. Things to work through before you make an offer:

• Fit. Will the building work for your operation today and in five years? Clear height, loading and power are expensive or impossible to change.
• Land. Excess land for a yard, parking or a future addition can matter as much as the building.
• Due diligence. Environmental review (a Phase I is common on industrial property), roof and systems inspection, survey, title and zoning confirmation.
• Financing. Owner-users often use SBA loans (below). Investors use conventional financing.

See our buyer representation page for how we run a purchase.

Leasing a warehouse

Most industrial leases are quoted triple net: base rent plus your share of taxes, insurance and common area costs. Compare options on the all-in monthly cost, and negotiate who pays for roof, HVAC and dock equipment repairs. Power upgrades, racking permits and office build-out belong in the letter of intent, not after it. Our tenant representation page explains how we run a lease search; in most leases the landlord pays the commission.

Can you rent a contractor yard or outdoor storage?

Contractor yards and industrial outdoor storage (a fenced lot for equipment, trailers, vehicles or materials, sometimes with a small building) are harder to find than buildings, because zoning restricts where they can go. Before you lease or buy one, check:

• Zoning. Whether outdoor storage is allowed by right, needs a special approval, or is not allowed at all on that parcel. Ask the town or county planning department directly; do not rely on the listing.
• Surfacing. Many jurisdictions require gravel, recycled asphalt or paving, plus dust and stormwater control. Heavy equipment needs a base that will hold it.
• Fencing and screening. Required height and type of fence, and whether stored items must be screened from the street.
• Access. Gate width, turning room for trailers, and whether the road and driveway can take heavy trucks year-round.
• Utilities and security. Power for lighting and cameras, and water if you wash equipment.

Where is industrial space along I-25 north of Denver?

I-25 is the main truck route north from Denver toward Fort Collins. Between Broomfield and Longmont it has interchanges at Highway 7 (exit 229), Erie Parkway (exit 232), Highway 52 (exit 235), Highway 119 (exit 240) and Highway 66 (exit 243). Users who need quick interstate access often look at Frederick, Dacono and Firestone along this stretch. Longmont, a few miles west, has the deepest industrial and flex inventory in our area. Erie and Lafayette have mostly smaller buildings and flex.

• Longmont: the largest pool of industrial and flex buildings nearby.
• Frederick: southwest Weld County, close to I-25.
• Erie: flex and light industrial near the Erie Municipal Airport.

What specs matter in a warehouse?

• Clear height. Usable height under the lowest obstruction. It decides how high you can rack. Industry guides commonly cite roughly 18 to 24 feet for light industrial and flex and 32 to 36 feet for large distribution buildings. See clear height.
• Docks vs grade-level doors. Dock-high doors load semi trailers at truck-bed height; grade-level doors let vans, box trucks and equipment drive in. Count what you need of each.
• Power. Amperage, voltage and three-phase availability. Manufacturing and some equipment need more than a typical warehouse has.
• Sprinklers. The fire sprinkler system limits how high and how densely you can store, and some commodities need a higher-rated system. Ask before you plan racking.
• Truck court. The paved area in front of the docks. It needs enough depth for trucks to back in and turn, and room for trailer parking if you need it.
• Office share, parking and yard. Enough office for your staff, parking for shifts, and fenced yard if your use needs it.

Can you buy a warehouse with an SBA loan?

Often, if your business will occupy it. For an existing building, the business generally must occupy at least 51% of the rentable space (60% for new construction). A typical SBA 504 loan is about 50% bank, 40% CDC and 10% down, with 15% down for startups or special-purpose properties and 20% if both apply. SBA 7(a) loans can also cover equipment, working capital or a business acquisition. Alex coordinates with your lender; he does not make loans. Rates and terms vary by lender, this is not a loan offer, and you should confirm details with your lender. More on SBA owner-user purchases.