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Corner Lot Retail Storefront Opportunity
For Sale
$1,100,000

20904 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC 28031

Retail storefront on a premium corner lot on Catawba Avenue with strong downtown visibility.

Property Size2,567 SF
Price / SF$428.52
Days on Market172

Property Features for 20904 Catawba Avenue

General Information

Standard status Active
Size 2,567 SF
Property subtype Commercial

Site & Location

Highway Access Yes
Road Access Yes

Amenities

Attached Garage
Built-Up Roof
Concrete Flooring
Driveway
Level

Building Details

Year Built 1969
Listing Agency: DAEDALUS REALTY LLC
Listed By: JUDY SIMMONS
Source: Corcoran
Added: Mar 18 Changed: Sep 4 Last Checked: Sep 4 at 8:55AM

Displayed information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All listing content including descriptions, pricing, images are the copyrighted material of DAEDALUS REALTY LLC

Investment Insights

Based on property information with market context.

This retail storefront property is offered for sale on a premium corner lot along Catawba Avenue. The seller notes strong downtown visibility and positions the site for a wide range of retail and service concepts, including uses that may be approved by the city of Cornelius.

The property is described as being in the heart of Downtown Cornelius, just steps from active shops, cafés, restaurants, nightlife, Cornelius Elementary School, and the library. The remarks also cite proximity to the Cain Center for the Arts and quick access to I-77 (Exit 28), about a quarter mile away.

The seller lists possible uses pending approval of the city of Cornelius, including bicycle shop, coffee shop, brewery, restaurant, transmission shop, and muffler shop.

Key Highlights

  • Retail storefront on a premium corner lot along Catawba Avenue in downtown Cornelius.
  • Built in 1969.
  • About 0.25 miles to I‑77 (Exit 28) for quick highway access.

Financial Insights

Estimated NOI and Cap Rate

NOI = area × lease_rate × (100 − vacancy) / 100 × (1 − expense_ratio). Net Operating Income — what the owner takes home each year before mortgage payments and income tax. Effective rent (asking rent minus vacancy losses) minus operating costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance, management).
NOI / Yr
$31,439
Cap rate = NOI / list price × 100. Capitalization rate — annual return on a fully cash purchase, before financing. NOI divided by price. Higher means more income per dollar invested, but usually also more risk or older condition. 5–8% is typical for stabilized commercial property; double digits often signal distressed deals.
Cap Rate
2.86%
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality. Typical U.S. stable-market ranges: Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+) Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand) Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically) Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher) Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk) Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5% Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5% Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term Rules of thumb: Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%). Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C. Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI. Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$628,780 $628.8K
Cap Rate 7%
$449,129 $449.1K
Cap Rate 9%
$349,322 $349.3K
Market Conditions
NOI Build-Up for 2,567 SF Vacancy — income lost from leasable area expected to sit empty during the year, subtracted from gross rent. EGI (Effective Gross Income) — gross rent minus vacancy losses, the realistic income before paying operating costs. OpEx (Operating Expenses) — recurring costs to operate the property (property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance, management); excludes financing and capital improvements. NOI (Net Operating Income) — income a property generates after operating costs but before financing and taxes.
Gross rent
$46.2K $18.00/SF
− Vacancy
−$1.3K −$0.50/SF
EGI
$44.9K $17.50/SF
− OpEx
−$13.5K −$5.25/SF
NOI
$31.4K $12.25/SF
Area
Mecklenburg County, NC
Vacancy
2.80%
Lease Rate
$18.00 /SF/Yr
Expense Ratio
30.00%
Simulate Cap Rate and NOI
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality. Typical U.S. stable-market ranges: Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+) Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand) Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically) Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher) Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk) Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5% Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5% Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term Rules of thumb: Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%). Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C. Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI. Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$628,780
Cap Rate 7%
$449,129
Cap Rate 9%
$349,322

Alternative Uses

Best Use
Retail
$449.1K
$393.0K – $524.0K (±1% cap)
NOI $31,439 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 2.86%
Second Best
Industrial
$205.6K
$179.9K – $239.9K (±1% cap)
NOI $14,393 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 1.31%
Theoretical Best
Office A
$829.5K
$725.8K – $967.7K (±1% cap)
NOI $58,063 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 5.28%
Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with authorities.

Property Analytics

Current Use

Pro Steering & Automotive Auto Repair Shop

Suggested Use

Top Pick Law Firm Dental Office Parking Lot & Garage Grocery & Convenience Store HVAC Service Electrical Service

Score = modeled unmet demand for each use within ~1 mi (higher = bigger opportunity). Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with local authorities.

Lease Details

Yes
Highway access
Yes
Paved road access

Location Intelligence

Trade Area within ½ mile

981
Businesses Nearby
22k
Monthly Visits Nearby
Well-served
Demand for This Use

Foot Traffic Nearby

Groceries 100%
Food Lion Grocery Store Groceries
21,950 visits/mo 0.4 miles

Demographics for 28031, NC

30,836
Population
14,194
Households
2.2
Avg Household Size
43
Median Age
61%
College-Educated
97%
High-School Grad
14.0 sq mi
ZIP Area
2,203
Density / Sq Mi
$115,746
Median Household Income
$65,377
Median Earnings
$1,587
Median Rent
$497,400
Median Home Value

Market

Vacancy Rate% for Retail in South region

7% 2020
6.2% 2021
5.1% 2022
4.8% 2023
4.9% 2024
5.4% 2025
Rey
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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of property is this?
Auto shop - Retail storefront on a premium corner lot on Catawba Avenue with strong downtown visibility.
Where is this auto shop located?
The property is located at 20904 Catawba Avenue Cornelius, NC.
What is the asking price?
The asking price for this property is $1,100,000.
What are key features of this property?
This property features: Retail storefront on a premium corner lot along Catawba Avenue in downtown Cornelius.; Built in 1969.; About 0.25 miles to I‑77 (Exit 28) for quick highway access.
More about this property
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