Question regarding commercial real estate and expiring leases
I’m not involved in real estate, but didn’t know where else to post 

Are commercial real estate agents/companies allowed to share when a tenants lease expires?

I’m looking to launch a restaurant in my area and potential properties are continually off the market before they’re even listed. 

I’ve asked real estate groups how long do certain business have remaining and can’t get a straight answer. 

Just curious. Sorry if this is the wrong sub place or silly question. 

Thank you.
[{"id": "h1f9xcb", "text": "Generally an existing tenant will place a renewal clause in their lease (and all future leases will have similar renewal clauses). So properties may not go to market under those circumstances.    \n\n\nAre you working with a broker or tenant-side representation of any kind? Or are you hoping to lease up when a place comes to market?", "replies": [{"id": "h1fchvb", "text": "Ive not worked with a broker, which has probably been my biggest mistake to date. I find out about the epidermis after they\u2019ve already changed ownership.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h1falxk", "text": "Generally lease data is confidential, not shared unless the participants choose to share it.  Your best bet is to approach agents with your needs, and then when a property is about to become available they can match you up with it.  You will have to pay commission (although this is negotiable, and often paid by the property owner, not the tenant), but the alternative is the situation you've got now, where you're losing out on spaces because tenants working with agents are able to jump the line before you even know there is a line.", "replies": [{"id": "h1fcbnd", "text": "You hit it on the head. I\u2019ve spent the last year looking for spaces with no luck. I need to wrk with an agent. Thank you!", "replies": [{"id": "h1fyopm", "text": "As a commercial real estate broker I feel like I need to put emphasis on using a commercial agent. If they sell houses at all they probably aren't commercial and your interests would not be represented well. If there are strictly commercial brokerages operating in your market they would be the best place to start. Hopefully this is helpful.", "replies": [{"id": "h1gq3mx", "text": "I feel like the single biggest reason brokerage overall does not have the best reputation is from people utilizing resi agents who attempt to do commercial. I truly wish there was more of a push to make this greater public knowledge. If someone sells houses they will absolutely blow your commercial deal", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h1fbydq", "text": "The real estate brokers would only know the leases that they were involved in, and/or if they subscribe to some commercial database that might have semi correct information.\n\nMight have better luck just contacting the owner of the commercial property and asking them to contact you if/when the lease for the restaurant is up.", "replies": [{"id": "h1fcjqg", "text": "Thank you!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "h1fkbrv", "text": "As a leasing agent, if I'm working a property I know every single lease in and out regardless of whether I originally did the deal or not. If you're a listing broker and don't know the intricacies of all the leases in the center you're doing your client a disservice.", "replies": [{"id": "h2tb5k1", "text": "Might be based on location, when I work with leasing agents, I don't tell them all the details on my leases on site.   I assume they have market data and I might give them my price range that I find acceptable, depending on type of business, amount of TI's etc..", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h1fc02e", "text": "A broker isn't going to give you the info so you can go around them and go direct. You will need to work with a broker to help you find that type of information out OR you will need to hit the pavement and reach out to owners of restaurants directly.", "replies": [{"id": "h1fckyy", "text": "Thank you!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "iphf3q3", "text": "Horrible advice", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h1fc5us", "text": "Typically, brokers who know property owners or property managers find this information several months before leases terminate.  The other option is to ask the Tenant when their lease ends, and that's not a question Tenants answer.", "replies": [{"id": "h23iwzu", "text": "Thank you for sharing. I\u2019m going to start reaching out to commercial brokers.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h1fk67q", "text": "If there isn't an NDA in a lease there's nothing preventing a broker from telling you when a lease expires. They may actually even be incentivized to do so as getting the space leased again, or for higher rent/longer term means another payday for the broker.", "replies": [{"id": "h23iz1x", "text": "That\u2019s what I thought. I keep getting side eyes when I ask which surprised me.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h1frfu5", "text": "Work WITH an agent that knows the market you want. They likely know the off market and pre-market spaces and will save you time and money.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "h2db14b", "text": "Speaking as a retail commercial broker who specializes in restaurants - I recommend for you to find a retail broker who is active in the area. Have a solid business plan and financials ready to show you're serious. A busy retail broker generally don't like to waste time on new restaurant owners unless they have experience/serious and with the financials to support it.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]