Introducing Brevitas Property Tags: A New Way to Search by Asset Type Nationwide

05/16/2025

Platform Update

Commercial real estate investors often have very specific acquisition criteria – some seek net leased properties with particular tenants or asset types, regardless of location. Brevitas’s new Property Tags feature is designed for these buyers, brokers, and institutions. It allows you to instantly filter listings by specialized property type (from gas stations to flagged hotels) across the entire country. Whether you’re a 1031 exchange buyer chasing the security of a Walgreens lease or an institutional fund focused on quick-service restaurants, Property Tags streamline the discovery of exactly what you need. No more fumbling with keyword searches or wading through irrelevant listings – with a single click, you can pull up nationwide opportunities in your target niche. Below, we spotlight some of the featured tag categories – Gas Stations, Automotive, Cannabis, Flagged Hotels, Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR), and Pharmacies – explaining why each asset type is compelling and how Brevitas makes them easier than ever to find.

Gas Stations – Fueling Consistent Returns

Gas station properties combine essential fuel sales with convenience retail, making them a staple investment for many CRE buyers. These assets proved their resilience even during economic disruptions – deemed “essential businesses,” gas stations kept generating income when other retailers shuttered. Investors are drawn to the inherent demand drivers: Americans rely on gasoline for transportation, and convenience stores provide everyday needs from snacks to coffee. In fact, there are roughly 150,000 convenience stores nationwide (nearly 80% sell fuel), underscoring the ubiquity of this asset class. The steady vehicle traffic and inelastic fuel demand translate into reliable foot traffic and sales, which in turn support steady rental income for property owners. Gas stations also tend to include built-in rent escalations tied to inflation, preserving investor purchasing power as prices rise.

Lease structure: Most gas station deals are structured as long-term NNN (triple-net) leases or even absolute net leases. This means the tenant – often a major oil company, convenience store chain, or experienced franchisee – handles property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and sometimes even structural repairs. Landlords enjoy passive, bond-like income. It’s common to find 15- to 20-year initial terms with corporate guarantees from brands like Shell, 7-Eleven, or Wawa. Cap rates for gas station properties typically range from around 5% to 7% depending on the tenant’s credit and lease length, offering a slightly higher yield compared to other net-leased retail assets. Importantly, the buyer pool for gas station NNN assets has expanded in recent years as earlier environmental concerns have been mitigated. Modern double-walled fuel tanks and strict EPA regulations have greatly reduced the risk of leaks, alleviating the “underground storage” fears that once made some investors skittish. The result is a broadly appealing asset type: gas stations provide essential-service stability with minimal management, making them ideal for both private 1031 exchangers and yield-hungry institutional portfolios.

Automotive Properties – Riding on America’s Car Culture

Automotive real estate (such as auto parts stores, service centers, tire shops, and quick lube facilities) represents a thriving niche that’s closely tied to the nation’s car culture. With nearly 282 million vehicles on U.S. roads (and car ownership essential for 90% of Americans), the demand for maintenance, repairs, and parts is not going away anytime soon. Auto care is a massive industry – expected to approach $478 billion in annual revenue – which gives landlords confidence that tenants from this sector will have steady customer traffic. Perhaps most importantly, these businesses are largely e-commerce resistant: you can’t change your tires or get an oil change online. This makes automotive tenants like Firestone, Take 5 Oil Change, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone, etc., particularly attractive for investors seeking stability and “Amazon-proof” income. Even during economic downturns, people tend to keep their cars running, which helps auto-focused retailers and service centers maintain consistent sales. For net lease investors, automotive properties offer security through necessity-based demand and often strong corporate tenancy (for example, Firestone is backed by Bridgestone’s investment-grade credit).

Lease structure: Automotive retail properties are frequently sold on long-term triple-net leases. National auto parts chains and service centers typically sign 10- to 15-year NNN deals, often with renewals and periodic rent bumps. Many leases are “absolute NNN,” where the tenant handles all maintenance and even roof/structure obligations – truly hands-off for the owner. Tenants range from corporate-operated stores to franchisees, but in both cases the leases may carry guarantees from large companies (e.g., a tire shop backed by Bridgestone, or a car parts store backed by an S&P-rated corporation). An appealing aspect of this category is the relatively accessible price point: many single-tenant auto parts stores trade in the $1 to $3 million range. In fact, there are very few other investment-grade tenants available under $2 million, which means auto parts NNN deals attract a wide pool of private and 1031 exchange buyers. Cap rates for automotive properties can vary – top-credit leases in prime locations might sell at 5–6% yields, whereas smaller franchise-operated sites or short remaining terms could be in the 7–8% range. On a risk-adjusted basis, auto NNN assets often compare favorably to other retail segments and sometimes even trade at lower cap rates than comparable retail deals due to their durability. Overall, owning a service station or auto parts store offers investors long-term cash flow underpinned by America’s enduring reliance on cars.

Cannabis Properties – High-Growth Niche with Elevated Yields

Cannabis real estate has emerged as a specialty asset class in recent years, fueled by the wave of state-level legalization for medical and recreational marijuana. For investors with a more opportunistic appetite, properties like licensed dispensaries, cultivation facilities, and cannabis processing centers can offer unique benefits – and risks. The importance of this asset type lies in its explosive industry growth: even though cannabis remains federally restricted, the legal U.S. market is expanding rapidly as more states open up. Dispensary retail locations often enjoy very high sales per square foot (cannabis is a pricey product), and cultivation/production sites can be mission-critical facilities heavily customized for growing operations. This translates to tenants that are willing to sign longer leases and pay premium rents to secure real estate in approved zones. Cannabis properties also help diversify a portfolio, since their performance isn’t closely tied to traditional economic cycles or e-commerce competition (people must visit dispensaries in person in most cases due to regulations).

Lease structure: Most cannabis real estate opportunities come in the form of sale-leaseback deals or new development leases. An operator (such as a dispensary chain or multi-state operator) will sell the property to an investor and simultaneously sign a long-term NNN lease for 10 to 20 years. These leases are typically absolute triple-net, placing all property expenses and capital expenditures on the tenant – crucial because cannabis tenants often prefer to control their specialized facilities. Lease guarantees may be at the entity level (many tenants are not yet investment-grade rated), so investors rely on the tenant’s operating success and the high margins in cannabis sales. The investment appeal here is the higher cap rates and rent growth. To compensate for regulatory risk and limited traditional financing, cannabis properties tend to trade at significantly higher yields than comparable mainstream assets – it’s not uncommon to see cap rates in the high single digits or low teens. (For example, one recent New Jersey cultivation facility sold on a 15-year absolute NNN lease at a ~14% initial cap rate, far above typical retail yields.) According to industry analyses, cap rates in the cannabis sector were already relatively high and widened further in 2022 as interest rates rose, reflecting the perceived risk. For investors, the upside is a much higher cash-on-cash return and the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a fast-growing industry. Many institutional buyers are still on the sidelines (due to federal illegality), so agile private investors and specialty funds have less competition in this space. That said, cannabis properties require careful due diligence – including understanding local licensing, banking challenges, and tenant credit – but for those comfortable with the niche, the long-term triple-net leases and double-digit yields can be very compelling.

Flagged Hotels – Franchise Brands with Institutional Appeal

Flagged hotels refer to hotels operating under a major franchise brand or “flag,” such as Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn (IHG), Hyatt, Wyndham, and others. These properties are vital to many investors and lenders because the brand affiliation provides a level of quality assurance and built-in customer base that independent hotels might lack. In the hospitality world, flying a well-known flag means access to global reservation systems, loyalty rewards programs, and corporate marketing channels – all of which can significantly boost occupancy and revenue. From an investor’s standpoint, a flagged hotel offers the instant credibility and operational support of a proven model. Franchise flags also tend to command premium ADRs (average daily rates) and enjoy greater resilience in downturns; travelers often trust branded hotels for consistency and gravitate to them even when cutting back on spending. It’s no surprise that the majority of U.S. hotels are now part of franchise chains. (In fact, the prevalence of the franchise model has grown steadily – around 72% of hotels were franchised by 2023, up from 66% in 2012.) This dominance of flagged hotels speaks to their benefits: they balance the entrepreneurial ownership of real estate with the safety net of a big-brand platform.

Lease structure: Unlike the other property types on this list, hotels are an operating business as much as a real estate investment. Flagged hotels are typically not sold as passive NNN leases; instead, an investor buying a flagged hotel is purchasing the real estate along with (or subject to) a franchise license agreement. The hotel owner either self-operates or hires a third-party management company, all while adhering to the brand’s standards. There may be a long-term franchise contract (often 10-20 years, with fees paid to the brand), but the income to the owner comes from the hotel’s operating profits, not a fixed rent. This means higher involvement and risk, but also the potential for greater returns if the hotel performs well. Why pursue flagged hotels, then? For one, they can be financed more easily – banks and CMBS lenders look more favorably on Marriott or Hilton flags due to the built-in demand and professional frameworks. Investors also gain a competitive edge in the market; a flagged property can capture travelers via the brand’s reservation system on day one. From a returns perspective, a well-run franchised hotel can deliver strong cash flow, especially if acquired at a good cap rate or if the operator can improve performance. While cap rates for hotels aren’t directly comparable to NNN assets (since they’re based on operating income), investors often see higher yield potential commensurate with the higher risk and management required. In essence, flagged hotels offer a hybrid investment appeal: the upside of a business venture with the support of a national brand. They tend to attract institutional investors and experienced hotel operators who appreciate that a recognizable flag can significantly enhance a property’s value. For buyers on Brevitas, the Flagged Hotel tag will surface listings ranging from limited-service roadside hotels (e.g., a franchised Comfort Inn) to full-service upscale properties – all of which come with that crucial brand recognition factor. As a buyer, being able to filter directly for flagged hotels means you can quickly find opportunities that align with SBA financing requirements or portfolio brand strategies, without sifting through independent hotel listings.

Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR) – Recession-Resilient Income

Quick-service restaurants (QSR) – fast-food and fast-casual eateries – are one of the most sought-after categories in net lease investing. From burger and chicken franchises to coffee shops and pizza chains, these properties hold a special place in many investors’ portfolios. Why are QSR assets so important? First, the business model is highly resilient: people grab quick meals in any economic climate, and during downturns they often “trade down” from expensive dining to value-oriented fast food. In recent years QSR sales have continued to hit record highs, proving their durability even through recessions and pandemics. Additionally, QSR tenants are usually well-known national brands – think McDonald’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, etc. – which means strong corporate covenants and built-in consumer demand. Investors love having a recognizable logo on their building, as it signals stability and often draws higher property values. The typical price point of QSR net lease properties (often in the $1–5 million range) also aligns perfectly with 1031 exchange buyers and private investors looking for manageable deals. As a result, demand for net-leased QSR properties is intense – these deals are frequently compared to bonds due to their reliability. In fact, industry research shows that QSR cap rates have stayed very compressed: averaging around 5.4% in recent data, which is roughly 60+ basis points lower than the single-tenant net lease market as a whole. That premium pricing reflects how coveted these assets are.

Lease structure: QSR properties almost always come with long-term NNN leases (or ground leases) that make for ultra-passive ownership. Major franchise operators and corporate restaurant entities commonly sign initial leases of 15 to 20 years, often with extension options that can extend occupancy for decades. These leases are frequently absolute NNN – the tenant is responsible for all expenses, maintenance, and repairs, down to the parking lot and HVAC. For the landlord, this means “coupon-clipper” income: just receive rent checks and monitor the tenant’s financial health. Many QSR leases also include regular rent escalations (e.g. 1-2% annually or 5-10% every five years), providing a built-in growth to the income stream. The tenants themselves range from corporate-operated units (in cases like Starbucks or Chick-fil-A) to franchisee entities (often large multi-unit franchisees backed by the franchisor’s guarantee). In either scenario, the leases often carry strong credit support. It’s not uncommon for a fast-food property to have a reliable, creditworthy tenant and an effortless monthly income stream – hence the reputation of QSR NNN deals as “mailbox money.” For investors, the appeal is clear: QSR tags on Brevitas will surface opportunities where you can become the landlord to America’s most popular restaurant brands, locking in long-term cash flow that’s largely indifferent to economic swings. These assets are particularly favored by 1031 exchangers who are swapping out of management-heavy properties (like apartments or offices) into something as simple as collecting rent from a Taco Bell. Thanks to Property Tags, a buyer can now filter specifically for “Quick Serve Restaurant” listings on Brevitas and immediately see dozens of offerings nationwide – from newly built drive-thru locations in growing suburbs to established franchise locations in high-traffic corridors. It’s never been easier to pinpoint the exact QSR investment that suits your portfolio.

Pharmacies – Essential Retail with Long-Term Tenants

Pharmacy properties (drugstores) have long been considered a bedrock of net lease real estate. These include free-standing Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, and other regional pharmacy chains or medical dispensaries. The importance of this asset type to investors lies in its defensive, necessity-based nature. Pharmacies are an essential part of the healthcare delivery system – they dispense medications, vaccines, and everyday health supplies that communities rely on regardless of economic conditions. The country’s aging demographics and high rate of prescription drug usage (over 60% of Americans take at least one prescription medication) ensure a steady stream of customers to these stores year in and year out. This reliable consumer demand made pharmacies a “safe haven” asset class, especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when drugstores remained open and even saw increased traffic for vaccinations and supplies. For investors prioritizing stability, it’s hard to find a more proven concept than a well-located pharmacy leased to an investment-grade company. Both Walgreens and CVS boast strong credit ratings and national footprints, which gives landlords confidence in the longevity of their leases.

Lease structure: Nearly all pharmacy real estate deals are structured as long-term NNN leases, and often absolute NNN at that. A typical Walgreens or CVS lease might be 20–25 years initial term with multiple 5-year renewal options, and importantly, many legacy pharmacy leases require the tenant to handle all aspects of the property’s upkeep (taxes, insurance, maintenance, and even roof and structure in absolute net deals). This makes owning a pharmacy truly passive – an investor could hold the asset for decades with minimal intervention. Some pharmacy leases (especially older ones) have flat rent for the entire primary term (i.e. no rent escalations) – a trade-off that investors accept in return for the very high credit quality and long-term security these tenants provide. Newer deals may introduce modest bumps (for instance, 5-10% increase every option period), but compared to other retail sectors, rent growth in drugstore leases is often minimal. Nonetheless, the pricing of these assets reflects their bond-like safety: prime pharmacy cap rates generally fall in the mid-5% to mid-6% range in the current market for top credits. Even secondary market drugstores tend to trade at relatively low cap rates because of the perceived stability. One factor adding to investor confidence is the excellent real estate inherent in many pharmacy locations – they’re typically on hard-corner intersections with excellent visibility, drive-thru lanes, and high traffic counts. Should a pharmacy ever vacate at lease expiration, those sites are usually easily re-leased or redeveloped (they’re ideal for other retailers, medical uses, or even QSR conversions). As experts have noted in recent commentary, the tight supply of premium corner retail sites means that even if a chain like Walgreens is consolidating stores, the underlying property often retains strong value. For investors, a pharmacy tag on Brevitas is a signal that you’ll find listings offering stable long-term cash flow backed by healthcare needs and blue-chip tenants. These are popular choices for institutions and 1031 buyers who want a truly hands-off asset to hold for income generation over decades.

Using Property Tags on Brevitas: How to Find Your Ideal Asset

The introduction of Property Tags on Brevitas brings a new level of precision and convenience to commercial property search. Using these tags is intuitive and designed to mirror how investors actually shop for deals. Here’s how you can leverage the feature:

Access the Tags Menu: On the Brevitas marketplace navigation, you’ll find a dedicated “Tags” section (or simply visit the Property Tags page). This hub presents a list of all available property tags, including the featured categories like Gas Stations, Auto, Cannabis, Flagged Hotels, QSR, Pharmacies, and more. Simply click on any tag of interest, and you’ll be taken to a filtered results page showing all current listings that match that property type.
Filter Your Search Results: You can also apply tags as filters when browsing the listings. For example, if you go to the general property search, there may be options to refine by tag or asset type – allowing you to combine a tag with other criteria. Let’s say you’re searching for net-leased investments under $5M; you could select the “Quick Serve Restaurant” tag in the filters, set your price range and cap rate preferences, and instantly get a tailored list of fast-food restaurant deals nationwide that meet your requirements.
One-Click Nationwide Search: Property Tags essentially turn the entire U.S. into your searchable playground for a given asset class. Traditionally, real estate search portals focus first on location, then type. Brevitas flips that script for those who prioritize the type of property over the specific geography. With one click on “Gas Stations,” for instance, you’ll see gas station listings from coast to coast. It’s perfect for investors who are location-agnostic or willing to compare opportunities across regions (a common scenario for 1031 buyers on a deadline, or institutions chasing yield wherever it can be found).
No More Keyword Guesswork: The tags are standardized and broker-curated, meaning you don’t have to try multiple search terms or worry about how a listing is described. A broker might title a listing “Brand Name Travel Center in Ohio,” which a keyword search might miss if you don’t use the exact words “gas station.” But if that listing is tagged as a Gas Station, it will appear in the tag filter results regardless of its title wording. This ensures you won’t overlook deals due to naming semantics – all relevant listings are neatly corralled by their tag.
Save and Stay Updated: If you have a Brevitas account, you can save searches or set alerts for specific tags. For example, you can create an alert for new “Pharmacies” listed, or bookmark the Cannabis tag page. This way, the moment a new net-leased CVS or a sale-leaseback dispensary hits the market, you’ll know. The workflow is extremely user-friendly: select your tag (and any other filters like state or cap rate), then save that search criteria to get email updates or in-dashboard notifications. Brevitas essentially acts as your nationwide scout, constantly scanning its inventory for properties that match your niche interests.

In practice, Property Tags dramatically cut down the time and effort needed to pinpoint specific investment opportunities. For example, an investor who exclusively buys “flagged” hotels no longer has to manually filter through all hospitality listings or call brokers for pocket listings – they can simply check the Flagged Hotels tag on Brevitas and see what’s openly available. A broker working with a 1031 client who wants a gas station or C-store can go straight to that tag and source options in seconds, rather than querying multiple markets. The tags also help newer investors explore sectors they’re interested in; if you’ve heard that “automotive retail is hot right now,” one click on the Auto tag will show you the kinds of properties and tenants involved, helping you educate yourself on market offerings. Overall, the Property Tags interface is clean, straightforward, and centered on how real buyers think – by asset class and deal type.

The Road Ahead: More Tags Coming (and How You Can Contribute)

The current set of Property Tags is just the beginning for Brevitas. We’ve launched with some of the most popular and highly requested categories (like those described above), but commercial real estate is a vast universe with many more niche asset types. In the near future, you can expect this feature to expand to additional categories – think specialty healthcare facilities, self-storage, data centers, drive-thru banks, student housing, and beyond. Our goal is to make Brevitas the go-to platform for any investor who searches by property type nationwide, no matter how specialized.

We want your input. The development of Property Tags will be guided in large part by our user community. Are there specific tags you’d love to see added? Perhaps “Distressed / Value-Add” or “Opportunity Zone” filters, or maybe a tag for “Evcharging Stations” as the electric vehicle infrastructure grows? Let us know! We encourage you to share feedback – either through the platform’s feedback channels, in comments, or by reaching out to our support team. By telling us what asset types you’re hunting for, you directly influence which tags we roll out next. Brevitas is built around solving real-world pain points for CRE professionals, and many of our best features have come from user suggestions. Property Tags are no different: if there’s a way to make your nationwide search easier, we’re all ears.

In addition, we’ll be refining how tags interact with other features. Today, you can use them to filter and browse, but tomorrow you might see tags integrated into personalized recommendations (imagine getting custom deal suggestions because you frequently view “QSR” tagged properties) or into our listing upload workflow for brokers (making sure new listings get the right tags automatically). This synergy will continue to improve as the tag system grows. Ultimately, our vision is a marketplace where an investor can sign in and immediately zero in on exactly the type of opportunities they want – and Property Tags are a major leap toward that vision.

Brevitas is excited to continue enhancing your commercial search experience. We believe the future of CRE dealmaking is borderless and specialized – an investor in California might buy a net lease in Florida if it fits their niche criteria, and a broker in Texas might find a buyer from New York for their specialty listing. By breaking down the old location silo and focusing on asset class, we’re helping make those connections faster and easier.

Ready to put Property Tags to work for you? Try it out today – explore our Property Tags page, click on an asset type that interests you, and discover a curated selection of opportunities nationwide. We’re confident that once you experience this tailored search, you’ll wonder how you ever searched for commercial properties without it. Happy deal hunting!