Leasing usually wins when you need flexibility (growth uncertainty, seasonal swings, short project timelines, or you’re still testing a new market). Buying often wins when your footprint is stable and you want long-term cost control, customization, and balance-sheet stability through ownership.

A practical way executives decide: compare total occupancy cost (lease) versus ownership cash flow (mortgage + operating costs + reserves) and then apply your company’s reality: how fast you’re growing, how important location control is, and whether you’d rather keep capital in the business.

Related reading: Strategies for operating in a cooling CRE market

Most industrial leases quote a base rent and then add NNN expenses (often property taxes, insurance, and property/common-area operating costs). The real number leaders budget is:

• Base rent + NNN (or CAM/taxes/insurance)
• Utilities (electric, water, gas, waste)
• Repairs/maintenance responsibilities (depends on the lease)
• Tenant improvements (TI), racking, equipment, moving, signage

Ask for a clean “all‑in occupancy” estimate so your team compares options apples-to-apples.

It depends on how your operation moves product and equipment:

• Dock-high is typically best for pallets, freight, and regular carrier shipments.
• Grade-level is usually best for service fleets, contractors, equipment roll-in/roll-out, and flexible access.
• Both gives you the widest operational flexibility and helps future-proof the building for different uses.

If you’re running a mixed operation (service + shipping/receiving), having both loading styles can be a meaningful advantage.

Clear height affects storage density, racking design, forklift type, and long-term flexibility. If your business uses pallet racking, tall equipment, or wants to maximize cubic storage, clear height matters a lot. If your business is more “service industrial” (trades, light assembly, fleet-based operations), you may not need extreme clear height to run efficiently.

A helpful question to ask your ops lead: “What racking height do we actually plan to use in year 1—and what would we want in year 3?” That answer usually tells you the minimum clear height you should accept.

3‑phase electrical service is often essential for equipment-heavy users: fabrication, compressors, lifts, packaging lines, CNC equipment, and many light manufacturing workflows. If you’re adding machinery, charging infrastructure, or specialized equipment, power capacity becomes a real constraint.

Upgrading electrical service later can be expensive and slow, so many operators prioritize buildings that already support serious power needs.

Related reading: Why power & utility infrastructure matter more than ever

Industrial location decisions usually come down to three realities:

• Route reliability: predictable travel times for trucks, vans, and field crews (not just “distance”).
• Labor access: how far your team can commute without constant churn.
• Customer reach: ability to serve multiple parts of the metro quickly.

In Austin, infrastructure projects and growth patterns can change travel times and demand nodes over time—so it’s smart to understand the corridor dynamics, not just the address.

Related resources: I‑35 Expansion guide  |  East Austin Development Map  |  Central Texas industrial redevelopment case study

Strong operators treat industrial real estate like operational infrastructure. Before committing, most teams verify:

• Use & zoning: confirm your use is permitted (and whether outdoor storage is allowed).
• Fire/sprinkler: code compliance for your inventory type and operations.
• Power: confirm service type, amperage, and panel capacity for current + future equipment.
• Roof & building condition: especially if storing sensitive materials or running production.
• Truck access: turning radii, parking, delivery hours, and circulation.
• Lease language: repair responsibilities, renewal options, expansion rights, and assignment/sublease flexibility.

If you want a market-level mindset for navigating shifting conditions (pricing, terms, tenant leverage), this is a useful primer: Cooling market strategies

The current all‑in estimated monthly rent is $26,700 per month.

This is based on:

• Base Rent: $10.50 per SF × 20,000 SF = $210,000 annually
• NNN Estimate (2025): $5.52 per SF × 20,000 SF = $110,400 annually

Total Annual Occupancy Cost: $320,400
Total Monthly Cost: $26,700

The base rent increases by 3% annually. NNN expenses are estimates and may adjust year to year based on actual operating costs, taxes, and insurance.

Most tenants and owner‑operators use this “all‑in” number to budget cash flow and compare lease versus ownership scenarios.