How to Evaluate a Cell Tower Lease Buyout Like an Investor | Ep 83

(Watch the YouTube video of this episode here)

In this episode of the Furlo Capital Real Estate Podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of cell tower leases. We explore the intricacies and potential benefits of selling cell tower leases, likening it to selling the roof of your home while keeping the rest. We touch on my current experience with cell tower lease discussions, examine the financial implications, and discuss various strategic considerations. This episode aims to equip you with the knowledge to invest wisely, build wealth, and improve housing. Join us for a unique and informative exploration of real estate investing!

// Key Moments

00:00 Intro

01:58 Understanding Cell Tower Lease Deals

04:09 Financial Implications and Strategies

06:14 Complexities and Negotiations

10:58 Market Dynamics and Future Considerations

13:14 Understanding Payment Structures

15:31 Comparing Business Leases

16:40 Navigating Letters of Intent

22:52 The Role of Brokers in Cell Tower Deals

// 8 Key Lessons

Lesson 1: Use lump-sum payments as strategic leverage: Selling a cell tower lease can provide capital that reduces how much funding you need to raise, and sometimes that's the smarter move.

Lesson 2: Don't just listen—demand documents: Verbal offers sound nice, but until you see that Letter of Intent and easement sample, you don’t really know what you're agreeing to.

Lesson 3: Treat lease negotiations like real estate deals: Yes, you can and should negotiate these offers. Think of it like selling a house—just with antennas on top.

Lesson 4: Watch the fine print on “higher offers”: A company may pitch a high number but then claw back several months of payment. It’s the cell tower equivalent of airline pricing games.

Lesson 5: Factor in future tech shifts: Starlink and satellite-based services could shrink the long-term value of ground-based cell towers—don't ignore this possibility in your analysis.

Lesson 6: Don’t give away your roof without a plan: Selling an easement means you lose long-term control. Know whether you're okay with that—especially if you’re giving up future cash flow and property value.

Lesson 7: More towers, more power (maybe): Some deals include 50/50 revenue sharing if new carriers come in. That could be a silver lining if an existing lease goes dark.

Lesson 8: Small players flip to big players: Easement buyers may package your deal into a larger portfolio and resell it—understanding their playbook helps you know what kind of negotiation power you have.

// Let's build your wealth and improve housing, together.

I spent 12 years as a data scientist at HP and purchased $5M worth of real estate over 15 years using my own money. Now, I'm partnering with busy professionals to diversify their investments and generate passive income through real estate syndications and short-term flips—without dealing with tenants, toilets, or tantrums.

At Furlo Capital, we believe real estate isn't just a transaction; it's a partnership. Our value-add approach creates win-win situations where residents thrive, and investors build wealth. We're not just in this to make money—we want to make a difference.If you're ready to diversify from stock market volatility and want reliable, steady returns, let's build your wealth and improve housing, together.

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👉 Learn more: https://furlo.com

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