Triple net, also known as NNN (net, net, net), real estate refers to commercial leases where the tenant pays the property taxes, insurance, and maintenance (the three ‘Nets’). Typically, these types of NNN investments are most attractive to long-time apartment property owners and passive investors seeking “hands-off” real estate to provide themselves a long-term and stable income. Many owners sell their current management-intensive properties and purchase an NNN investment as part of a “1031 tax-deferred exchange.”

“Based on current demand, we know that the National NNN Investment Group will significantly contribute to the success of agents throughout Keller Williams Realty,” said Buddy Norman, president of KW Commercial. “Our ultimate objective is to ensure that KW Commercial clients acquire the best quality triple net properties with the fewest surprises and National NNN Investment Group has the experience and track record to make this happen. Keller Williams’ agents can now offer their clients comprehensive end-to-end real estate solutions.”

Managing Director Andrew Barnes, a ten-year veteran of the triple net brokerage business, oversees a constantly changing inventory of available NNN properties at National NNN Investment Group. The group works directly with commercial developers who build retail and industrial properties for the largest US companies. A sampling of tenants includes Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, Publix, Lowes, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, AutoZone, Advance Auto, O’Reilly Auto Parts, KFC, Jack-in-the Box, and Taco Bell.

In today’s changing market, the National NNN Investment Group continues to lead in its area of expertise. Closings this month include the sale of a property NNN leased to Walgreens in Jackson, Mississippi for $3,775,000. A prime location due to a hard corner site and surrounding population density, the property featured excellent assumable financing with a strong tenant credit on a 25-year lease.

“A triple net investment offers an exit from management-intensive real estate into properties that provide long term, passive income” stated Barnes, “This is particularly important to our clients nearing the end of their investment life cycle. For instance, they may have started out with a residential duplex twenty years ago, gradually traded-up along the way, and can now be proud owners of a commercial property leased for 25 years to Walgreens. In many ways, an NNN investment offers features similar to a corporate bond, with the continuing benefits of real estate ownership.”

Prior to joining KW Commercial and the National NNN Investment Group, Barnes was Senior Vice President with the triple net development, investment and brokerage firm Sansome Pacific Properties and prior to that, was Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the San Francisco-based real estate investment firm, Kyodai Holdings. He has been involved in over $575 million in real estate transactions and brings both buy- and sell-side expertise to his brokerage transactions.

Barnes holds an M.B.A from Waseda University in Tokyo and a B.A. from Penn State University. He is fluent in Japanese. He has completed graduate work at the United Nations in New York and undergraduate economics work at Universitat zu Koln in Germany. Additional studies at U.C. Berkeley have included advanced Real Estate Finance and Investment. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), lives in San Francisco with his wife and is an active member of his community.