"Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary said on Thursday that while he remains bullish on real estate, investors should avoid taking on excessive debt, warning that leverage can wipe out even strong investments during market downturns.
In a post on X accompanying a video interview, O'Leary wrote, "I've learned the hard way that debt can destroy even the best investment." He added that the commercial real estate correction following the pandemic has created opportunities for patient investors willing to stay disciplined.
I still love real estate, but I’ve learned the hard way that debt can destroy even the best investment.
While commercial real estate has gone through a major correction since the pandemic, that has also created new opportunities for investors willing to be patient and… pic.twitter.com/SsCMB3uao4— Kevin O'Leary aka Mr.
Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) July 9, 2026 Commercial Correction Creates Opportunity During the interview, O'Leary said office properties were hit particularly hard after the pandemic as capitalization rates climbed from roughly 3% to 4% before COVID-19 to between 5% and 9%, depending on the quality of the building.
