If you are a physician running a private practice, you have to devote a great deal of your focus to guiding its operation. Healthcare financing is just one of the many items on your business agenda; however, whether you lease or buy your office space may be one of the more important decisions you will have to make initially. While leasing can be a solution for seriously cash-strapped physicians, over time you may find investing in your office space to be the better choice for several significant reasons.

Successful physicians display one characteristic in common: They are decisive. This characteristic allows them to act with confidence when planning courses of action for their patients. Buying your medical building makes sense, then, because when you own the space you can take charge of it rather than bending to the vagaries of a potentially faceless landlord. Because you and your staff are on the front lines, you know what is best for your practice and can update the building as necessary.

Having the flexibility to modernize your space is crucial for two reasons. First, patients will be put off by a dingy and old-fashioned office; they intuitively recognize when you have made efforts to modernize. That your practice looks clean and professional — matching the appearance you and your staff present — will inspire confidence in your patients.

Second, when you can update your office on your timeline, your practice can remain on the cutting edge. If you need to install electrical or internet upgrades, for example, you can do so without having to justify the action to your landlord, and you can control the costs of those upgrades.

Controlling costs is only one of the solid monetary reasons that you should consider purchasing to be the focus of your healthcare financing plan. Consider your purchase to be a real estate investment that can provide good returns down the road. If you wisely purchase a practice located in a medical hub filled with hospitals, various practices and other healthcare specialties, your building’s value will continue to appreciate. By going the extra mile and buying a larger building, you can also lease out its spaces during retirement.

The thought of buying a medical building can seem intimidating; after all, your purchase will require a significant cash outlay. However, by researching your healthcare financing options and planning carefully, you will see that investing in your building can make sense for your practice.