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One example is a property zoned to allow the building of a strip mall on it. Commercial real estate is vacant land that is zoned to allow all kinds of commercial businesses to be built on it. Commercial real estate may even have a residential home sitting on it at the moment. What happens is that the town may begin to encroach on residential property and then the property may be rezoned to allow it to be reclassified as commercial real estate now. A home that was a half a mile out of town may suddenly find itself in town when the town grows.