Revitalizing underserved communities has been a priority of federal and state agencies for many years. In 2017, the “opportunity zones” initiative was launched under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Opportunity zones are low-income communities that can benefit from...
Real estate transactions
Must your realtor disclose any deaths on the property you buy?
While death is something we all experience, some people have very strong feelings about living in a home where someone has died. Of course, unless you build a new home — and especially if you purchase a historic older property — the chances are high that someone...
The purpose of a force majeure clause in a commercial lease
A commercial lease is an executory contract. Both parties have long-term obligations to one another after signing the lease. Either party can potentially take legal action when the other fails to uphold their obligations. It is therefore important for both landlords...
What’s the difference between a mortgage and a promissory note?
Unless you’re lucky enough to be able to pay cash, you’re going to need a lender to fund your real estate purchase. That means learning the language of loans very quickly. Two important documents that are involved in most real estate transactions are the mortgage and...
What does “net” mean in terms of a commercial lease
If you have been looking to lease a commercial property, or are considering investing in a property to lease out, you may have come across the words “net lease” You may have seen it mentioned in various forms, such as triple net, double net and single net leases....
What if commercial real estate is in the wrong zone?
You’ve been searching for a new commercial property. Maybe you started a business 10 years ago, and it’s become very successful. It has grown to the point that you want to open a second location. You finally find a property that looks perfect, and you are considering...
Should you buy or lease commercial property?
Whether to buy or lease commercial property is a decision that can impact your business financially and operationally. As such, it helps to look beyond the immediate costs and consider your long-term business strategy, growth potential and flexibility. While both...
Why get a property appraisal before making a real estate purchase?
Investing in commercial real estate offers significant potential for profit, but it demands thorough planning. One way to help secure substantial returns is to obtain a property appraisal before making a purchase. This independent assessment of a property can help...
How some home sellers try to hide defects
We recently discussed how home sellers have an obligation to disclose defects during a real estate transaction. If the seller knows that there are significant problems with the home, they need to make potential buyers aware of those issues. After all, this can affect...
3 terms commercial tenants often want to negotiate
Commercial landlords rent out their properties to businesses that need space. They may provide retail space, industrial facilities or even office rentals. Commercial landlords may rent out an entire building or a single unit in a multi-tenant property. They can...