Chicago Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Chicago, IL

Commercial Real Estate Law in Illinois

In Chicago, Illinois, "commercial real estate" is any form of land or building which is utilized for a business, as opposed to residential, purpose.

The Chicago, Illinois laws regulating commercial real estate differ significantly from the laws that cover residential and other types of real estate.

People who buy and rent residential unites have a greater deal of legal protections not available to buyers of commercial property.

For instance, commercial real estate usually isn't covered by rent control laws, nor does it carry with it an implied warranty of habitability (because people generally won't be living in it). Furthermore, it also doesn't come with a covenant of quiet enjoyment. However, some of the most basic legal protections (such as laws against fraud, and concealment of defects) apply in both the commercial and residential context.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Chicago, Illinois

Financing: The majority of small businesses in Chicago, Illinois can't afford to make large real estate purchases with the money they have in the bank. Nevertheless, buying real estate is sometimes essential for a business' survival. This problem is sometimes remedied by taking out a mortgage; a loan used to buy property, with that same property being used to secure the loan.

Concealment of Defects: if the seller or lessor of commercial real estate actively conceals a material defect in the real estate, they can be liable to the buyer or renter for any damages caused by this concealment.

Duty to Inspect: Lest you believe that the duty to disclose defects relieves any duty of diligence on the part of the buyer, the law will not reward such lapses with a major cause of action. Buyers have a duty to conduct a reasonable inspection of the property before they buy it, usuallyy with a licensed building inspector. If the buyer fails to do this, they won't be able to recover any damages for defects which they could have discovered through a reasonable inspection.

Encumbrances: Encumbrances are defects of a different type: rather than physical defects, they are defects of title. In Chicago, Illinois, an encumbrance is an interest in a piece of real estate held by a third party, such as covenants or easements. An easement is a right held by someone to use the property of someone else for a certain purpose. For instance, a person might have an easement on the land of another person, allowing them to cross the land to access a public road.

Can a Chicago, Illinois Attorney Help?

Because of the importance and potential complexity of the issues surrounding commercial real estate, it's almost always recommended that, before engaging in any real estate deal, you seek the counsel of a good Chicago, Illinois real estate attorney.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Chicago

Many people often think of Chicago as a mini-New York City with nicer people. Chicago in fact is a large city with a lot to offer tourists, include warm and friendly hospitality.

Popular attractions in Chicago include Willis Tower Skydeck, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field, Grant Park, and the Magnificent Mile. Additionally, Chicago is home to many great restaurants. In fact, the style of deep-dish pizza originated in Chicago.

If one would like to catch a Broadway show, they can at Broadway Theater. Famous universities such as Northwestern University and the University of Chicago also have wonderful, historical campuses that tourists often enjoy touring.

Being such a well-known city, many firms have office locations in Chicago, Illinois. Firms such as Baker McKenzie, Sidley Austin, Mayer, Brown Platt, and Winston Strawn have large offices that employ brilliant attorneys. Additionally, many small and mid-size firms are also present in Chicago. All in all, residents of Chicago have no need to worry for any legal inquiry of theirs can be handled by the legal force in Chicago.

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