Lancaster Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Lancaster, PA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Commercial real estate is any type of land or structure in Lancaster, Pennsylvania which is used for business purposes, primarily the sale of goods and/or services to the public.

The laws in Lancaster, Pennsylvania which regulate commercial real estate differ considerably from the laws governing the rental and purchase of residential real estate.

Buyers and renters of residential property enjoy some pretty substantial legal protections, because the law of most states presumes that shelter (being necessary to survive, for the most part) is more important than business. Therefore, many of these consumer protections don't apply to commercial real estate.

For example, commercial real estate typically isn't covered by rent control laws, nor does it carry with it an implied warranty of habitability (because people usually 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 Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Financing: The majority of small business owners in Lancaster, Pennsylvania probably can't afford to buy much real estate outright, with cash paid up front, so most small business purchase commercial real estate with a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan taken out for the purpose of buying real estate, using that real estate as collateral for the loan.

Concealment of Defects: if the seller of commercial property acts to conceal a significant defect in the property, and then sells the property, he will be responsible for any harm this defect cause, as well as the reduced value of the property, or the cost of repair.

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, typicallyy 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: An encumbrance is some small ownership interest in land held by a third party, or some right held by a third party to restrict the use of a parcel of land. A typical encumbrance is an easement. In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an easement is some right of some third party to make limited use of land owned by someone else. For example, cable companies often purchase easements from property owners (or they are imposed by the government) allowing them to string cable wiring from the telephone wires on the street to nearby houses. Like any other property right, the holder of an easement can prevent others from interfering with it. Obviously, if a buyer doesn't know about an encumbrance on a piece of land, he might find that he's unable to make the use of the land that he was expecting.

Can a Lancaster, Pennsylvania Attorney Help?

Because of the importance and potential complexity of the issues surrounding commercial real estate, it's almost always prudent that, before engaging in any real estate deal, you pursue the counsel of a good Lancaster, Pennsylvania real estate attorney.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Lancaster

Lancaster is in Lane County, Oregon. It is right next to Harrisburg, Junction City and the Willamette River.

Some interesting facts about Lancaster is that the first post office was established here in 1858 and named "Freedom." The name was later changed to "Junction City." A popular attraction is "Woodyville," which is a house of entertainment i.e. road house started by a man named Woody. The attraction is also known as Woody's Landing. Later, Johnson Mulkey brought the property and built a small sawmill on it.

The great flood of 1862 had almost demolished the city. It slowly built itself back up.

For legal needs, residents often seek attorney services in nearby areas. Being so near to other cities and Oregon Route 99E, residents have no problem getting to where they need to be. Thus, seeking legal guidance is not a problem.

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