Memphis Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Memphis, TN

Commercial Real Estate Law in Tennessee

Commercial real estate is any form of land or structure in Memphis, Tennessee which is utilized for business purposes, mainly the sale of goods and/or services to the public.

The laws governing commercial real estate in Memphis, Tennessee are quite different from those applying to residential real estate.

Most of the protections that buyers and renters of residential real estate enjoy rarely apply to renters of commercial real estate.

For instance, commercial real estate normally isn't covered by rent control laws, nor does it carry with it an implied warranty of habitability (because people typically 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 Memphis, Tennessee

Financing: Some small businesses in Memphis, Tennessee find it necessary, at some point, to purchase a piece of real estate, for various reasons. Nonetheless, most owners of small to medium-sized businesses can't afford to make a real estate purchase up front, with the cash they have on hand. Simply put, very few individuals have hundreds of thousands of dollars just sitting in the bank. One solution to this is a mortgage, which is similar to most other forms of secured loans: a bank lends you money, and you put up some piece of property as collateral, so the bank has some security in the event of default. With a mortgage, however, the property being purchased with the loan also secures the loan, permitting the bank to foreclose on it in case the buyer defaults.

Concealment of Defects: Sellers and lessors of commercial real estate are under a duty to disclose any defects in the property which might impact the buyer's decision to purchase it, such as water damage, mold, or other structural problems. These defects are quite typical, and the buyer has a right to know about them. If the seller doesn't disclose these defects, where they exist, the buyer can sue for any harm this causes.

Duty to Inspect: This is a companion to the duty to disclose defects. Typically, buyers of real estate are expected to inspect the property. If they fail to conduct a good inspection, they might not be able to recover damages if they are harmed by any defects which an inspection would have revealed.

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 frequent encumbrance is an easement. In Memphis, Tennessee, an easement is some right of some third party to make limited use of land owned by someone else. For instance, 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 Memphis, Tennessee Attorney Help?

These issues are sometimes intricate, and almost always very important. Therefore, it's necessary to seek the assistance of a Memphis, Tennessee real estate attorney if you have any dealings in this area.

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Life in Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee has something for everyone. Popular family attractions include Graceland, Main Street Trolley, AutoZone Park, and the Gibson Factory. Memphis is also known as a city rich in history, so there are many museums to see! Some museums include the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Mississippi River Museum at Mud Island, and the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum.

Amongst all the cities in the United States, Memphis is deemed the twentieth largest city in the U.S. Along with Nashville, Memphis is known to be one of Tennessee's most exciting and metropolitan cities with a population of around 1,316,100 people. Downtown Memphis lies along the Mississippi River and is home to many companies and law firms. Memphis attorneys have a reputation of being competent and client oriented, focusing on providing excellent legal services to Memphis residents.

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