Roanoke Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Roanoke, VA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Virginia

In Roanoke, Virginia, commercial real estate is any parcel of land, or any building, which is used for business purposes, as opposed to residential, agricultural, or industrial use.

The laws in Roanoke, Virginia which control commercial real estate differ substantially from the laws governing the rental and purchase of residential real estate.

Buyers and renters of residential property enjoy a massive number of legal protections. Many of these protections don't apply to buyers or renters of commercial property.

Some of the protections that don't apply to commercial property include warranties of habitability, rent control, and warranties of quiet enjoyment. There are others, as well. The most basic protections, however, apply to buyers of both residential and commercial real estate, including remedies for fraud and concealment of physical or title defects.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Roanoke, Virginia

Financing: Some small businesses in Roanoke, Virginia find it necessary, at some point, to purchase a piece of real estate, for various reasons. However, 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 people have hundreds of thousands of dollars just sitting in the bank. One solution to this is a mortgage, which is similar to most other types 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: if the seller or lessor of commercial real estate actively conceals a material defect in the real estate, they can be accountable to the buyer or renter for any damages caused by this concealment.

Duty to Inspect: While buyers of real estate have some considerable protections with respect to defects, they also have some obligations. Before finalizing a purchase, buyers are expected to undertake a reasonable inspection of the property, usually by using a licensed building inspector. If the buyer fails to conduct an inspection, they normally won't be able to successfully sue, if defects are discovered after the purchase.

Encumbrances: These are defects to title, rather than physical defects. They are legal issues which might make it difficult or impossible for a landowner to make full use of their land. In Roanoke, Virginia, these might include easements. An easement is a right to use property held by a party other than the owner. This use is often very particular in scope, such as allowing the holder of the easement to cross the property to access a public road, or something similar. Such rights usually have to be recognized and honored by new owners, so if they buy property not knowing about them, they might be seriously inconvenienced.

Can a Roanoke, Virginia Attorney Help?

These issues can be very complicated, and most people consider such financially-weighty decisions to be very important. If you are one of those people, it's a smart move to contact a Roanoke, Virginia real estate attorney if you are facing any of the issues discussed above.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Roanoke

Roanoke is considered the tenth-largest city in Virginia, with an approximate population of 97,000 people. It is located specifically in southwest Virginia, near Salem, Botetourt, Craig, and Franklin.

Top employers include Carilion Clinic, Wal-Mart, Anthem Blue Cross, and the school districts. The legal industry too has a presence via the attorney residents who practice law in small boutique firms or law offices. Thus, residents of Roanoke remain assured that their legal needs can be adequately handled.

Some nicknames of the city include "Star City," The Older Magic City," "Big Lick," and "Capital of the Blue Ridge."

Celebrity residents have included Tony Atlas, Tai Collins, Curtis Staples, John St. Clair, and J.J. Redick.

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