Edmonds Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Edmonds, WA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Washington

In Edmonds, Washington, 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 Edmonds, Washington which govern commercial real estate differ significantly from the laws governing the rental and purchase of residential real estate.

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

These absent protections include rent control, and warranties of habitability, among others. The most basic protections, such as prohibiting sellers of real estate from lying about the property to the buyer, apply in any context, however.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Edmonds, Washington

Financing: Some small businesses in Edmonds, Washington 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, allowing 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 common, 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: While buyers of real estate have some significant 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 usually won't be able to successfully sue, if defects are discovered after the purchase.

Encumbrances: Encumbrances are defects of a different type: rather than physical defects, they are defects of title. In Edmonds, Washington, 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 example, 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 Edmonds, Washington 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 an Edmonds, Washington real estate attorney if you are facing any of the issues discussed above.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Edmonds

Edmonds, Washington is a city in Snohomish County. It has a population of slightly over 40,000 people.

It is the oldest incorporated city in Snohomish County, Washington, having been founded in 1899 by a logger named George Brackett. It's not clear who or what the city of Edmonds, Washington is named after, but it is likely either then-U.S. Senator from Vermont George Franklin Edmunds, or nearby Point Edmund (later re-named to Point Edwards).

By 1900, regular ferry boat service to Seattle was available. Edmonds, Washington is an important regional center for the arts. It fetaures a well-known, privately-funded drama club, called the Driftwood Players. They do 4-5 major productions per season, interspersed with several more one-night plays.

It also has hosted a major art festival since 1957, which focuses on the visual arts such as painting and illustration, and collaborates with local schools, featuring several galleries exclusively displaying the artwork of local students, to help promote arts education. Edmonds, Washington also hosts a jazz festival every Memorial Day weekend, with professional, famous jazz performers playing, as well as music students from nearby schools.

Given its diverse, eclectic population and culture, it's no surprise that Edmonds, Washington has a diverse and well-rounded legal community. If you're facing a legal issue, and live in the area, it's almost certain that an Edmonds, Washington lawyer can help.

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