San Jose Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in San Jose, CA

Commercial Real Estate Law in California

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

The laws governing commercial real estate in San Jose, California are quite different from those applying to 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.

For instance, residential real estate is governed by laws concerning rent control, living conditions, and other things relevant to buildings where people will be living. Most of these protections don't apply to commercial real estate, because the law assumes that the average business person is a bit more sophisticated in such dealings than the general population, and because a place to do business is typically less important than a place to live. However, the most basic protections, such as protection from fraud and deliberate concealment of defects, still apply.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in San Jose, California

Financing: The majority of small business owners in San Jose, California probably can't afford to buy much real estate outright, with cash paid up front, so most small business buy 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 accountable for any harm this defect cause, as well as the reduced value of the property, or the cost of repair.

Duty to Inspect: Buyers of commercial real estate are expected to be diligent, and a court will not reward a lack of diligence. Thus, if the buyer fails to conduct a thorough inspection of the property before buying it, and thereby fails to discover defects which such an inspection could have easily revealed, he will not be able to sue the seller over these defects later on.

Encumbrances: An encumbrance is any interest held in a piece of property by a party other than the seller and the buyer. These property interests might make it very hard for the buyer to use the land as they intended when they bought it. A frequent type of encumbrance in San Jose, California is the easement. An easement is some right that a third party has in a piece of property. For example, suppose that, many years ago, a neighbor adjacent to the land you want to buy, paid a previous owner for the right to cross his land to reach a public road. Unless the agreement states otherwise, this right will usually apply to subsequent owners, and has to be honored. Therefore, it might interfere with the intended use of the new owner.

Can a San Jose, California Attorney Help?

Because of the complexity and importance of many of the issues regarding commercial real estate, it is almost always crucial to consult with a San Jose, California attorney before buying or selling commercial real estate.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in San Jose

San Jose, California is a large city filled with families, universities, young professionals trying to make it in the Silicon Valley, and a diverse population! Some of San Jose's most visited attractions are the Children's Discovery Museum, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, the HP Pavilion Center, the Tech Museum, San Jose Museum of Art, History Park, Winchester Mystery House, J. Lohr Winery, and Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park.

San Jose is also filled with great dining areas such as Santana Row, and great shopping with many malls such as Westfield's Valley Fair and Oakridge Shopping Centers. San Jose is also home to the Silicon Valley, an area that gave birth to companies such as Apple and Google, and a great place for small start-ups. Therefore, there is something for every type of professional in Silicon Valley.

To serve the Silicon Valley's legal needs, many law firms have office locations located in, or near, San Jose. These firms house some of the sharpest legal minds in the country. All in all, no legal need goes unattended in San Jose, California.

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