Stratford Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Stratford, CT

Commercial Real Estate Law in Connecticut

In Stratford, Connecticut, "commercial real estate" is any type of land or building which is used for a business, as opposed to residential, purpose.

The laws covering commercial real estate in Stratford, Connecticut are quite different from those applying to 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.

These include implied warranties of habitability, rent control, and covenants of use and quiet enjoyment, among many others. Of course, the most basic protections, such as prohibiting the seller from actively concealing defects, apply to both.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Stratford, Connecticut

Financing: Many businesses in Stratford, Connecticut can't save up enough money to pay the full asking price of a decent-sized piece of real estate up front. Nonetheless, it's sometimes necessary for businesses to acquire real estate. To solve this problem, most rely on a mortgage. A mortgage is a common type of loan, taken out to purchase real estate. The lending institution lends the full purchase price to the borrower, who then purchases the property. The property, in turn, becomes collateral for the loan, which must be paid back over a period of years, with interest.

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: Buyers of commercial real estate are expected to be diligent, and a court will not reward a lack of diligence. Consequently, 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 challenging for the buyer to use the land as they intended when they bought it. A typical type of encumbrance in Stratford, Connecticut 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 Stratford, Connecticut Attorney Help?

The issues surrounding commercial real estate in Stratford, Connecticut can get fairly complex. Therefore, it's never a bad idea to have the assistance of an efficient commercial real estate attorney.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Stratford

With a population of about 50,000 people, Stratford is a relatively large town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is also one of the oldest American cities, as it was founded all the way back in the year 1639. The town initially began as an utopian-style Puritan community. Eventually it changed to a more traditional colonial-style settlement. Today it continues to thrive as an excellent place for residence and business.

Stratford is probably best known for its historical heritage in military operations, in particular military aviation. One of the world's first commercial helicopters was developed in the city. Further, both Stratford Army Engine Plant and Silkorsky Aircraft are headquartered in Stratford. Residents and tourists take regular visits to the city's National Helicopter Museum.

Another defining mark of the city of Stratford is its presence in the theater and production industry. For many years Stratford's American Shakespeare Theatre was home to many Shakespearean productions and actor's performances. The theatre hosted such outstanding actors as Katharine Hepburn and Paul Newman.

Stratford lawyers assist their clients by filing at the Connecticut Superior Court located in Bridgepoint near Stratford. More advanced claims are heard at the Connecticut Appellate Court or Supreme Court, both located nearby in Hartford. Lawyers in Stratford, Connecticut typically hear a diverse array of legal claims.

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