Thomasville Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Thomasville, GA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Georgia

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

Commercial real estate in Thomasville, Georgia is regulated by laws which differ significantly from state and local laws that apply to residential real estate.

Buyers and renters of residential property enjoy some pretty considerable 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 Thomasville, Georgia

Financing: The majority of small businesses in Thomasville, Georgia can't afford to make large real estate purchases with the money they have in the bank. Nonetheless, buying real estate is sometimes necessary for a business' survival. This problem is sometimes remedied by taking out a mortgage; a loan used to buy property, with that same property being used to secure the loan.

Duty to Disclose Defects: It is of the utmost importance that sellers and lessors of commercial real estate be up front about any defects that might be present in the property. Failing to disclose them can be bad, and actively concealing them can be much worse. In general, if a defect is serious enough that it would influence a reasonable person's decision to buy a piece of property, and the seller knows about it, the seller should disclose it. Failure to disclose can have serious outcomes. If the buyer later discovers the defect, they can sue for the cost of repairing it, or for any reduction in the property's value caused by it. And, of course, if it causes any injuries, the buyer can sue the seller for those, as well.

Duty to Inspect: Lest you believe that the duty to disclose defects relieves any duty of diligence on the part of the buyer, the law will not reward such lapses with a major cause of action. Buyers have a duty to conduct a reasonable inspection of the property before they buy it, normallyy with a licensed building inspector. If the buyer fails to do this, they won't be able to recover any damages for defects which they could have discovered through a reasonable inspection.

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 Thomasville, Georgia 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 Thomasville, Georgia Attorney Help?

Because of the complexity and importance of many of the issues concerning commercial real estate, it is almost always necessary to consult with a Thomasville, Georgia attorney before buying or selling commercial real estate.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Thomasville

Thomasville is located in Thomas County, Georgia, and is the county seat. With a population of 19,000, it is the second largest city in the Southwest Georgia region.

Thomasville is best known as "The City of Roses". The city maintains over 7,000 rose plants located in various spots throughout the city. Many residents also grow their own rose plants for display. A Rose Festival is held every year at the end of April, where rose cultivators from all over the world display their prize rose specimens. The festival includes street shows, dancing, vendor displays, and plentiful selections of food.

The city of Thomasville prides itself on preserving American history and culture. Popular historic sites include the Thomasville Cultural Center, Thomasville Landmarks, and the Thomas County Historical Society Museum of History. The historical sites attract numerous tourists every year.

Thomasville lawyers can usually assist you by filing your claim at the Municipal Court of Thomasville. The municipal court is the first avenue of relief for most types of legal claims. Many lawyers in Thomasville, Georgia are members of the Thomas County Bar Association in addition to the Georgia State Bar.

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