Champaign Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Champaign, IL

Commercial Real Estate Law in Illinois

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

The Champaign, Illinois laws regulating commercial real estate differ significantly from the laws that cover residential and other types of real estate.

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

For instance, commercial real estate usually isn't covered by rent control laws, nor does it carry with it an implied warranty of habitability (because people generally won't be living in it). Furthermore, it also doesn't come with a covenant of quiet enjoyment. However, some of the most basic legal protections (such as laws against fraud, and concealment of defects) apply in both the commercial and residential context.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Champaign, Illinois

Financing: The majority of small business owners in Champaign, Illinois 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.

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 significant 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 significant consequences. 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: This is a companion to the duty to disclose defects. Generally, buyers of real estate are expected to inspect the property. If they fail to conduct a good inspection, they might not be able to recover damages if they are harmed by any defects which an inspection would have revealed.

Encumbrances: These are defects to title, rather than physical defects. They are legal issues which might make it challenging or impossible for a landowner to make full use of their land. In Champaign, Illinois, 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 set 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 Champaign, Illinois Attorney Help?

Because of the importance and potential complexity of the issues surrounding commercial real estate, it's almost always recommended that, before engaging in any real estate deal, you seek the counsel of a good Champaign, Illinois real estate attorney.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Champaign

Not only in champaign the name of an alcoholic drink, but it is also the name o a city in Illinois. Champaign is located about 135 miles south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis.

Champaign is home to many start-up technology companies and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Top employers include Kraft Foods, Parkland College, PlastiPak, Hobbico, Amdocs and Devonshire Group. Other employers include the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, State Farm Research Center, Science Application International Corporation, Riverglass Inc., Tekion, Volition, Inc., and Yahoo!

The legal force also has a significant presence in Champaign. Thus, the legal needs of employers and residents can easily be handled by Champaign attorneys.

Popular attraction include the Tower at 3rd, the City Building, Campustown, the Art Theater, and Historic Virginia Theatre.

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