Elgin Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Elgin, IL

Commercial Real Estate Law in Illinois

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

The Elgin, Illinois laws governing 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 higher deal of legal protections not available to buyers of commercial property.

For example, commercial real estate typically isn't covered by rent control laws, nor does it carry with it an implied warranty of habitability (because people usually 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 Elgin, Illinois

Financing: Some small businesses in Elgin, Illinois 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, authorizing 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: This is a companion to the duty to disclose defects. Usually, 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: An encumbrance is some small ownership interest in land held by a third party, or some right held by a third party to restrict the use of a parcel of land. A typical encumbrance is an easement. In Elgin, Illinois, an easement is some right of some third party to make limited use of land owned by someone else. For example, cable companies often purchase easements from property owners (or they are imposed by the government) allowing them to string cable wiring from the telephone wires on the street to nearby houses. Like any other property right, the holder of an easement can prevent others from interfering with it. Obviously, if a buyer doesn't know about an encumbrance on a piece of land, he might find that he's unable to make the use of the land that he was expecting.

Can a Elgin, Illinois 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 an Elgin, Illinois attorney before buying or selling commercial real estate.

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Life in Elgin

Elgin is located in the northern part of Illinois, northwest of Chicago and along the Fox River. The city is home to about a little over 108.000 people.

Elgin is known for its architecture. It has many landmarks inspired by the Victorian era. These landmarks include the Elgin Public Museum, which is the oldest building in Illinois.

Other popular attractions include the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Choral Union, the Cook County Forest Preserves, the Bluff Spring Fen, Northwest Tollway, and Trout Park.

Elgin also is home to many attorneys who practice law with enthusiasm and devotion to excellence. Therefore, Elgin residents have no reason to worry because their legal needs can be easily taken care of.

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