Commercial Real Estate Law in Indiana
In Gary, Indiana, commercial real estate is any type of real property (land or permanent structures) being used for business purposes.
The laws in Gary, Indiana which regulate commercial real estate differ considerably from the laws governing the rental and purchase of residential real estate.
When renting or buying residential real estate, renters and buyers have substantial legal protections which often don't apply to commercial real estate.
These absent protections include rent control, and warranties of habitability, among others. The most basic protections, such as prohibiting sellers of real estate from lying about the property to the buyer, apply in any context, however.
Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Gary, Indiana
Financing: The majority of small business owners in Gary, Indiana probably can't afford to buy much real estate outright, with cash paid up front, so most small business purchase 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: 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: Encumbrances are defects of a different type: rather than physical defects, they are defects of title. In Gary, Indiana, an encumbrance is an interest in a piece of real estate held by a third party, such as covenants or easements. An easement is a right held by someone to use the property of someone else for a specific purpose. For example, a person might have an easement on the land of another person, allowing them to cross the land to access a public road.
Can a Gary, Indiana Attorney Help?
These issues are sometimes confusing, and almost always very important. Therefore, it's imperative to seek the assistance of a Gary, Indiana real estate attorney if you have any dealings in this area.