Pittsfield Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Pittsfield, MA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

In Pittsfield, Massachusetts, commercial real estate is any type of real property (land or permanent structures) being used for business purposes.

The laws covering commercial real estate in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 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.

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 Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Financing: The majority of small business owners in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 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: 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 Pittsfield, Massachusetts 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 Pittsfield, Massachusetts Attorney Help?

These issues are sometimes confusing, and almost always very important. Therefore, it's imperative to seek the assistance of a Pittsfield, Massachusetts real estate attorney if you have any dealings in this area.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Pittsfield

Pittsfield is located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. An interesting fact is that in 2005, Farmers Insurance ranked the city twentieth in the U.S. on the "Most Secure Place to Live" list. Forbest Magazine also ranked Pittsfield as number sixty-one in its list for "Best Small Places for Business."

Some known businesses in Pittsfield include Chemex Corporation, Blue-Q, SABIC, Laurin Publishing, Thaddeus Clapp House, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, and Berkshire Gas. Naturally, to support these businesses, Pittsfield is home to many attorneys who can easily handle the legal needs of businesses and residents.

Some famous residents include Thomas Allen, Silvio O. Conte, Cy Ferry, Tom Grieve, Stephanie Wilson and Robin Williams.

All in all, Pittsfield is a place that residents love to live in, and people love to visit!

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