Waltham Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Waltham, MA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

In Waltham, 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 Waltham, Massachusetts are quite different from those applying to residential real estate.

Buyers and renters of residential property enjoy some pretty significant 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 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 Waltham, Massachusetts

Financing: Most small business owners in Waltham, Massachusetts don't have the money to buy real estate with the cash on hand. However, there is a solution to this problem, allowing people without massive sums of money (but with a steady income) to buy real estate: the mortgage. A mortgage is a loan used to buy real estate, and the real estate being purchased is used as collateral for the loan.

Concealment of Defects: if the seller or lessor of commercial real estate actively conceals a material defect in the real estate, they can be liable to the buyer or renter for any damages caused by this concealment.

Duty to Inspect: Buyers of commercial real estate are expected to be diligent, and a court will not reward a lack of diligence. Therefore, 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 Waltham, Massachusetts, 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 certain 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 Waltham, Massachusetts Attorney Help?

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

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Waltham

Waltham, Massachusetts has a population of just over 60,000 residents and is located in Middlesex County. The city has historical significance and is considered to play a pivotal role in the labor movement.

Waltham is often nicknamed "Watch City" because of the presence of Waltham Watch Company which has produced over 40 million watches and other time instruments before closing. Waltham also has a great music scene that brings together the community for various events throughout the year. The city is also a great place to be active -- with a 97 out of 100 points on the walkability rating system.

In addition to a good public school education system, Waltham also houses three colleges: Bentley University, Brandeis University, and Center for Digital Imaging Arts. With such an emphasis on learning, it is no surprise that there is such a great professional community in Waltham. Waltham lawyers, for example, are trained at some of the best schools and are skilled in a range of legal issues. From lawyers to accountants to bankers, Waltham is a city that is a great place to work.

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