Baltimore Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Baltimore, MD

Commercial Real Estate Law in Maryland

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

Commercial real estate in Baltimore, Maryland is managed by laws which differ significantly from state and local laws that apply to residential real estate.

Many of the protections that buyers and renters of residential real estate enjoy rarely apply to renters of 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 Baltimore, Maryland

Financing: Most small business owners in Baltimore, Maryland 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.

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 serious 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 serious 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: Undisclosed encumbrances are defects of another sort: defects of title. An encumbrance is any interest that a third party has in the Baltimore, Maryland commercial real estate. These usually take the form of easements, which are rights held by third parties to use the land for a specific purpose. Easements can have profound effects on how a new owner can use the land, so it is important to know about them before buying.

Can a Baltimore, Maryland 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 Baltimore, Maryland real estate attorney.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland is known to many as an exciting city. It is located in central Maryland along a part of the Patapsco River. Baltimore's population is approximately 2.7 million, with a very diverse population.

Popular attractions in Baltimore include Fort McHenry National Monument, the American Visionary Art Museum, the Maryland Science Center, Geppi's Entertainment Museum, Federal Hill Park, and the USS Constellation.

Of course Baltimore is home to many more attractions that can be written about; they simply need to be visited and experienced! Being such a great city, Baltimore is home to a very strong legal force. There are many small, mid-size, and large firms in the city that practice in practically all areas of law. Baltimore residents should rest assure, because any of their legal needs can adequately be addressed.

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