Cincinnati Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Cincinnati, OH

Commercial Real Estate Law in Ohio

Commercial Real Estate Law in Cincinnati, Ohio is any form of land or permanent structure which isn't utilized for residential or industrial purposes, and is instead used for a business involving the buying and selling of goods or services.

The Cincinnati, Ohio laws regulating commercial real estate differ significantly from the laws that cover residential and other types of real estate.

Most of the protections that buyers and renters of residential real estate enjoy rarely apply to renters of commercial real estate.

For instance, 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 Cincinnati, Ohio

Financing: Some small businesses in Cincinnati, Ohio find it necessary, at some point, to purchase a piece of real estate, for various reasons. Nonetheless, 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 individuals have hundreds of thousands of dollars just sitting in the bank. One solution to this is a mortgage, which is similar to most other forms 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, allowing 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 typical, 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. 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: 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 difficult for the buyer to use the land as they intended when they bought it. A common type of encumbrance in Cincinnati, Ohio 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 Cincinnati, Ohio Attorney Help?

Because of the complexity and importance of many of the issues regarding commercial real estate, it is almost always crucial to consult with a Cincinnati, Ohio attorney before buying or selling commercial real estate.

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Life in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County, Ohio. It has a population of over 333,000 which makes it the third-largest city in Ohio (behind Columbus and Cleveland).

In the early 19th Century, when the U.S. was rapidly expanding westward, Cincinnati became the first "boomtown" (a community that experiences sudden and massive population and economic growth) in what was then the western frontier to rival the more-established cities of the East Coast in size and wealth.

Before railroads were common, steamboats which traveled along the country's larger rivers were the predominant method of mass transport. Cincinnati, being near the Ohio River, was a major transportation hub. However, when railroads became more predominant, Cincinnati's importance in the transport industry waned, and it was quickly surpassed in population by nearby cities, such as Chicago.

Modernly, Cincinnati, Ohio is no economic slouch, and hosts headquarters or major satellite offices of many large, multinational corporations, such as Macy's, Proctor and Gamble, and The Kroger Company (a large supermarket chain, and parent company of a few smaller, regional chains).

Being a relatively large city, there are plenty of lawyers in Cincinnati, Ohio who can handle just about any legal problem that can possibly come up. While no single lawyer can handle every type of case, there are enough specialized Cincinnati, Ohio lawyers that there's at least one who can handle yours.

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