Allentown Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Allentown, PA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Commercial real estate is any form of land or structure in Allentown, Pennsylvania which is utilized for business purposes, mainly the sale of goods and/or services to the public.

The laws in Allentown, Pennsylvania which regulate commercial real estate differ considerably from the laws governing the rental and purchase of residential real estate.

People who buy and rent residential unites have a higher deal of legal protections not available to buyers of commercial property.

These absent protections include rent control, and warranties of habitability, among others. The most general protections, such as prohibiting sellers of real estate from lying regarding the property to the buyer, apply in any context, however.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Financing: Some small businesses in Allentown, Pennsylvania 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, authorizing the bank to foreclose on it in case the buyer defaults.

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

Duty to Inspect: Lest you believe that the duty to disclose defects relieves any duty of diligence on the part of the buyer, the law will not reward such lapses with a major cause of action. Buyers have a duty to conduct a reasonable inspection of the property before they buy it, typicallyy with a licensed building inspector. If the buyer fails to do this, they won't be able to recover any damages for defects which they could have discovered through a reasonable inspection.

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 Allentown, Pennsylvania 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 Allentown, Pennsylvania Attorney Help?

Because of the complexity and importance of many of the issues regarding commercial real estate, it is almost always imperative to consult with an Allentown, Pennsylvania attorney before buying or selling commercial real estate.

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Life in Allentown

Allentown, Pennsylvania is a historic town located in an area known as "Lehigh Valley". The city is best known for its large number of century-old industrial complexes, commercial structures, and historic homes.

Much of Allentown's distinctive residential architecture is concentrated in its historic district of West Park. West Park is part of a larger community known as Center City. Center City in Allentown, Pennsylvania is comprised of "stately homes" featuring Victorian and Craftsman styles of homebuilding. Federal rowhomes are also common in Allentown. The city also boasts one America's best park systems. The city's park system was influenced by the "City Beautiful" planning movement in the 1890's and early 1900's.

The culture of Allentown is largely influenced by old-world German heritage that stretches back centuries. In particular, Allentown cuisine features many traditional treats that are exemplary of "Dutch Pennsylvania" culture. Allentown, Pennsylvania is an excellent city to visit, as it hosts many events and attractions. Some events and destinations include the Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the Baum School of Art, and the Allentown Symphony Hall.

Lawyers in Allentown, Pennsylvania are available to assist residents in a number of legal fields. Allentown lawyers are familiar with the unique set of laws that govern the city. Experienced lawyers are able to assist Allentown residents with questions, legal complaints, and inquiries.

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