Reading Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

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Commercial Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

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

The laws regulating real estate in Reading, Pennsylvania apply differently when dealing with commercial, as opposed to residential, 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 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 Reading, Pennsylvania

Financing: Some small businesses in Reading, 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 of commercial property acts to conceal a significant defect in the property, and then sells the property, he will be responsible for any harm this defect cause, as well as the reduced value of the property, or the cost of repair.

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 some small ownership interest in land held by a third party, or some right held by a third party to restrict the use of a parcel of land. A typical encumbrance is an easement. In Reading, Pennsylvania, an easement is some right of some third party to make limited use of land owned by someone else. For instance, cable companies often purchase easements from property owners (or they are imposed by the government) allowing them to string cable wiring from the telephone wires on the street to nearby houses. Like any other property right, the holder of an easement can prevent others from interfering with it. Obviously, if a buyer doesn't know about an encumbrance on a piece of land, he might find that he's unable to make the use of the land that he was expecting.

Can a Reading, Pennsylvania 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 Reading, Pennsylvania attorney before buying or selling commercial real estate.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Reading

Reading is located in southeast Pennsylvania. Specifically it is in Berks County. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 88,082 people. Similarly populated cities include Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Erie.

A very popular spot for visitors is the Reading Public Museum. The reason why this is such a popular attraction is because it is an art, science and history museum in one! Therefore, visitors can escape into many worlds by visiting this one site. Another popular site is the Reading Pagoda, which is located on top of Mount Penn. The view from this area is supposedly breathtaking.

Top employers include Boscov's, Wal-Mart, Carpenter Technology Corporation, Berks County, East Penn Manufacturing Co., The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, and Reading School District. Reading is also home to many attorneys who practice law in various areas. These attorneys provide excellent legal guidance to employers, small businesses and local residents.

Overall, Reading is a charming place to visit and wonderful place to call home.

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