Charleston Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Charleston, SC

Commercial Real Estate Law in South Carolina

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

The laws regulating real estate in Charleston, South Carolina apply differently when dealing with commercial, as opposed to residential, real estate.

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

For instance, residential real estate is controlled by laws concerning rent control, living conditions, and other things relevant to buildings where people will be living. Most of these protections don't apply to commercial real estate, because the law assumes that the average business person is a bit more sophisticated in such dealings than the general population, and because a place to do business is usually less important than a place to live. However, the most basic protections, such as protection from fraud and deliberate concealment of defects, still apply.

Common Commercial Real Estate Law Issues in Charleston, South Carolina

Financing: The majority of small businesses in Charleston, South Carolina can't afford to make large real estate purchases with the money they have in the bank. Still, buying real estate is sometimes imperative for a business' survival. This problem is sometimes remedied by taking out a mortgage; a loan used to buy property, with that same property being used to secure the loan.

Disclosure of Defects: Sellers of real estate have an requirement to inform prospective buyers of any defects present in the property, such as water damage and other structural problems. Essentially, if the defect is significant enough that it might affect a reasonable buyer's decision on whether or not to purchase the property, and the seller knows about it, it must be disclosed. Failure to disclose such defects would give a buyer the right to sue the seller, and recover substantial damages, including the cost of repairing the defect, compensation for any injuries or illness caused by it, and the reduction in the property's value caused by the defect.

Duty to Inspect: Buyers of commercial real estate are expected to be diligent, and a court will not reward a lack of diligence. Consequently, 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: Undisclosed encumbrances are defects of another sort: defects of title. An encumbrance is any interest that a third party has in the Charleston, South Carolina commercial real estate. These typically 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 necessary to know about them before buying.

Can a Charleston, South Carolina Attorney Help?

The issues surrounding commercial real estate in Charleston, South Carolina can get fairly complex. Therefore, it's never a bad idea to have the assistance of an efficient commercial real estate attorney.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina is an important port city located in Charleston County. It is nicknamed the "Holy City" due to the large number of churches that mark the city's skyline. As a port city, trade is central to the city, as a number of ships and boats launch regularly from Charleston.

Charleston is unique among cities that showcase a Southern culture. In general, Charleston's community culture is a rich blend of French, English, West African, and southern American elements. Particularly, the "Charleston dialect" is a rare dialect featuring distinct phrases and is not comparable to other dialects in the Southern U.S.

Charleston, South Carolina draws many visitors every year when it holds its annual Spoleto Festival USA. The Spoleto Festival is an art festival lasting 17 days and featuring more than 100 performances by artists practicing in different disciplines. The event is an internationally recognized festival and is considered to be the premier performing arts festival of the U.S. Other notable Charleston attractions include live music at the Music Farm, and the Citadel a famous military college. Many Charleston lawyers studied at Charleston School of Law.

Lawyers in Charleston, South Carolina are available to assist persons who may have differing legal needs. Charleston is the first city in the United States to institute a "Livability Court", which is a municipal court that focuses on legal cases involving housing, animal control, tourism, traffic, the environment, waste, and compliance with city zoning codes.

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