Fairfax Commercial Real Estate Lawyers

Find the right Commercial Real Estate attorney in Fairfax, VA

Commercial Real Estate Law in Virginia

Commercial real estate is any type of land or structure in Fairfax, Virginia which is used for business purposes, primarily the sale of goods and/or services to the public.

The Fairfax, Virginia laws governing commercial real estate differ significantly from the laws that cover residential and other types of real estate.

People who buy and rent residential unites have a larger 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 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 Fairfax, Virginia

Financing: Some small businesses in Fairfax, Virginia find it necessary, at some point, to purchase a piece of real estate, for various reasons. However, 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 people have hundreds of thousands of dollars just sitting in the bank. One solution to this is a mortgage, which is similar to most other types 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, permitting 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 accountable to the buyer or renter for any damages caused by this concealment.

Duty to Inspect: This is a companion to the duty to disclose defects. Typically, 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: These are defects to title, rather than physical defects. They are legal issues which might make it difficult or impossible for a landowner to make full use of their land. In Fairfax, Virginia, these might include easements. An easement is a right to use property held by a party other than the owner. This use is often very limited in scope, such as allowing the holder of the easement to cross the property to access a public road, or something similar. Such rights usually have to be recognized and honored by new owners, so if they buy property not knowing about them, they might be seriously inconvenienced.

Can a Fairfax, Virginia Attorney Help?

These issues can be very complicated, and most people consider such financially-weighty decisions to be very critical. If you are one of those people, it's a smart move to contact a Fairfax, Virginia real estate attorney if you are facing any of the issues discussed above.

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Life in Fairfax

Fairfax, Virginia is the county seat of Fairfax County. However, it is an independent city, so it is not technically part of the county in which it is physically located, but is a separate legal entity, over which the county doesn't exercise jurisdiction. It has a population of about 24,000 people. Fairfax, Virginia is part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and is generally considered a suburb of Washington, D.C. Fairfax is a popular place to live for people who have jobs in D.C., and given the large number of government and private-sector jobs in the Washington, D.C. area, Fairfax is a place that many professionals who are currently having trouble finding work are considering relocating to. Old town Fairfax recently underwent a major redevelopment, adding a new public library, along with tens of thousands of square feet of new retail and restaurant space, and nearly 100 upscale condominium units. There are many lawyers in and around Fairfax, Virginia. A good Fairfax, Virginia lawyer can make it infinitely easier to deal with just about any legal issue a person might face. If you or a loved one needs any legal assistance whatsoever, regardless of the reason, you shouldn't hesitate to contact a Fairfax, Virginia attorney.

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