Commercial Real Estate Law in Wisconsin
In Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, commercial real estate is any parcel of land, or any building, which is utilized for business purposes, as opposed to residential, agricultural, or industrial use.
The laws in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin which govern commercial real estate differ significantly from the laws governing the rental and purchase of residential real estate.
When renting or buying residential real estate, renters and buyers have significant legal protections which often don't apply to commercial real estate.
For instance, residential real estate is covered 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 generally 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 Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Financing: The majority of small business owners in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin probably can't afford to buy much real estate outright, with cash paid up front, so most small business buy commercial real estate with a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan taken out for the purpose of buying real estate, using that real estate as collateral for the loan.
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 liable for any harm this defect cause, as well as the reduced value of the property, or the cost of repair.
Duty to Inspect: Buyers of commercial real estate are expected to be diligent, and a court will not reward a lack of diligence. Therefore, 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 Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin commercial real estate. These usually 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 essential to know about them before buying.
Can a Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin Attorney Help?
These issues are sometimes perplexing, and almost always very important. Therefore, it's essential to seek the assistance of a Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin real estate attorney if you have any dealings in this area.