A commercial lease can be a cost-effective solution for a business that needs space. The organization can obtain a commercial facility or retail space without the challenges involved in purchasing real property. Commercial leases are an excellent option for startups…

New construction, renovations and land development will all have environmental consequences. Removing vegetation, adding drainage and paving roads will impact animal habitats and even contribute to flooding risks. The businesses that develop properties have to…

Virtually every jurisdiction in the U.S. has zoning regulations to help divide the property into commercial, rural, residential, and commercial zones. While each of these areas isn't supposed to overlap, they often do. Use modifications may also result in the rezoning of a district. All of this can impact real estate investors as they develop a planned community and even members of a homeowners' association down the road…

Any business which has been involved in the purchase or sale of real estate knows that the title company asks for a lot of information from both sides before the transaction can close. One of the items which is requested seems something of a self-evident request: proof of a business’ legal existence. Generally, this will be a copy of the company’s articles of incorporation (if it is a corporation) or a certificate of organization (if it is a limited liability company, limited partnership or similar entity). Occasionally, this is one of the last things that seems to be requested or provided and few people understand the real reason for the request…

Anyone who has either bought or sold a home knows that part of the process is preparing and reviewing a seller disclosure and having the property inspected by a home inspector. A seller who starts to prepare a seller disclosure form is faced with the task of telling complete strangers about all of the faults of their beloved home. In a way, the seller is required to call their own baby “ugly”. This can be a painful process. Further, a seller may not realize the existence of certain problems with the house…

Anyone who purchases a condominium unit is entitled to certain disclosures. If the unit is brand new and is being purchased from the Declarant, the buyer is entitled to a Public Offering Statement which contains extensive information concerning the anticipated organization, operation and condition of the condominium itself. In many cases there may not be much actual history in existence. On the other hand, a buyer of a condominium unit from an owner other than the Declarant is entitled to a resale certificate from the condominium association…

Small business owners face a number of challenges to keep up with bigger corporate competitors. Trying to meet these high expectations can feel daunting, but the success of your business is worth the added effort. Environmental compliance comprises one set of expectations your business needs to meet. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitors and regulates potential violations in order to maintain natural resources. Small businesses are subject to EPA regulations the same way as their bigger competitors, but the agency has long-standing policies in place to attempt to lessen the burden of meeting regulatory standards. The regulators have recognized the impact of regulations on business owners and devised solutions to mitigate the necessary burden of compliance…