commercial real estate

Texas Real Estate: Buying, Selling, and Owning Commercial Real Estate. Here Is What You Need to Know.

September 1, 2023 | Austin Jackson

Texas has been one of the nation’s hottest commercial real estate markets in recent years. Many companies are looking to relocate to the Lone Star State – especially in tech-friendly areas like Austin. This creates many opportunities for both buyers and sellers and the Texas real estate lawyers at Structure Law Group can help you in this process.

Commercial real estate transactions involve a lot of rules, contracts, and other moving parts. It is not something to be entered into lightly.

Know Your Goals–And Your Finances

California Real Estate: Buying, Selling, and Owning Commercial Real Estate: Here Is What You Need to Know

June 23, 2023 | Sonia Gore

Structure Law Group LLP’s California real estate attorneys can provide you with top-grade professional representation and guidance in real estate transactions. SLG’s attorneys work with investors, brokers, landlords and tenants in a wide range of matters including acquisitions, leases, transactions, financing, and tax planning.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with California’s commercial real estate market.

Tips for Buyers

Changes to the Texas Real Estate Market in 2023

March 24, 2023 | Koah Doud

While record inflation may be having a negative impact on home sales nationwide, Texas stands out as a sort of exception to the rule. Multiple housing markets in Texas continued to see increases even while many other parts of the country were suffering. If you are considering entering the real estate market in Texas, you will want to work with a Texas real estate attorney.

Several statistics and figures outline the continuing growth that Texas is experiencing. Many investors are, in turn, looking to Texas for their next commercial real estate investment project because there is so much potential.

Commercial Real Estate Facts in Texas

What are Escape Clauses in California Real Estate?

June 2, 2017 | Structure Law Group, LLP

Real estate transactions are complex and often involve valuable property and a significant sum of money. In a real estate transaction, both the buyer and seller of real estate have significant interests on the line they desire to protect; one way of doing this are escape clauses. Since many things can go wrong in a real estate transaction, real estate contracts include many different provisions and clauses that can come into play during the course of the deal or transaction. It is often wise to have an experienced California real estate attorney draft or review any contracts.

A real estate buyer understandably wants to be aware of the condition and known risks of the property they are purchasing and to ensure the transaction will not unknowingly cost them more money than anticipated in the long run. On the other hand, if a real estate seller enters into a contract with a particular buyer and stops soliciting other buyers, they can lose out on opportunities if that buyer suddenly backs out of the deal.

To protect buyers while also protecting the interests of sellers, many real estate contracts in California have one or more “escape clauses”. These escape clauses allow the buyer to withdraw from the transaction if certain circumstances arise and the seller has proper notice that the contract is contingent upon these clauses.

How do You Treat Leases in Bankruptcy?

May 19, 2017 | Ryan Penhallegon

A commercial landlord is confronted with a number of issues when a tenant files bankruptcy. When a tenant files bankruptcy with an unexpired lease, the debtor tenant is given the option to “assume” or “reject” the lease. If the debtor elects to assume the lease, it agrees to be bound by all terms of the lease and it must cure all defaults and provide the landlord with “adequate assurance of future performance” under the lease. If the debtor rejects the lease, the rejection constitutes a breach of the lease, giving the landlord claims for damages.

Assumption or Rejection. The first question that a commercial landlord will want to know is whether the debtor will assume or reject the unexpired lease.

If the debtor assumes the lease it means that the debtor intends to remain at the property as a tenant (or possible that it plans to assign the lease to a third party). In order for a debtor to assume a lease, the debtor must either not be in default under the lease or it must cure all pre- and post-petition defaults; it must give the landlord “adequate assurance of future performance under the lease,” and it must obtain bankruptcy court approval to assume the lease.

Should I Invest In A Resale Franchise?

February 10, 2017 | Structure Law Group, LLP

Starting a business is a difficult endeavor. While many people want the opportunity to start their own business, the time and commitment required to establish, develop, and grow a successful business are not for every potential entrepreneur. Instead of starting their own business, some individuals may look to another alternative: resale franchise.

A resale franchise is an already-established franchise business that the current owner is looking to sell. The current franchise owner may be selling his or her franchise for reasons such as a divorce, a death in the family, or even for purpose of retirement. Whatever the reason, a resale franchise provides an opportunity to dive into a business without building it from the ground up.

Investing in a Resale Franchise: Pros

What is an REIT?

December 16, 2016 | Structure Law Group, LLP

There are many different types of businesses in which you can invest and earn profits, many of which that involve real estate. One important investment opportunity is a real estate investment trust, or REIT. This type of investment was created by Congress to give stockholders the opportunity to reap benefits from income-producing real property without having to go through the entire process of purchasing the property. There are different types of REITs and also many regulatory requirements for this potentially lucrative business endeavor.

Types of REITs

There are three main types of Real Estate Investment Trusts and the following is a brief description of each:

Reviewing Your Commercial Lease

August 12, 2016 | Structure Law Group, LLP

Everyone knows what they say about real estate: location, location, location. This same axiom is definitely true for many businesses too. While some businesses may operate out of homes and employ their workforce remotely, many operations require a physical location to which workers and customers go on a daily basis. For example, stores, restaurants, and other locally-serving businesses always want to have a prime location with lots of foot traffic and easy access in town. Others, such as manufacturers, need large warehouses with affordable rent and room for all their equipment. While many business owners choose to own their building, many others do not have means to do so, or may not want to commit to one location long-term. For these reasons and more, many business owners lease their commercial spaces.

For any type of lease agreement or contract, you want to be sure that all of the provisions are fair and reasonable. A proper lease will set out your rights as a tenant, and you want to be sure it does so adequately. A commercial lease will also designate your responsibilities as a business tenant, and you should be aware of any terms that require unreasonable or difficult responsibilities from you. Because each of these lease types can be complex documents with confusing legal language, you should always have any potential leases reviewed by a highly experienced business attorney prior to signing.

Of course, you will want to make sure the length of the lease and rent requirements suit your needs. The following are some additional terms your attorney will consider and review:

Payment Bonds and Government Contracts

December 25, 2015 | Structure Law Group, LLP

Contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers have many tools at their disposal to protect their rights under construction contracts. While the mechanic’s lien is one of the most common ways a contractor or supplier can ensure full payment for their services, this type of legal tool can only be used for private construction projects against the private property owners. For this reason, many people who enter into government contracts may wonder what their options may be under the law to make sure they are properly compensated for their work. One of the most important tools under such circumstances is the payment bond.

What is a payment bond?

Payment bonds are common in many large-scale private construction projects and are further required in by California law for the following:

Mechanics Lien Law basics for Owners, Contractors, and Subcontractors

December 4, 2015 | Structure Law Group, LLP

Too often, a contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or material supplier on a construction job does not receive the compensation they deserve for the work they have performed or supplies they provided for the project. Fortunately, California law provides a method by which contractors and others can pursue adequate payment. If the job is a private construction project, a primary tool for receiving payment is the mechanics lien. The following are some brief explanations for frequently asked questions amount mechanics liens in California.

What exactly is a mechanics lien?

A mechanics lien is a tool that creates a security interest in the property on which you worked. After a certain amount of time and if payment is not received from the property owner, you can then sue to foreclose on the lien to satisfy the lien amount.