Naperville, IL 60563
Call Us Today for an Initial Consultation
630-778-3818
Recent Blog Posts
Planning for the Future: Real Estate Investing Could Boost Your Retirement Income
As investors near retirement, they may begin to worry that their nest egg will not be sufficient enough to sustain them. Could real estate investing help boost them over the finish line? Perhaps, but it is important that potential real estate investors understand the various investing methods, as well as the challenges and pitfalls that can accompany each one. Learn more in the following sections, including how a seasoned real estate lawyer can help you in building a successful real estate portfolio.
Why Real Estate Investing?
Real estate tends to be one of the least volatile investing markets, and it typically outperforms other asset classes. That can make it a wonderful diversification tool for the seasoned investor, especially if they are nearing retirement age. It is important to understand that real estate dips do occur and your money is not typically as liquid in the real estate market, so you must be willing and able to weather the potential storms.
Real Estate Crowdfunding - What You Need to Know Before Investing
Commercial real estate (CRE) investment was once reserved for the elite, but changes in federal laws have opened up several methods that people can use to break into the CRE market. One such example is real estate crowdfunding. Of course, like most investment opportunities, there are potential risks that one must be aware of when participating real estate crowdfunding. Learn more in the following sections, and discover how a seasoned commercial real estate attorney can help you mitigate against the most common issues that investors may face in CRE crowdfunding.
How Crowdfunding Has Changed the Face of Commercial Real Estate
Prior to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012, investors were only able to access institutional-quality real estate through private equity funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or direct investment. All of these options have serious limitations. In an REIT, individuals are investing their money into a pre-constructed strategy or portfolio rather than an individual property. Private equity funds are usually cost-prohibitive, and they often lack transparency for the investor. Direct investment can allow an investor to bypass these issues, but they require ample time, money, and labor - something that many investors lack.
Planning for the Future of Commercial Real Estate - A Closer Look at Generation Z
Generation Z now accounts for more than 25 percent of the current U.S. population, and they are expected to make up 40 percent of all consumers by the year 2020. As such, companies and commercial real estate developers are encouraged to start thinking with the “new generation” in mind. Learn how to better cater to this up-and-coming demographic, and discover how a seasoned real estate lawyer can assist you as you continue to expand your investment portfolio.
Getting to Know Generation Z
Generation X saw the start of the internet. Millennials were a part of the upward trend, but they still remember a time when stores were a place to shop. Generation Z grew up with the world at their fingertips, so their expectations are extremely different than the generations before them. They look at retail spots as places to do things, rather than buy things. A company's ecological footprint and treatment of their employees are deciding factors for this group of consumers, and they are less enthralled by experience than the ease of navigation. They want elements that promote health and emotional well-being. They are also less likely to work in a brick-and-mortar building, but when they do choose to work at a location, they want shared work spaces, unassigned seating, and quiet zones that help them “unplug” from their digital worlds.
Real Estate Development - Zoning Variances and Exceptions
When you invest in commercial property, it is critical that you are able to use it as planned. Unfortunately, if due diligence is not performed, there could be zoning issues that hinder the completion of a project. Depending on the situation, developers may be permitted an exception, otherwise known as a zoning variance. Learn more about variances, when they apply, and how a skilled real estate attorney can help with pursuing one for your current development project.
What is a Zoning Variance?
Local municipalities are responsible for the way their community develops. Zoning ordinances allow them to control and limit the presence of undesired structures and land uses. Most of the time, those ordnances are based on community desires (i.e. residents not wanting a factory near their homes), rather than government desires, but there are exceptions. Examples include ordinances that prioritize land and wildlife preservation.
Catering to the Millennial Generation - What Stands in the Way of Home Ownership?
Millennials are more than just history's youngest consumers; they have shaped the very world in which we live. Their love for technology has made items that were formerly seen as conveniences - things like free wifi and USB ports - an expectation, rather than a perk in restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops. A strong desire to make less of an impact on the planet than the generations before them, millennials have also encouraged many companies to adopt more eco-friendly practices. Now, with many of them reaching a stage where they want to start a family, real estate developers who wish to achieve future growth and success are having to consider (and find solutions for) the challenges that stand in the way of home ownership for this unique demographic. A recent survey may help shed some light on the subject.
Millennials Express Concerns Over Rising Home Prices and Interest Rates
5 Considerations to Make Before Investing in Commercial Real Estate
If you are looking for a way to diversify your real estate portfolio and have not yet ventured into commercial real estate, now could be the time to do so. However, there are some important differences between commercial and residential real estate transactions that one must understand before diving into the market. Gain a firm grasp on these variances with help from the following sections, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned real estate lawyer can help improve the outcome of your first (and hopefully all successive) commercial real estate transaction(s).
What is the Market Doing in Your Chosen CRE Sector?
Commercial real estate involves many sub-sectors (housing developments, office spaces, restaurants, etc.), so investors need to understand the various nuances and fundamentals of their chosen sector. Not only does this decrease the risk of project failure, but it can also increase one's chances of yielding a high return. Savvy CRE investors can also use their market knowledge to fine-tune their investment path and diversify their real estate portfolios.
Protecting Your Commercial Real Estate Properties in the Digital Era
Most commercial real estate investors recognize that the digital era is changing everything about business - from how retailers must advertise to the way they use space. Mitigating for this issue and maintaining a thriving portfolio can be difficult, however, as it t requires tenacity, creativity, and a willingness to think outside the “big box.” Learn more about how you can protect your CRE portfolio in the digital era, and discover how a skilled real estate attorney can assist.
The Digital Era's Impact on Commercial Real Estate
People used to spend countless hours at the mall and big-box stores. Now they go to their favorite store's website (or perhaps even a reseller) and purchase items from the comfort of their own home. Retailers like Amazon are even making it possible for consumers to order everyday items online and have them delivered, sometimes in the same day. In short, brick-and-mortar stores are seeing less foot traffic, and businesses that have failed to build a digital platform have already either gone under or are currently at serious risk of doing so in the future.
Real Estate Investing Basics - Understanding the Fundamental Differences Between Single Family Homes and Commercial Property
While it is not uncommon for an investor to focus on only one type of real estate, the wealth that they seek is often easiest to achieve with a diverse investment portfolio. Not only does this allow for multiple streams of income, it also provides investors with better protection from fluctuations in any given market. Unfortunately, when investors do not understand the fundamental differences between the two most common real estate models - single-family residential real estate units and commercial real estate (CRE) - they risk significant financial loss.
Use the following sections to gain a better understanding of the key differences between these real estate sectors and how they can be used to determine the potential return on investment (ROI) on any given property, and discover what a seasoned real estate attorney can do to help improve the outcome of your next residential or commercial real estate transaction.
Examining the Potential Impact of Sears’ Bankruptcy on the CRE Market
In 2012, there were approximately 4,000 Sears stores in the United States. A little while after hitting that peak, Sears started to experience a downturn. Now, with less than 700 stores, nationwide, the company is facing bankruptcy. What might the mean for the commercial real estate sector? The following examines the possibilities, and it provides some viable solutions for commercial real estate owners who are looking to start on a new investment venture.
Sears’ Bankruptcy Restructuring Plan Involves More Store Closures by End of Year
In their Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring plan, Sears is set to close another 142 stores before the end of the year. Many of these closures will happen in top two tier malls (those that generate at least $350 in revenue per square foot). There has been no word on just how many employees will lose their jobs, but the company has already downsized its workforce from over 90,000 employees to just 68,000.
Examining the Characteristics of a Successful Commercial Real Estate Investor (and Why They Matter)
Commercial real estate investment (CRE) has become known as one of the most effective strategies for building wealth and a healthy retirement fund - but it may not be the best industry for every everyone. Transactions often happen quickly, the working hours can be long and intense, and it is not uncommon for an investor to buckle under the pressure in such a highly competitive market. Examine the five characteristics of a successful CRE investor to determine if commercial investing may be appropriate for your real estate portfolio, and discover how a seasoned real estate lawyer can help to mitigate the risks in areas where you may fall short.
Characteristic #1 - Adept Listening Skills
Of all the skills that a successful commercial real estate attorney should possess, adept listening skills are, perhaps, the most critical. It is required during every phase of the commercial real estate transaction process, and it is how you ensure that you are meeting the needs and demands of your customers. If you struggle with listening, consider practicing this skill to improve your potential profitability in the CRE industry.
1730 Park Street, Suite 117, Naperville, IL 60563
630-778-3818
