Posted on July 16, 2019 in Commercial Real Estate

If you have toyed with the idea of commercial real estate investing, now is the time to take the plunge! Despite the previous concerns over an economic downturn, the market is expected to continue its growth. In fact, investors are likely to see some of the biggest gains in history over the next several years. Of course, that begs to question, where do you start? Also, what sector is most suited for a new investor like yourself, and how can you give yourself the best chance at success? Continue reading to learn the answers to these questions.

Examining the Different CRE Sectors

Commercial real estate is divided into categories known as sectors. Each has its own set of challenges, ROI opportunity, and nuances.

The Office/Occupier Sector: Deals with office space. As an investor, you would be working with corporations, medium-scale businesses, office shares, and the like. Economists expect office-use jobs to see their 10th consecutive year of growth, with a projected 1.6 percent rise in the upcoming year. This data suggests that investors will see a healthy return in the upcoming year.

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 Posted on July 09, 2019 in Commercial Lease Agreements

Most everyone knows what it feels like to plan something and set expectations on the outcome, only to encounter an obstacle along the way. Almost immediately, the bottleneck increases stress levels - because, as everyone knows, complications lead to delays and less than optimal results.

In the commercial real estate (CRE) industry, the space in which these losses occur in are known as “expectations gaps.” For the commercial investor and their team, the consequences of a gap can be dire, resulting in lengthy delays and lost income. Learn more about what causes these gaps, and how your firm can overcome them, in the following sections.

CRE Lawyers and CRE Investors - Results vs Expectations 

Real estate attorneys are often seen as the “bad guy” in a real estate deal - the reason that bottlenecks occur. This is not the case, however.

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 Posted on July 02, 2019 in Commercial Lease Agreements

With widespread mall closures for retailers like Nordstrom, JC Penny, and Macy's, commercial real estate owners are scrambling to fill space. Two major mall franchises have announced plans to add CBD shops to their list of retailers. Learn more about this interesting development in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry, and how it could impact your bottom line.

Mall Franchises Partner with Major CBD Retailer

Two mall franchises, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties, recently announced their plans to partner with the major CBD retailer, Green Growth Brands. More than 200 CBD shops will be opened in malls across the country over the next year. With a strong growth history and high-quality products, the CBD company is expected to flourish inside of malls.

Specifically, Green Growth Brands will be featuring its health and beauty stores inside of malls. They own two specific (but different) brands - one focused on soaps and shampoos, the other on the empowerment and wellness of women. The opening of CBD flower shops is also expected in some locations.

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 Posted on June 18, 2019 in Commercial Real Estate

Although there are many aspects that go into determining a commercial real estate investor's overall return on investment (ROI), the valuation of each property is one of the cornerstones. What do you need to know about property valuation to improve your overall ROI in commercial real estate (CRE), and how can a seasoned real estate lawyer help? The following explains.

There is More Than One Way to Valuate a Property 

Property valuations are not as cut and dry as some might like you to believe. Instead, there are multiple approaches that one can use to determine what their final ROI on a property might be.

The first is the cost approach, which examines the amount of money that it might take to procure a property and, if necessary, rebuild it. This is typically used for unique properties, as well as those that need or have undergone extensive repairs or upgrades.

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 Posted on June 11, 2019 in Commercial Real Estate

While it is true that you can boost your income and perhaps even build a nest egg with commercial real estate (CRE) investing, those who are not equipped to handle the process risk significant financial loss. First, there is the risk of a failed return on investment - an issue that can often be mitigated using seasoned legal assistance during each step of the transaction process. Then there is the chance that you may be sued if you fail to meet your legal obligations as a landlord. What are these obligations, and how can an attorney help you meet them? Continue reading to learn more.

1. CRE Landlords Are Required to Adhere to All Local and Federal Laws

All landlords are required to follow certain local and federal laws. Commercial landlords are no exception. You cannot discriminate based upon certain criteria (race, religion, etc.). Furthermore, you must adhere to all building codes and zoning laws. Failure to meet any one of these obligations can result in serious consequences, including (but not limited to) legal recourse.

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 Posted on June 04, 2019 in Commercial Real Estate

Although the big debate over global warming has made headlines in recent years, the scientific consensus is overwhelming: the planet is getting warmer, and it is happening at an alarming rate. This information, paired with the growth of the “green movement,” has increased the demand for eco-friendly applications in almost every industry. Commercial real estate (CRE) is no exception.

What does it mean to “go green” in the CRE industry, and how can you ensure that you get ahead of this trend? More importantly, how can you increase the chances that your green efforts will be profitable for your real estate company? Learn more in the following sections, including how the assistance of a seasoned CRE attorney can boost your profitability in the green CRE sector.

1. The “Green” Trend is Here to Stay

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 Posted on May 22, 2019 in Residential Purchases

Purchasing a first home is one of major steps in developing long-term financial stability. Sadly, many buyers are learning that the market's favor is no longer on their side. Still, with the right tools and resources, it is entirely possible to make your home purchase dreams a reality this spring. Learn more in the following sections, including how a seasoned real estate lawyer can help to tip the scales and even the play field as you enter the negotiaiton process in your home purchase.

Low Inventory and Higher Prices

During the Great Recession, investors flocked to the housing market. Many of them now own a significant percentage of livable homes throughout the country. While this may be good news for renters, who often struggle to find rental properties in high-demand areas, it also decreases the number of homes available for sale. This issue, paired with the slowdown of new housing construction after the Great Recession, means that home purchase prices are high right now, and will likely to remain high for the rest of the cycle.

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 Posted on May 15, 2019 in Commercial Real Estate

People measure real estate success in different ways. For some, it is their bottom line. Others only feel they are successful when they meet a certain investment goal (i.e. closing a specific number of deals in a year). Still, there are some who set their sites on sustainable, long-term wealth.

Building a Neighborhood - How Positive Community Impact Improves Investor Wealth

While there are those who fail to see the correlation between community development and long-term wealth, data shows that small-scale developers tend to build a stronger, more stable stream of income when they become intimately involved with the community in which they are developing. That is because they take interest in what the community wants, rather than simply relying on what is “trending,” which can be extremely important in certain parts of a city.

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 Posted on May 08, 2019 in Commercial Real Estate

When it comes to investing in commercial real estate, there are many factors that determine your final return - but just how important is the price of a property? Perhaps not as much as you think. Learn why in the following sections, and discover how our seasoned Naperville commercial real estate lawyers can provide you with additional leverage in your next CRE transaction.

Examining the Relevancy of Price in a CRE Transaction

While, ultimately, price does have an impact your bottom line in a real estate transaction, it may be far from the most important factor. Instead, matters like taxation, the potential long-term return on investment (ROI), utility costs, and other relevant issues may ultimately trump the importance of price on an investment property. As an example, consider the growth of Wham!, which started out at around $2.5 million for 50,000 square feet of space, but now weighs in around $11.5 million. If the investors who started out in this industry had been concerned about price in the beginning, they might have missed out on a highly profitable opportunity.

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 Posted on April 16, 2019 in Naperville Real Estate Lawyer

As technology advances, the way we handle everyday tasks changes. One prime example is the way that home buying has changed over the last few years. Long gone are the days when you must spend days (perhaps even weeks) viewing houses in person. Instead, you can take a virtual tour using drones and cameras. You can even complete your entire real estate transaction using technology.

One emerging technology trend in real estate is the iBuyer. This option allows homeowners to quickly and almost seamlessly sell their homes without the fanfare that is typically seen in a more “traditional” real estate transactions. Yet, like most things in life, there are some drawbacks to selling your home to an iBuyer. Learn more about them in the following sections, and discover how a seasoned real estate lawyer can help protect your interests, regardless of how you decide to sell your home.

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