Required Disclosures in Commercial Real Estate Sales

When speaking about purchases of any goods or services, there’s a saying as old as time: buyer beware. In common law, this is even considered a doctrine: caveat emptor. This legal doctrine comes into play in commercial real estate transactions. What this means is that the purchaser of a piece of commercial real estate has fewer protections relative to someone purchasing their first home or condo in Florida. This blog Read More

How Stay at Home Orders Are Affecting Real Estate Transactions

Purchasing a home is both an exciting milestone and an extremely stressful event. Even when things are running normally in the United States, people who are buying a property must deal with numerous moving parts and expenses. With nearly every facet of our lives upended by the global COVID-19 pandemic, prospective owners are faced with new challenges. Whether you’re in the middle of a property transaction or are Read More

Three Expensive Surprises That Can Ruin Your Home Purchase

A real estate purchase, due to its complexity, high stakes and regulatory aspects, is unlike most any other type of transaction. Every parcel of land, with or without improvements, is unique, so transfers of ownership require careful preparation based on analysis by a skilled professional. Here are a few of the mistakes that home buyers should avoid: Overextending yourself financially — Let’s say you find that Read More

Business Contracts in the Time of Coronavirus

As everyone’s lives are upended due to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping every corner of the world, business as usual seems almost impossible. For example, what about that seemingly rock-solid business contract you signed last fall? Performing as specified under it seems almost impossible now. So, what are business owners and managers like you supposed to do? To provide a bit of guidance in these uncertain times, we Read More

Employees vs. Independent Contractors: Differences and What They Mean for Your Business

In this hyper-connected, globalized economy and workforce, there have been massive changes to people’s money-making habits. It is extremely rare these days for one worker to stay at one job for more than a decade. Workers’ starting and ending their career with the same company happens far less frequently than in years’ past. This newfound mobility and flexibility has brought about the rise of the “gig economy,” in Read More

Business Owners Need to Read the Fine Print

Always get it in writing. You know that. But just as important is to read the agreements we sign. And yet, many of us really don’t. For example, when was the last time you carefully read an online agreement? You hastily click through the “next, next, next, submit” trying to get to the end of the document so you can get on with your day. And for the most part, that is perfectly fine. Unless your business requires Read More

Will You Get Property Tax Relief Due to the COVID-19 National Emergency?

Governments and even some private businesses have worked to ease the burden on people who are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For people who are concerned about losing their home after being laid off or seeing their business revenue plummet, programs have been established to offer rent and mortgage relief. While many will certainly welcome this news, homeowners might also be concerned about Read More

How Will Coronavirus Affect Contractual Relationships and Obligations?

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted practically every aspect of American life. Whether closed by government order or by concerns about public safety, millions of businesses around the country have seen their operations come to a halt. Despite the overwhelming effect of COVID-19, it is not a certainty that an “Act of God” clause in a business contract will enable a party to ignore its obligations under the Read More

4 Types of Shareholder Disputes

Conflict in business is unavoidable. There will always be some amount of friction, no matter the amount of planning and contract negotiations you undertake. This inevitable consequence of being in business is one reason why various stakeholders of a company – no matter the company’ size – should draft and sign robust contracts before engaging in business. Nevertheless, shareholder disputes do occur; our firm has Read More

My Pre-Purchase Inspection Went Badly — What Now?

If you haven’t been there yourself, you have probably heard the horror stories. Property inspection — a critical part of any home purchase — can be fraught with surprise and disappointment. Buyers may enter a contract on a house, and let other houses go off the market, only to learn from the inspection that their dream home is in fact a money pit. Maybe there is a radon gas issue, the heating system is on its last Read More