Understanding the Commercial Lease Letter of Intent: Key Business Terms to Address Before the Lease Is Drafted
In most commercial leasing transactions, the parties begin negotiations with a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) or term sheet before drafting a formal lease agreement. Although the LOI is usually technically non-binding, it frequently establishes the core economic and...
What Is a Promissory Note in a Commercial Real Estate Transaction?
In most commercial real estate transactions—whether involving acquisition financing, seller financing, or capital contributions within a joint venture—the promissory note is the document that actually evidences the borrower’s repayment obligation. While loan...
Key Legal Considerations When Forming a Real Estate Joint Venture
Real estate joint ventures are among the most common ownership structures for middle-market commercial real estate acquisitions. In Massachusetts and elsewhere, these arrangements are typically implemented through limited liability companies governed by operating...
Operational Issues Industrial Tenants Should Diligence Before Signing a Warehouse Lease
Industrial tenants evaluating warehouse or distribution space often focus heavily on rental rate and square footage when selecting a facility. However, many of the operational characteristics that determine whether a facility will actually function for the tenant’s...
Rent Credits in a Commercial Lease: An FAQ Guide
Rent credits in a commercial lease are frequently misunderstood. Many people think of “free rent” at the beginning of a lease term and stop there. In reality, rent credits are broader than that. They can be negotiated concessions at lease inception, or they can...
How to Terminate a Commercial Lease – A Guide for Tenants
One of the questions we get asked most often is: as a commercial tenant, how can I terminate my lease? The first thing to understand is that, generally speaking, a commercial lease does not give a commercial tenant the right to terminate early. There is usually no...
Commercial Landlord’s Guide to Letters of Credit
In virtually every commercial lease negotiation, landlords look for credit support to backstop a tenant’s obligations. Whether it is unpaid rent, repair obligations, or damages caused by tenant default, landlords want to ensure there is a readily accessible source of...
Title and Survey Red Flags Unique to Industrial Sites
When evaluating an industrial site—whether for acquisition, development, or leasing—the title report and survey can reveal issues that aren’t as common in other asset classes. While every commercial property raises the usual concerns of access, encroachments, and...
Caps and Floors on Seller Liability in Commercial Real Estate Purchase Agreements
When negotiating a commercial real estate purchase agreement, one of the most important—and often misunderstood—topics is the allocation of risk between buyer and seller after closing. While the purchase price is the headline number, the contract provisions governing...
How Real Estate Investors Can Transfer Property Into an LLC
Many real estate investors begin by purchasing investment property in their personal names. While this is common, it is not always the most strategic ownership structure. Transferring real estate into a limited liability company can provide liability protection,...