Legal Advice Blog: Legal Advice, Case Insights, & Local Law Information

During the past few weeks, the stock market has gone on a wild ride. Naturally, investors in Los Angeles may be on edge as a result. In fact, the volatility of the stock market may spur more investors to devote more of their funds to directly owning real estate, including buildings featuring commercial leases. When people decide to invest in the real estate market, they generally do not do this in a vacuum. In other words, they look at a wide range of other investing opportunities to take advantage of as well. These other opportunities may include, for example, bonds, stocks, private equity and even public real estate investment trusts. As a result, the behavior of the bond and stock market can significantly impact investors’ decisions regarding their real estate investments. Although some people who are already invested in real estate might overlook the stock market’s recent volatility, they may want to assess long term whether investing in commercial real estate is the way to go. Right now, experts say it is. For this reason, more investors who currently lack real estate assets may want to start investing in income-generating properties in order to decrease their risk and enjoy more reliable and stable cash flow in the coming months. Of course, those who have never been through the process of purchasing buildings featuring commercial leases may feel intimidated by it. After all, just one mistake may cause a potentially lucrative deal to slip through an investor’s fingers. Fortunately, an attorney can provide investors with the guidance they need to seal the deal and thus achieve their long-term commercial real estate goals in Los Angeles.

Investors who are active in residential real estate in Los Angeles may want to dip their feet into the commercial property world. After all, purchasing properties offering commercial leases has some special perks. Here is a glimpse at why going commercial might be a smart idea. Commercial real estate properties are equivalent to businesses that come with overhead costs. The right commercial property may be one used for a factory, a warehouse, a storage facility or a medical facility, for example. Commercial properties are categorized into classes, with Class A properties being easy to access, B properties requiring some minor upgrades and C requiring hefty capital investments. The benefit of these types of buildings is that they can have several units, which means multiple streams of income. Furthermore, commercial leases typically last longer than their residential counterparts do. Research shows that commercial property sales are on the rise in 2018. Part of the reason that commercial real estate is so big is that it can handle fluctuations in the market more easily due to the multiple high rents that investors can get from tenants. In addition, since commercial real estate is tangible, it provides stability and can be used as collateral. Although getting into the world of properties featuring commercial leases can be exciting, it can also be nerve-wracking. After all, commercial properties come with high price tags, so more is generally at stake with commercial versus residential real estate purchases. Fortunately, an attorney in Los Angeles can walk an investor through the legal aspects of a commercial real estate deal to ensure that his or her best interests are protected each step of the way.

Investors who are active in residential real estate in Los Angeles may want to dip their feet into the commercial property world. After all, purchasing properties offering commercial leases has some special perks. Here is a glimpse at why going commercial might be a smart idea. Commercial real estate properties are equivalent to businesses that come with overhead costs. The right commercial property may be one used for a factory, a warehouse, a storage facility or a medical facility, for example. Commercial properties are categorized into classes, with Class A properties being easy to access, B properties requiring some minor upgrades and C requiring hefty capital investments. The benefit of these types of buildings is that they can have several units, which means multiple streams of income. Furthermore, commercial leases typically last longer than their residential counterparts do. Research shows that commercial property sales are on the rise in 2018. Part of the reason that commercial real estate is so big is that it can handle fluctuations in the market more easily due to the multiple high rents that investors can get from tenants. In addition, since commercial real estate is tangible, it provides stability and can be used as collateral. Although getting into the world of properties featuring commercial leases can be exciting, it can also be nerve-wracking. After all, commercial properties come with high price tags, so more is generally at stake with commercial versus residential real estate purchases. Fortunately, an attorney in Los Angeles can walk an investor through the legal aspects of a commercial real estate deal to ensure that his or her best interests are protected each step of the way.

California landlords know there are many regulations they must follow in order to protect the rights, safety and interests of their tenants. Whether you are a commercial property owner or you own residential rental property, it is for your own benefit to know how to protect yourself from the fallout that comes with tenant injuries. This will limit your exposure to litigation and legal complications that can cost you time and money in the future. It may be beneficial for you to learn about what happens if a tenant suffers an injury on your property. It is often not clear who is to blame for an accident, but there are times during which the injured party could move forward with legal action against you. You need to know your duties to your tenants as well as how to fight back when faced with the threat of legal action. What are your duties to your tenants? Landlords have certain responsibilities to their tenants. Failure to take the following actions will not only increase the chance of an accident, but it can also increase the chance of a civil claim against you: Keep common areas maintained and free from any unnecessary hazards. Warn tenants about potential hazards and make sure potential dangers are clearly marked. Make all furnished spaces clean and safe for tenants. You may be liable for injuries and harm caused to a tenant if he or she can prove that you knew about the hazard and had a reasonable amount of time to fix it but did not. Cases involving landlord negligence are complex, and it is costly and stressful to defend yourself. A smart practice for you is to evaluate your insurance coverage, inspect your properties on a regular basis and make it a practice to address potential problems promptly and efficiently. Through adequate risk management measures, you can save yourself from various types of complications that can arise from injured tenants. In addition to making sure you have the right insurance coverage, it is worthwhile to understand the various other steps you can take to limit your risks. An explanation of your options As a landlord, it is beneficial to protect yourself against the chance of litigation, no matter what type of property you own and rent. To learn more about how you can prevent disputes that can lead to unexpected costs and financial losses, it might be helpful to start with a complete assessment of your risk management needs.

California landlords know there are many regulations they must follow in order to protect the rights, safety and interests of their tenants. Whether you are a commercial property owner or you own residential rental property, it is for your own benefit to know how to protect yourself from the fallout that comes with tenant injuries. This will limit your exposure to litigation and legal complications that can cost you time and money in the future. It may be beneficial for you to learn about what happens if a tenant suffers an injury on your property. It is often not clear who is to blame for an accident, but there are times during which the injured party could move forward with legal action against you. You need to know your duties to your tenants as well as how to fight back when faced with the threat of legal action. What are your duties to your tenants? Landlords have certain responsibilities to their tenants. Failure to take the following actions will not only increase the chance of an accident, but it can also increase the chance of a civil claim against you: Keep common areas maintained and free from any unnecessary hazards. Warn tenants about potential hazards and make sure potential dangers are clearly marked. Make all furnished spaces clean and safe for tenants. You may be liable for injuries and harm caused to a tenant if he or she can prove that you knew about the hazard and had a reasonable amount of time to fix it but did not. Cases involving landlord negligence are complex, and it is costly and stressful to defend yourself. A smart practice for you is to evaluate your insurance coverage, inspect your properties on a regular basis and make it a practice to address potential problems promptly and efficiently. Through adequate risk management measures, you can save yourself from various types of complications that can arise from injured tenants. In addition to making sure you have the right insurance coverage, it is worthwhile to understand the various other steps you can take to limit your risks. An explanation of your options As a landlord, it is beneficial to protect yourself against the chance of litigation, no matter what type of property you own and rent. To learn more about how you can prevent disputes that can lead to unexpected costs and financial losses, it might be helpful to start with a complete assessment of your risk management needs.

The nonresidential property industry in Los Angeles and other parts of California continues to thrive, especially in the area of industrial buildings. The reason for this is that more companies need buildings that can be used for fulfillment and distribution activities related to electronic commerce. However, a new trend in the industry is that more buildings featuring commercial leases will end up being vertical rather than horizontal. A warehouse project in the North Bay is specifically poised to cause more buildings to stand taller than ever before. Site work for this project started recently for more than a million square feet. Two cross-loading structures spanning 702,000 and 362,000 square feet are slated to be completed in late 2019 and will stand 40 feet tall. With taller buildings beginning to pick up steam, the working world will soon have to make adjustments to accommodate this change. Specifically, layout and equipment upgrades may be required. For instance, taller racking will be needed for inventory purposes, along with forklifts that can reach higher heights, and even mezzanine decking. The world of commercial real estate can no doubt be exciting due to its constantly evolving nature today. However, purchasing buildings featuring commercial leases can understandably be confusing and even intimidating. After all, even for those who are not necessarily novices in this area, no two commercial real estate transactions are exactly the same. Fortunately, an attorney in Los Angeles can provide the legal guidance needed to complete even complicated commercial real estate deals in the most favorable manner possible.

The nonresidential property industry in Los Angeles and other parts of California continues to thrive, especially in the area of industrial buildings. The reason for this is that more companies need buildings that can be used for fulfillment and distribution activities related to electronic commerce. However, a new trend in the industry is that more buildings featuring commercial leases will end up being vertical rather than horizontal. A warehouse project in the North Bay is specifically poised to cause more buildings to stand taller than ever before. Site work for this project started recently for more than a million square feet. Two cross-loading structures spanning 702,000 and 362,000 square feet are slated to be completed in late 2019 and will stand 40 feet tall. With taller buildings beginning to pick up steam, the working world will soon have to make adjustments to accommodate this change. Specifically, layout and equipment upgrades may be required. For instance, taller racking will be needed for inventory purposes, along with forklifts that can reach higher heights, and even mezzanine decking. The world of commercial real estate can no doubt be exciting due to its constantly evolving nature today. However, purchasing buildings featuring commercial leases can understandably be confusing and even intimidating. After all, even for those who are not necessarily novices in this area, no two commercial real estate transactions are exactly the same. Fortunately, an attorney in Los Angeles can provide the legal guidance needed to complete even complicated commercial real estate deals in the most favorable manner possible.

Investors in Los Angeles and other parts of the United States might understandably be interested in purchasing older properties. The reason for this is that some tenants may view older properties featuring commercial leases as being more authentic and having more architectural character. The main obstacle that investors face with these types of properties, though, is that updating them from a technology standpoint can be difficult. Retrofitting older properties to turn them into state-of-the-art office spaces is a popular move right now. However, not all properties can be made to feature some of the latest technologies. These technologies include, for example, those associated with monitoring parts of buildings that are not used very often, as well as facial recognition and phone security access technologies. As a result, it is likely that many investors and tenants will start to shift away from older properties and toward newer ones. Startup companies and media businesses are especially interested in these types of spaces. These spaces not only make it easy for businesses to incorporate technology into their operations but they may also be more convenient for workers. For instance, workers may not have to wait in long lines to use the restroom in a newer building as they would in older properties that were created for smaller workforces. Both older and newer properties featuring commercial leases have their pros and cons. However, no matter which types of properties investors choose, they can both be difficult to buy if investors are not familiar with the commercial real estate transaction process in today’s competitive market. An attorney in Los Angeles can provide investors with the guidance they need to navigate their transactions successfully.

Investors in Los Angeles and other parts of the United States might understandably be interested in purchasing older properties. The reason for this is that some tenants may view older properties featuring commercial leases as being more authentic and having more architectural character. The main obstacle that investors face with these types of properties, though, is that updating them from a technology standpoint can be difficult. Retrofitting older properties to turn them into state-of-the-art office spaces is a popular move right now. However, not all properties can be made to feature some of the latest technologies. These technologies include, for example, those associated with monitoring parts of buildings that are not used very often, as well as facial recognition and phone security access technologies. As a result, it is likely that many investors and tenants will start to shift away from older properties and toward newer ones. Startup companies and media businesses are especially interested in these types of spaces. These spaces not only make it easy for businesses to incorporate technology into their operations but they may also be more convenient for workers. For instance, workers may not have to wait in long lines to use the restroom in a newer building as they would in older properties that were created for smaller workforces. Both older and newer properties featuring commercial leases have their pros and cons. However, no matter which types of properties investors choose, they can both be difficult to buy if investors are not familiar with the commercial real estate transaction process in today’s competitive market. An attorney in Los Angeles can provide investors with the guidance they need to navigate their transactions successfully.

Technology has transformed nearly all aspects of people’s lives, and real estate in Los Angeles and other parts of California is no exception. Specifically, those who own properties featuring commercial leases will no doubt be impacted by proptech companies — companies that produce technology related to properties — in the years ahead. Here is a look at what proptech companies are doing and how this will impact real estate in 2018 and beyond. Proptech businesses are producing applications designed to transform occupant experiences and building management. It is anticipated that proptech will be critical for every commercial real estate stakeholder in the coming years. These stakeholders include landlords, tenants and property managers. For example, co-working spaces are especially becoming increasingly popular in commercial real estate. Technology can now reduce friction related to transactions and boost the viability and desirability of the resource sharing process. It can also help to boost transparency and provide 100 percent accurate measures of occupancy and vacancy in real time. An example of this is VTS, an asset management and leasing application that allows one to calculate how many individuals are in a building at any time and where they are. The world of commercial real estate, which shows great promise in California, will hopefully only be enhanced by technological advancements, such as proptech. However, navigating the purchase and sale of properties featuring commercial leases can still be tricky from a legal standpoint. Fortunately, attorneys in Los Angeles can provide real estate buyers and sellers with the guidance they need to successfully execute deals in the most personally beneficial manner for them.

Technology has transformed nearly all aspects of people’s lives, and real estate in Los Angeles and other parts of California is no exception. Specifically, those who own properties featuring commercial leases will no doubt be impacted by proptech companies — companies that produce technology related to properties — in the years ahead. Here is a look at what proptech companies are doing and how this will impact real estate in 2018 and beyond. Proptech businesses are producing applications designed to transform occupant experiences and building management. It is anticipated that proptech will be critical for every commercial real estate stakeholder in the coming years. These stakeholders include landlords, tenants and property managers. For example, co-working spaces are especially becoming increasingly popular in commercial real estate. Technology can now reduce friction related to transactions and boost the viability and desirability of the resource sharing process. It can also help to boost transparency and provide 100 percent accurate measures of occupancy and vacancy in real time. An example of this is VTS, an asset management and leasing application that allows one to calculate how many individuals are in a building at any time and where they are. The world of commercial real estate, which shows great promise in California, will hopefully only be enhanced by technological advancements, such as proptech. However, navigating the purchase and sale of properties featuring commercial leases can still be tricky from a legal standpoint. Fortunately, attorneys in Los Angeles can provide real estate buyers and sellers with the guidance they need to successfully execute deals in the most personally beneficial manner for them.

Across the country, retail locations of various types of stores are closing at a rapid pace. With more and more shopping opportunities available online, more consumers are choosing to spend their money from the comfort of their own homes. However, these trends are not necessarily true for Los Angeles. For some time now, Los Angeles has remained one of the most expensive and highly sought real estate areas in the country. Currently, the popularity and growth of retail locations in this part of California is one of the reasons for the area’s booming real estate market. At this time, vacancies for retail locations are low, which means they are in high demand by various types of businesses. Retail in Los Angeles The percentage of retail vacancies in the Los Angeles area remains at about 4 percent, which is slightly higher than in 2017, but this is still good news for commercial property owners and tenants. If you are a property owner or a business owner, it may prove helpful to understand more about the current state of the commercial real estate market and what it may mean for you. Consider the following: Prices for retail locations in L.A. range significantly, depending on location. Prices per square foot range from $6 to $90. Los Angeles’ retail trends are the opposite of other parts of the country, where there are more vacancies due to closures. Los Angeles is still very popular for established brands to operate stores, as well as new and emerging brands to get their start. Retail locations, in particularly popular and busy areas of the city, are more costly and in high demand because of exposure and traffic. Despite the good news for retail business and commercial property owners in the area, there are still closures and vacancies. It is beneficial for businesses to carefully consider location and work to reduce their risks when choosing to open a physical location in Los Angeles. Protecting the rights of commercial tenants If you are a commercial tenant, it is particularly important for you to understand how to protect your interests in the process of choosing a location and negotiating a lease. Before you sign a contract that could impact your retail business, you would be wise to seek an evaluation of your case. An experienced real estate attorney may prove to be a useful and beneficial ally as you make these important decisions for the future of your company.