Commercial space is rarely in turnkey condition for the tenant. As a result, landlords and tenants must negotiate leasehold improvements in order for the leasing transaction to move forward. This can affect new leases, amendments or renewals of existing leases. Below are some tips when negotiating and drafting the... Read more

Although banks today are closing on fewer than 30% of all applications submitted, that’s still an improvement over the 15% of a couple of years ago. As always, the financial markets abhor a vacuum and a new breed of lenders has entered the marketplace. For the first time in... Read more

Across the country, we continue to see a variety of innovative office space solutions for small companies, entrepreneurs and start-ups. These solutions include innovation hubs, virtual offices, work/home options, executive suites and shared space. Most conventional office landlords strive for long-term leases (three or more years) on at least... Read more

Before closing on a commercial property, buyers should always perform due diligence to make sure they know all material facts about their potential investment. The extent and scope of the due diligence varies with each property and depends on the goal of the buyer. For example, will the buyer... Read more

The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1st, which means that now is the time to devise a plan for protecting your personal and commercial assets. Having resided in Florida most of my life, I’ve experienced my share of storms, as well as the prepping, planning and anxiety that... Read more

There are many critical decisions that every commercial real estate advisor must make in the course of their professional career. Having worked in the industry for more than 40 years, I believe that one of the most important is, ”Who should I hang my license with and why?” The... Read more

The recent mass casualty events in Sutherland Springs, Texas as well as in Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale and around the world have many of us thinking about public safety and how we would react in such circumstances. As a result, prudent property managers are starting to assess their on-site... Read more

As a real estate lawyer, part of my practice involves preparing and negotiating commercial and residential lease agreements. Because commercial lease terms are usually five, 10 or even 20 years, both landlord and tenant should consult with an attorney before signing a legally binding agreement. That way, they can... Read more

Brokers with LandQwest Commercial expect continued strength in the commercial real estate market during the second half of this year. The following is a synopsis of their latest MarketQwest report, which examines the performance of some of our market’s most active sectors over the last six months. Land Michael... Read more

The property tax game has changed dramatically since I became the Lee County Property Appraiser’s attorney in 1994 and founded TaxCuts1 in 2003. This year is no different. The wheels of change are ever in motion and the following is an overview of my recent observations. Assessment Caps Have... Read more