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What to Know About Real Estate Investment Law

real estate investment law

In Massachusetts’ commercial real estate market, making informed decisions and mitigating risk is essential. Calabrese Law Associates is a Boston real estate investment law firm that knows your business and can help you find creative solutions to difficult legal problems. We understand the tight timelines and budgets today’s commercial developers are under, and we always attempt to balance a fair consideration of these issues with the risks and rewards involved in pursuing legal action.

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Real Estate Law and Investment

Real estate law, or real property law, is complex. In recent years, the United States federal government has promulgated sweeping regulations that have further complicated real estate investment deals. Staying on top of this changing legal landscape is a key goal of any real estate investment law firm. For clients in Boston and throughout Massachusettsthe lawyers at Calabrese Law Associates possess the experience real estate investors need to successfully navigate complex transactions.

We represent clients in matters involving traditional income properties, such as multi-family housing units, as well as mixed-use and special use properties such as office, retail, and industrial. We help developers succeed by:

  • Looking for out-of-court solutions: In any real estate matter, one important consideration is whether to escalate a matter to trial. At Calabrese Law Associates, we strive to resolve problems out-of-court, where possible, to avoid the expense and delays associated with litigation.
  • Understanding contract review and negotiation: In many cases, difficult legal matters can be avoided by taking proactive steps early in a project’s life cycle. Our property investment lawyers know MA’s contract laws and can help you by vetting a potential agreement for conflicts, loopholes, or other areas of concern.
  • Zoning code and municipal regulation compliance: Our lawyers help commercial developers identify the permits necessary to proceed with their project, provide representation before municipal zoning boards, and identify zoning issues and potential regulatory problems affecting or potentially affecting their clients’ projects. A comprehensive understanding of the zoning codes and regulations affecting Massachusetts’ municipalities is critical for real estate developers and investors alike. In this regard, the lawyers at Calabrese Law Associates provide their clients with a strategic advantage.

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When to Hire a Real Estate Lawyer

In real estate, you do not want to wait until something has gone wrong before you contact a lawyer. Instead, the best time to hire a real estate lawyer is before you are dealing with a problem. If you are a real estate investor or want to become one, you may want to reach out to an attorney in the following situations:

1. You Are Unsure About How to Proceed

If you are uncertain about what you are doing, this is the perfect time to reach out to an attorney. You may not know how to draft a contract, or you may have been presented with a contract that you cannot understand. A real estate lawyer can help you navigate these situations.

Seasoned and new investors alike may not understand every aspect of investing. When you have an attorney on your side, you can make the best investment decisions.

2. You Are Purchasing a Real Estate Investment

When you are purchasing a real estate investment, an attorney can be invaluable in assisting you with evaluating titles, deeds, and the terms of your contracts. You want to avoid signing a contract or making a purchase that is not in your best interests, and a lawyer can help prevent this from happening.

Even if you have the assistance of a real estate agent, a lawyer can offer legal advice and will typically have more insight into a contract than a real estate agent. If you are making an investment move that you are unfamiliar with, you may also benefit from having a lawyer who understands the legal implications.

3. You Need Asset Protection

Asset protection is essential if you want to be in real estate over the long term. Fortunately, a lawyer can help you develop an asset protection strategy. With an experienced attorney, you can make sure you are deterring lawsuits and setting up the right entities for you.

Even if a real estate attorney cannot assist with asset protection, he or she should be able to refer you to a professional who can. If asset protection is your primary legal need, try to find an attorney who has the appropriate qualifications and can help you.

4. You Are Selling an Investment Property

If you are facing a complex sale or a sale with potential legal issues, you may want the assistance of a lawyer. Examples include a sale with many parties or selling portions of raw land. An experienced attorney may also notice opportunities to help you save on taxes and keep more money in your pocket.

Why Hire a Real Estate Lawyer?

Though investing in real estate can be a sound decision for your financial future, navigating purchases and negotiations can be overwhelming. With a real estate lawyer, you can ensure you are making the most of your investment. Lawyers can complete the following:

  • Explain tenants’ rights and leases: If you intend to lease out the property, an attorney can explain lease arrangements’ implications and tenants’ rights to you, along with creating and reviewing leasing strategies and terms. 
  • Negotiate property taxes: As you invest in more property, you will pay more in property taxes. To avoid paying more in property taxes than necessary, hire an attorney who can give you advice on tax implications.
  • Minimize risks and maximize profits: From the legal perspective, a real estate attorney can ensure you maximize the ROI on your investment. Your attorney can also advise you on your investment strategy, your return on equity, and how to meet your investment goals. 

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Work With the Real Estate Lawyers at Calabrese Law Associates

At Calabrese Law Associates, our firm is experienced in Massachusetts real estate law. We advise clients on unique issues affecting investors in addition to assisting with mortgage and mezzanine financings, property acquisitions, and equity structuring. These matters include administrative and regulatory considerations related to real property law, investment, and development. Our lawyers also have experience advising and representing real estate trusts focused on a variety of property types, including office, condominium, residential, and commercial.

Our Boston-based real estate investment lawyers approach each case with extensive knowledge about the realities today’s developers and property managers face. As a result, we can find pragmatic solutions to your business’s most pressing problems. We understand that a legal victory cannot come at the expense of your bottom line, which is why we deliver industry-leading results for a reasonable fee.

Our real estate investment attorneys collaborate with the firm’s construction, property development, and transactional real estate practices, addressing the entire range of challenges that can occur in real estate investment. To learn more about how we can help you, contact Calabrese Law Associates today.

*Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

*This publication and its contents are not to be construed as legal advice nor a recommendation to you as to how to proceed. Please consult with a local licensed attorney directly before taking any action that could have legal consequences. This publication and its content do not create an attorney-client relationship and are being provided for general informational purposes only.

While Calabrese Law Associates does offer legal help for landlord-tenant disputes, it is extremely rare that we take on these cases. Only about 1% of tenant-related cases and 10% of landlord-related cases will be considered by our law firm.

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