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Owners May Choose Arbitration, Avoid Litigation Over Labor Disputes

September 27, 2009    

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 14 Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett is good news for owners who, under their tenants' leases, must hire unionized employees to work in their buildings. Many owners fear the consequences of employee claims brought by the union on employees' behalf....

Take Four Steps Before Signing Cell Tower Lease

September 27, 2009    

Over the course of the past 15 years, wireless communication has changed from a novelty to a necessity for everyday life. The rapid growth has given rise to the need for wireless carriers to install and operate a greater number of cell tower sites in greater concentrations and over larger...

Annapolis Hopes Public Art Will Yield Real Estate Flourish

September 27, 2009    

Annapolis, Md., Mayor Ellen Moyer kicked off a grant application process on September 14, offering up to $10,000 to commercial property owners who add some artistic flair, such as murals, artistic lighting, or other works of art, to their buildings.

The city's Commercial Facade...

Real Estate Roundtable Spent $780K Lobbying Fed

August 30, 2009    

The delinquency rate on commercial property loans pooled together into investments—estimated at around $750 billion—hit nearly 3 percent in the second quarter, almost tripling from where it was at the end of last year, according to Reis Inc. The Real Estate Roundtable, which...

Protect Universal Space: Draft Lease Provisions with Degrees of Control

August 30, 2009    

In today's market, more tenants are leaving their leases early if their businesses are in trouble. Consequently, owners that are left in the lurch with broken lease agreements and a sudden loss of rental income must be prepared to quickly turn over tenants to fill vacant space. Creating...

Upgrading During the Downturn to Attract, Retain Tenants

August 30, 2009    

As the recession wears on and continues to affect commercial real estate, industry professionals' instinct is to rein in spending, cut back to only essentials, and try to maximize profits. So it is surprising that real estate experts are recommending that commercial property owners invest in...

Protect Your Interests in Rent Relief Exchanges

July 26, 2009    

Given the current state of the economy, it is not surprising that tenants struggling to stay in business are resorting to rarely used negotiation tactics to ride out the downturn. Specifically, there has been a rise in rent relief exchanges, in which owners temporarily reduce rent for...

Spell Out Security Measures When Leasing to "On-Demand" Tenant

July 26, 2009    

“On-demand” office companies provide both space and services for small companies and individuals seeking an office and the benefits of being in a traditional business environment, without the cost. Because a growing segment of the market is downsizing and streamlining the services...

Use Disincentives to Discourage Month-to-Month Tenancy

July 26, 2009    

When a commercial tenant stays in its space after its lease term expires, it becomes a “holdover” tenant. The most common reason for a holdover is the tenant's inability to move because its new space isn't ready yet. As a result of a tenant's mismanaging its relocation, a...

New Interest in TALF Lending Program

July 26, 2009    

Investors are showing a new interest in a government program aimed at spurring lending in the troubled commercial real estate market. The program is part of a larger consumer lending effort called the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), which is a prominent part of the efforts by...

Get Percentage Rent on Revenue from Arcade Machines

June 24, 2009    

If your retail tenants install arcade machines in their spaces to attract customers and boost revenue, chances are you're not collecting all the percentage rent you're entitled to. Many retail tenants install assorted arcade machines—such as video game machines, virtual reality...

Making "1031 NNN Tenants in Common Exchange" Work in Today's Economy

June 24, 2009    

Many commercial property owners are continually looking for the next big opportunity to expand their real estate investments, while minimizing costs and management responsibilities. A trend in real estate ownership over the past decade—1031 triple net (NNN) tenants in common exchanges...