TAX INCREMENT FINANCING – ILLINOIS
A Valuable Development Tool For Developers Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a development tool often misunderstood by real estate developers and the public at large. TIF is authorized in every state (except Arizona) and the District of Columbia.…
AIR RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT – Chicago, Illinois
WHY DEVELOP AIR RIGHTS? Prime commercial land is limited. Prices per square foot can be astronomical. Demand for efficiency to maximize return on investment is growing. No wonder developers and property owners are looking to the sky, with varying degrees…
COMMERCIAL LANDLORD-TENANT: Duty to Repair – Illinois Law
When something breaks in a commercial space, who is obligated to make the repair? Absent a covenant in a lease obligating the landlord to make repairs, a landlord generally has no obligation to repair the leased premises, unless the landlord has actual…
Keys to Closing A Commercial Real Estate Transaction
Commercial Real Estate Closings Anyone who thinks closing a commercial real estate transaction is a clean, easy, stress-free undertaking has never closed a commercial real estate transaction. Expect the unexpected, and be prepared to deal with it.…
DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLISTS for Commercial Real Estate Transactions
2016 Updat Are you planning to purchase, finance, develop or redevelop any of the following types of commercial real estate in the USA? A KEY element of successfully investing in commercial real estate is performing an adequate Due Diligence…
COMMERCIAL LANDLORD-TENANT – Part 2 – The Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
This is Part 2 of a multi-part series of articles discussing the duties, rights and remedies of commercial real estate tenants in Illinois. Part 1, entitled “Getting It Right” discussed the importance of clarity in lease drafting, and the potential for…
Commercial Landlord-Tenant Issues – PART 1 – Getting it Right
In March 2015, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (“IICLE”) published its 2015 Edition practice handbook entitled: Commercial Landlord-Tenant Practice. To provide best-practice guidance to all Illinois attorneys, IICLE recruits…
Illinois LLCs – The Asset Protection Advantage
Illinois LLCs – The Asset Protection Advantage A Technical Analysis Among sophisticated investors and other high-asset/high-net worth individuals and businesses, the topic of “asset protection” is bound to arise. As many became painfully aware during the…
Value Investing vs. Momentum Investing
As the commercial real estate market begins to pick up steam, beware the urge to follow a “momentum” investment strategy rather that a “value” investment strategy. Momentum investing relies on market increases to generate a return…
Asset Protection – Lessons Learned
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is today.” Chinese proverb For over 35 years, I have represented commercial real estate investors, developers and business…