The same rules and risks apply to all real estate transactions:
1. Identify a property. 2. Identify its applications.
3. Determine the property’s value
4. Make a purchase offer
5. Negotiate the terms and conditions and the purchase price.
6. Complete the transaction and take possession of the property. More significant risks are involved when purchasing, selling, renting or leasing commercial real estate.
The key is to assess the risk, including market risk, investment potential, property condition risk, environmental risk, regulatory risk, and so on. Your goal should be to keep these as low as possible. Defects in title, zoning and land use restrictions, market fluctuations, and environmental contamination are potential problems that frequently lead to legal