What makes some real estate so valuable? Many things, but the iconic nature of buildings and other assets in any community add to the allure, and the value of property. So, early on Sunday morning I set about in a vintage 1973 Porsche 911 to make my case. Along the way I took some...Read More

If you had a brain tumor, would you see a general practitioner or an orthopedic surgeon?  Of course you would not!  You would see a neuro-oncologist. The same goes for brokerage, you need a specialist.  Many people are unaware of the value in hiring a Tenant Representative specialist when leasing space, and, in particular, when...Read More

What happens at the end of a commercial lease when the tenant cannot move out in time?  Clearly there are huge differences compared with a residential lease where the tenant can have very beneficial rights by statute.  On the flip side, most commercial leases contain a provision entitled “Holding Over” to address a tenant overstaying its lease term....Read More

“You don’t get what you want, you get what you negotiate”   We have all heard the phrase, but do we always heed its advice?  Many leasing transactions are done with the thought that the initial tenant improvements will be adequate for the lease term, and they usually are.  But what happens when your business requirements change and...Read More

CBRE Project Management recently gave a presentation on changes to California Building Standards Code aka “Title 24” that will take effect on January 1st, 2014. The new requirements are aimed to “reduce energy bills, increase energy delivery and reliability, and improve economic conditions for the State of California” (Hah!). Any projects that apply for permit on...Read More

Well, if your like many tenants these days you may want to bring your bathing suit to the next lease negotiation meeting… Most Full Service Gross, or “Base Year” leases used to combine all of the operating expenses (including taxes, insurance and utilities) into one expense “pool” and the tenant would be responsible for any...Read More

Everybody wants to reduce their carbon footprint these days, and for good reason.  Companies are catering to a demographic that is continually more concerned about the environment – both for their own health and for the health of the environment.  A lot of the changes that can be made to acheive these concerns and ambitions...Read More

Tenants “renew” leases all the time, but almost always outside the legal bounds of the renewal right in their lease.  Technically, most tenants negotiate a “lease extension,” as opposed to “renewing” the lease.  As a matter of fact, I have been in the business for almost a quarter century (Did I just say that?  Ouch!),...Read More

My good friend Gregg Pasternak tells us why we need audit rights in our leases, how they work, and how they should be structured.  I particularly like his opening line: “Operating Expense Audit Rights are Like Nuclear Weapons” You don’t want to use them, but it’s nice to know you have them, just in case.  ...Read More

I can hear it already, “John, really?  Couldn’t you have picked a really tantalizing subject, instead of Operating Expenses and Tax Pass throughs for your first blog?”  I know, it seems mundane, but the fact is that reading this will SAVE you MONEY! Multiple terms are negotiated in a lease that affect cost, but rent...Read More