REAL ESTATE LAW

In commercial leases, particularly those involving retail or office spaces, tenants typically pay not only base rent but also a share of additional operating expenses. These include Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges, property taxes, and insurance premiums. The reconciliation of these expenses is a key process.

Other than payroll costs, there is generally no other larger ongoing cost that a business pays than its commercial lease obligation. Moreover, often the term for a typical commercial lease will extend far into the life of any business. Finally, there are a multitude of ways in which a poorly drafted lease can cause a business to incur significant unforeseen costs. Accordingly, it is critical that every business devotes the necessary resources, including the use of an experienced lawyer, to negotiate a fair lease.

Recent legislative efforts in Illinois are reshaping the state’s approach to residential zoning, with significant implications for the housing market. A new bill, House Bill 1814, introduced last week, aims to eliminate single-family zoning in municipalities across Illinois. If passed, this bill will allow for the development of multi-unit buildings in areas currently zoned exclusively for single-family homes. This initiative, alongside a similar bill introduced last year, has the potential to address the state’s growing housing shortage and make housing more affordable for middle-class families.

Starting this Saturday, August 17, 2024, new rules go into effect for the National Association of Realtors (“NARS”) that change the way realtors will be paid their commission when representing people buying and selling homes. These new rules came about as part of a $418 million settlement by NARS in March, and effectively eliminate the existing informal payment structures that have historically been used by realtors. Until now, sellers of homes typically would sign listing agreements agreeing to pay anywhere from 4-6% of the purchase price in commission, which commission amount would then be split between their agent and the buyer’s agent. So, Buyers did not have to pay anything to their realtor for their assistance. The new rules could change that.