INTRODUCTION
For any business owner, whether domestic or foreign, the decision to buy or lease real property is a complex task requiring awareness of the business owner’s goals and internal capabilities, as well as critical input from professionals versed in current market values, financial analysis, federal and state laws concerning taxation and foreign investment, and, if applicable, the development process. The reduction of these factors into a manageable set of issues is a necessity for the business owner. Assuming that the foreign business owner’s interest is not solely limited to real estate investment as its primary business, some considerations will not be susceptible to a purely numbers driven financial spreadsheet analysis but will nonetheless need to be considered. As gateway to the Pacific Rim, and a longtime leader in a wide variety of forward leaning technology related business sectors, Washington State has many qualities attractive to the foreign investor. Washington State’s various trade development agencies, and private industry trade groups, offer expertise and assistance, and there is now an extensive, readily available network of experienced real property brokers, financial analysts and attorneys who can assist the foreign business owner with the decision making process. This article is intended to provide the foreign business owner with a basic awareness of the general factors and issues to be considered when deciding whether to lease or own commercial real estate in the State of Washington.
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Jerry Creim is a member in the Seattle office of William Kastner and may be reached at [email protected]. Company website: http://www.williamskastner.com. His practice emphasizes all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, commercial leasing, complex business transactions, financial services and banking, general business and corporate matters.
Jacek Pawlicki is of counsel in the Seattle office of Williams Kastner and may be reached at [email protected]. Company website: http://www.williamskastner.com. His practice is focused on business and real estate transactions.
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Jerry Creim is a member in the Seattle office of William Kastner and may be reached at [email protected]. Company website: http://www.williamskastner.com. His practice emphasizes all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, commercial leasing, complex business transactions, financial services and banking, general business and corporate matters.
Jacek Pawlicki is of counsel in the Seattle office of Williams Kastner and may be reached at [email protected]. Company website: http://www.williamskastner.com. His practice is focused on business and real estate transactions.