Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate Lawyer
Buying, selling, leasing, or financing commercial property in the Lower Mainland. We handle the due diligence and the closing so your deal is clean and holds up.
A commercial property deal has more moving parts than a home purchase, and the numbers are bigger, so the legal side is where a missed detail gets costly. Whether you are buying a retail unit, selling a warehouse, signing a lease, or refinancing an investment building, the review needs to go well beyond the price and the closing date.
Like any property transfer in BC, a commercial purchase or sale has to be completed by a lawyer or notary and registered at the Land Title Office. Our real estate team reviews the Contract of Purchase and Sale, searches title for mortgages, liens, easements, rights of way, and other charges, and works through the due diligence a commercial deal needs, from existing leases and tenants to zoning, permitted use, and any environmental or building concerns you should know about before you are committed.
We also handle the money side and the paperwork. That means preparing the transfer and Property Transfer Tax forms, coordinating with your lender on the mortgage and the payout of any existing financing, and dealing with GST, tenant deposits, and adjustments so the funds move correctly on completion. You get plain answers about your closing costs and what each date means, so there are no surprises when the deal closes.
How we can help
Commercial purchases
We review your contract, run title and due diligence, handle the Property Transfer Tax and GST questions, and register the transfer so your ownership is clean.
Commercial sales
We prepare your transfer documents, clear existing mortgages and charges off title, and make sure the sale proceeds and adjustments reach you correctly.
Commercial leasing
We review and prepare leases for landlords and tenants, covering term, renewal, rent and operating costs, use, and what happens if the property changes hands.
Commercial financing
We register new mortgages, discharge old ones, and coordinate payout amounts and funds between lenders so your financing closes without penalties or delays.
Title and due diligence review
We search title for liens, easements, rights of way, and covenants, and flag zoning, permitted use, and existing tenancies before you are committed to the deal.
Contract review before you sign
Have us read the agreement, subjects, and any assignment of leases before you sign, so you understand the terms and the risks while you can still act on them.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer for a commercial property deal in BC?
Yes. Every property transfer in British Columbia has to be completed by a lawyer or notary and registered at the Land Title Office. On a commercial deal a lawyer also handles the legal advice, the due diligence on leases and title, and any dispute that comes up, which a notary cannot do.
Will I have to pay Property Transfer Tax on a commercial purchase?
Usually, yes. Property Transfer Tax applies when the transfer is registered in your name: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% up to $2,000,000, and 3% above that. A further 2% applies to the residential portion of a property valued over $3,000,000. The first time buyer and newly built home exemptions are for residential buyers, so they rarely apply to a commercial purchase. We confirm the number for your deal before closing.
Is GST charged on commercial real estate?
Often it is. Unlike a used home, many commercial sales are subject to GST, though there are cases where a registered buyer can self assess instead of paying it to the seller on closing. The treatment depends on the property and the parties, so we review it early and set up the closing correctly rather than leave it to guesswork.
What due diligence should happen before I buy an income property?
Beyond searching title for mortgages, liens, easements, and rights of way, a commercial purchase usually means reviewing existing leases and tenants, confirming zoning and permitted use, and looking at deposits, adjustments, and any environmental or building concerns. We work through these during your subject period so problems surface while you can still act on them.
Book your free commercial real estate case evaluation
No pressure and no obligation. Just a clear conversation about where you stand and what comes next.