Grégoire Loustalet thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/MXvLa8WJ6s
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) September 1, 2018
from Twitter https://twitter.com/AustinTenantAdv
This blog was created to provide information about the Austin Commercial Real Estate scene. If you want to learn information and tips about leasing and purchasing office, retail, and industrial space in Austin you have come to the right place
Grégoire Loustalet thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/MXvLa8WJ6s
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) September 1, 2018
The Austin Texas Property Tax Rates and Travis County Jurisdictions for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 are listed here in this table in alphabetical order. Austin Tx property tax rates are typically set by each jurisdiction around September of each year. Property tax bills are presented in the November time frame. Check out this other post ff you are trying to find property tax rates for your Austin residence or commercial property
This table will be updated as new rates are available which are typically posted on October 24th.
Tax Jurisdiction | 2017 Tax Rate | 2016 Tax Rate | 2015 Tax Rate | 2014 Tax Rate | 2013 Tax Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anderson Mill Limited District | 0.11708300 | 0.12336000 | 0.12600000 | 0.13000000 | 0.13668600 |
Austin Community College | 0.10080000 | 0.10200000 | 0.10050000 | 0.09420000 | 0.09490000 |
Austin ISD | 1.19200000 | 1.19200000 | 1.20200000 | 1.22200000 | 1.24200000 |
Bastrop-Travis Counties ESD # 1 | 0.10000000 | 0.09470000 | 0.09330000 | 0.09960000 | 0.09440000 |
Belvedere MUD | 0.37000000 | 0.38950000 | 0.42500000 | 0.45000000 | 0.45000000 |
City of Austin | 0.44480000 | 0.44180000 | 0.45890000 | 0.48090000 | 0.50270000 |
City of Bee Cave | 0.02000000 | 0.02000000 | 0.02000000 | 0.02000000 | 0.02000000 |
City of Cedar Park | 0.45750000 | 0.47000000 | 0.47950000 | 0.48500000 | 0.49250000 |
City of Creedmoor | 0.38000000 | 0.38000000 | 0.38000000 | 0.38730000 | 0.38730000 |
City of Elgin | 0.65691600 | 0.65691900 | 0.65691600 | 0.75011000 | 0.75390000 |
City of Jonestown | 0.56560000 | 0.56560000 | 0.56560000 | 0.56560000 | 0.57500000 |
City of Lago Vista | 0.65000000 | 0.65000000 | 0.65000000 | 0.65000000 | 0.65000000 |
City of Lakeway | 0.17410000 | 0.16120000 | 0.17000000 | 0.17000000 | 0.17480000 |
City of Leander | 0.57786700 | 0.59900000 | 0.63292000 | 0.65292000 | 0.66792000 |
City of Manor | 0.77220000 | 0.77380000 | 0.71180000 | 0.71180000 | 0.80950000 |
City of Mustang Ridge | 0.49980000 | 0.47920000 | 0.49500000 | 0.49980000 | 0.41880000 |
City of Pflugerville | 0.53990000 | 0.53990000 | 0.54050000 | 0.53360000 | 0.57360000 |
City of Rollingwood | 0.20890000 | 0.20020000 | 0.20210000 | 0.20660000 | 0.22640000 |
City of Round Rock | 0.43000000 | 0.42500000 | 0.41465000 | 0.41465000 | 0.41949600 |
City of West Lake Hills | 0.06500000 | 0.05720000 | 0.05720000 | 0.05340000 | 0.05340000 |
Cottonwood Creek MUD # 1 | 0.85000000 | 0.91700000 | 0.91700000 | 0.95000000 | 1.09000000 |
Coupland ISD | 1.04005000 | 1.04005000 | 1.04005000 | 1.04005000 | 1.04005000 |
Cypress Ranch WCID # 1 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 |
Del Valle ISD | 1.46000000 | 1.52000000 | 1.53000000 | 1.47000000 | 1.47000000 |
Dripping Springs ISD | 1.52000000 | 1.52000000 | 1.52000000 | 1.52000000 | 1.49000000 |
Eanes ISD | 1.20000000 | 1.21250000 | 1.21250000 | 1.21250000 | 1.21250000 |
Elgin ISD | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 |
Hays Consolidated ISD | 1.53770000 | 1.53770000 | 1.53770000 | 1.53770000 | 1.46130000 |
Hurst Creek MUD | 0.32000000 | 0.34210000 | 0.36320000 | 0.37100000 | 0.39500000 |
Kelly Lane WCID # 1 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 |
Kelly Lane WCID # 2 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 |
Lago Vista ISD | 1.32000000 | 1.32000000 | 1.32000000 | 1.32000000 | 1.32000000 |
Lake Travis ISD | 1.40750000 | 1.40750000 | 1.40750000 | 1.40750000 | 1.40750000 |
Lakeside MUD # 3 | 0.84000000 | 0.84000000 | 0.84700000 | 0.87750000 | 0.90000000 |
Lakeside WCID # 1 | 0.75000000 | 0.75000000 | 0.80000000 | 0.80000000 | 0.85000000 |
Lakeside WCID # 2A | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 |
Lakeside WCID # 2B | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 |
Lakeside WCID # 2C | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 |
Lakeside WCID # 2D | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 | 0.97000000 |
Lakeway MUD | 0.12580000 | 0.13600000 | 0.15360000 | 0.18360000 | 0.19630000 |
Lazy Nine MUD # 1A | 1.00000000 | ||||
Lazy Nine MUD # 1B | 1.01000000 | 1.01000000 | 1.01000000 | 1.01000000 | 1.01000000 |
Leander ISD | 1.51187000 | 1.51187000 | 1.51187000 | 1.51187000 | 1.51187000 |
Lost Creek Limited District | 0.04890000 | 0.05250000 | |||
Manor ISD | 1.51500000 | 1.51500000 | 1.51500000 | 1.51500000 | 1.51500000 |
Marble Falls ISD | 1.27860000 | 1.28000000 | 1.28000000 | 1.28000000 | 1.28000000 |
Moore's Crossing MUD | 0.85580000 | 0.90700000 | 0.93240000 | 0.95800000 | 0.99000000 |
NE Travis County Utility District | 0.68000000 | 0.78000000 | 0.86100000 | 0.87600000 | 0.89930000 |
North Austin MUD No. 1 | 0.28800000 | 0.28900000 | 0.31700000 | 0.33990000 | 0.34500000 |
Northtown MUD | 0.70750000 | 0.70750000 | 0.72200000 | 0.73600000 | 0.75000000 |
Onion Creek Metro Park District | 0.20000000 | 0.20000000 | |||
Pflugerville ISD | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 | 1.54000000 |
Pilot Knob #2 | 0.95000000 | ||||
Pilot Knob #3 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | |
Presidential Glen MUD | 0.29760000 | 0.30000000 | 0.50190000 | 0.50190000 | 0.50190000 |
Ranch at Cypress Creek MUD # 1 | 0.35250000 | 0.35650000 | 0.36500000 | 0.43300000 | 0.51280000 |
River Place MUD | 0.07500000 | 0.20700000 | 0.23130000 | 0.31290000 | 0.33500000 |
Round Rock ISD | 1.30480000 | 1.33250000 | 1.33250000 | 1.33750000 | 1.36740000 |
Senna Hills MUD | 0.54110000 | 0.54110000 | 0.54110000 | 0.54110000 | 0.54900000 |
Shady Hollow MUD | 0.04770000 | 0.03800000 | 0.04890000 | 0.04930000 | 0.05000000 |
Southeast Travis County MUD #1 | 0.98000000 | 0.98000000 | 0.98000000 | ||
Southeast Travis County MUD #2 | 0.98000000 | ||||
Sunfield MUD # 1 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 | 0.90000000 |
Tanglewood Forest Limited Dist. | 0.19000000 | 0.17540000 | 0.17880000 | 0.18300000 | 0.19300000 |
Travis Central Health | 0.10738500 | 0.11054100 | 0.11778100 | 0.12640000 | 0.12900000 |
Travis County | 0.36900000 | 0.38380000 | 0.41690000 | 0.45630000 | 0.49460000 |
Travis County Bee Cave Rd Dist # 1 | 0.21060000 | 0.25990000 | 0.32150000 | 0.57060000 | 0.62850000 |
Travis County ESD # 01 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 02 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09580000 | 0.09820000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 03 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09000000 | 0.09080000 | 0.09640000 |
Travis County ESD # 04 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09140000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09990000 |
Travis County ESD # 05 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09180000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09780000 |
Travis County ESD # 06 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 07 | 0.09790000 | ||||
Travis County ESD # 08 | 0.09980000 | 0.09980000 | 0.09980000 | 0.09980000 | 0.09980000 |
Travis County ESD # 09 | 0.07550000 | 0.07299000 | 0.07416000 | 0.07510000 | 0.08080000 |
Travis County ESD # 10 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 11 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.09810000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 12 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 13 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 14 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 | 0.10000000 |
Travis County ESD # 15 | 0.10000000 | ||||
Travis County MUD # 02 | 0.91730000 | 0.93000000 | 0.95850000 | 0.97450000 | 0.98000000 |
Travis County MUD # 03 | 0.48150000 | 0.48150000 | 0.48250000 | 0.48410000 | 0.50000000 |
Travis County MUD # 04 | 0.72960000 | 0.72960000 | 0.72960000 | 0.72960000 | 0.72960000 |
Travis County MUD # 05 | 0.60300000 | 0.69750000 | 0.74280000 | 0.76930000 | 0.81200000 |
Travis County MUD # 06 | 0.48480000 | 0.46000000 | 0.46000000 | 0.46000000 | 0.47100000 |
Travis County MUD # 07 | 0.90890000 | 0.90890000 | 0.90890000 | 0.90890000 | 0.90890000 |
Travis County MUD # 08 | 0.71450000 | 0.71450000 | 0.71450000 | 0.72130000 | 0.72130000 |
Travis County MUD # 09 | 0.82750000 | 0.84350000 | 0.85950000 | 0.87560000 | 0.87560000 |
Travis County MUD # 11 | 0.61020000 | 0.69250000 | 0.73750000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 |
Travis County MUD # 12 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 |
Travis County MUD # 13 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 | 0.77250000 |
Travis County MUD # 14 | 0.87810000 | 0.90500000 | 0.90500000 | 0.94000000 | 0.99000000 |
Travis County MUD # 15 | 0.40750000 | 0.33250000 | 0.33250000 | 0.33250000 | 0.33250000 |
Travis County MUD # 16 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 |
Travis County MUD # 17 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 |
Travis County MUD # 18 | 0.75000000 | 0.75000000 | 0.75000000 | 0.75000000 | 0.75000000 |
Travis County MUD # 21 | 0.31250000 | 0.31250000 | 0.31250000 | 0.31250000 | 0.31250000 |
Travis County MUD # 23 | 0.41010000 | ||||
Travis County MUD # 24 | 0.95000000 | ||||
Village of Briarcliff | 0.14740000 | 0.16050000 | 0.16050000 | 0.16050000 | 0.11750000 |
Village of Point Venture | 0.12160000 | 0.11310000 | 0.10950000 | 0.10950000 | 0.10500000 |
Village of San Leanna | 0.24980000 | 0.24980000 | 0.24980000 | 0.24980000 | 0.24980000 |
Village of The Hills | 0.06000000 | 0.06000000 | 0.06000000 | 0.02485000 | 0.02480000 |
Village of Volente | 0.10850000 | 0.10650000 | 0.10000000 | 0.13000000 | 0.13000000 |
Village of Webberville | 0.37420000 | 0.34020000 | 0.30510000 | 0.27740000 | 0.27740000 |
WCID # 10 | 0.09460000 | 0.06670000 | 0.02940000 | 0.02950000 | 0.02970000 |
WCID # 17 | 0.05990000 | 0.05990000 | 0.05850000 | 0.05750000 | 0.05750000 |
WCID # 17 (Flintrock Ranch Estates) | 0.39960000 | 0.43200000 | 0.45050000 | 0.45260000 | 0.46560000 |
WCID # 17 (Serene Hills) | 0.62500000 | 0.62500000 | 0.65000000 | 0.65000000 | 0.65000000 |
WCID # 17 (Steiner Ranch) | 0.29870000 | 0.30000000 | 0.37510000 | 0.42850000 | 0.44980000 |
WCID # 18 | 0.08550000 | 0.09390000 | 0.09520000 | 0.09500000 | 0.21130000 |
WCID # 19 | 0.23070000 | 0.22500000 | 0.24000000 | 0.26000000 | 0.26000000 |
WCID # 20 | 0.20000000 | 0.20550000 | 0.20720000 | 0.23000000 | 0.24000000 |
WCID Point Venture | 0.62470000 | 0.62530000 | 0.62530000 | 0.39910000 | 0.39910000 |
Wells Branch MUD | 0.37950000 | 0.38730000 | 0.39000000 | 0.43000000 | 0.46000000 |
West Travis County MUD # 3 | 0.25500000 | 0.28200000 | 0.28200000 | 0.27200000 | 0.27200000 |
West Travis County MUD # 5 | 0.25650000 | 0.26000000 | 0.26000000 | 0.26000000 | 0.26000000 |
West Travis County MUD # 6 | 0.45000000 | 0.45000000 | 0.45000000 | 0.45000000 | 0.45000000 |
West Travis County MUD # 8 | 0.52100000 | 0.55100000 | 0.61100000 | 0.73000000 | 0.84000000 |
Wilbarger Creek MUD # 1 | 0.87800000 | 0.88950000 | 0.90800000 | 0.92500000 | 0.94840000 |
Wilbarger Creek MUD # 2 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 | 0.95000000 |
Wmsn Co WSID # 3 | 0.72300000 | 0.72300000 | 0.73060000 | 0.80820000 | 0.81500000 |
Wmson & Travis Counties MUD # 1 | 0.43160000 | 0.46620000 | 0.51000000 | 0.54000000 | 0.61500000 |
For more info check out Travis County Tax
When negotiating a commercial lease you typically ask to receive a tenant improvement allowance to cover tenant build out costs such as new flooring, new walls and paint, demo, etc. Before signing the commercial lease contract it’s always a good idea to get at least 2-3 preliminary construction bids to make sure the total cost does not exceed your negotiated TI allowance.
However tenant finish-out projects don’t always meet their budget for a variety of reasons. For example if the tenant makes changes to the scope of work or the contractor discovered a large ticket item that was not known during the preliminary construction bid. Either way there will be times when the total tenant build-out costs exceed the negotiated tenant improvement allowance.
So what do you?
Well you have a few of options which need to be negotiated before the commercial lease is signed and executed.
In business amortization means to spread payments over multiple periods. For example the amortization of a loan that includes principal and interest that is determined by an amortization schedule.
This is essentially a loan from the landlord for the additional allowance that the tenant has to pay back over the life of their term. The landlord will typically give this money upfront to pay for the improvements. When it comes to amortizing tenant improvements it basically means you don’t have to pay back the money all at once. The money is being added to the total rent due at an interest rate the landlord charges and divided by the number of months in the lease term.
The additional allowance is typically negotiated during the initial lease term negotiations on the term sheet or proposal. This is done fairly often as it’s nice to have the ability to tap into it rather than having to go to the bank for a loan.
The interest rate will vary from landlord to landlord and dependent on the market however in most cases it will range from 7% to 9% per annum
Suppose your leasing 3,000 sf of office space for 5 years and the landlord has agreed to give another $30 sf above and beyond the initial tenant allowance at 7.5%
So
When you enter the above information to a Google Sheet you get the Tenant Improvement Amortization Schedule.
As you can see $1,803.42 is the additional monthly payment that will be added to your total monthly rent.
The main benefit is it gives the tenant some backup funding in the event the build-out costs exceed the tenant improvement allowance. You may not have the cash on hand to cover it so having this pre-negotiated will eliminate any worry. Many startups or new businesses are typically in this situation. If costs go over you can avoid having project delays and be able to finish out the space the way you want, rather than having to scale back on the scope of work.
If the cost of the Landlord’s Work exceeds the Construction Allowance, then Tenant may, prior to the conclusion of the Landlord’s Work, request that Landlord increase the Construction Allowance by the amount of the excess, up to a maximum of $51,420.00 (the actual amount of the increase being the “Additional Allowance”). If Tenant timely requests the increase in the Construction Allowance, then Landlord shall increase the Construction Allowance by the amount of the Additional Allowance. Landlord shall prepare, and Landlord and Tenant shall promptly execute and deliver, an amendment to this Lease increasing the Base Rent by the amount needed to amortize the Additional Allowance over the Lease Term at 8% per annum, with the increased payments commencing with the first Base Rent payment due under this Lease.
When doing an office space build out you typically have to get new flooring. Your choices are endless from polished concrete, tiles, laminate, hardwood, carpet tiles, broadloom carpet, etc. You also have many different colors and patterns to look at.
Of all the options carpet will typically be the most common choice that tenants pick and you will have to choose between carpet tiles or broadloom carpet. What is the different between those and which one is better?
Overall you really need to choose a flooring material that best matches your company culture and design needs. And make sure that you stick within your budget. You can’t go wrong with broadloom carpet or carpet tiles however in the long run carpet tiles maybe your best option as they are easy to install, clean, and replace if needed.
Travis County is located in Central Texas and part of the Austin-Round Rock Metro Area. Whether you are buying or leasing Austin commercial or residential property in Austin Tx you will want to find out the tax rate and know how to calculate your property taxes. Every tax jurisdiction is different so before signing a contract it’s a good idea to know what taxing jurisdiction your in and what the tax rate is.
You want to start with going to https://www.traviscad.org/property-search/
How to use TCAD property search options
Now that you are in the Travis CAD Taxing Jurisdiction section you will now see the property tax rate and it will also break the tax rate down by entity.
Simply multiply the tax rate by the taxable value you get the total estimated taxes due for your property
Before you make a decision on whether to buy or lease Austin Tx properties whether commercial or residential you’ll want to check them out on the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD).
On the TCAD site located at https://www.traviscad.org/property-search/ you will be able to find pertinent information that can help you evaluate properties to ensure you make the best lease or purchase decision such as:
Once you are on the site click on the blue property search button and it will take you to a searchable database of every property in Travis County. You have the option of entering one or more search terms in the blank field OR you can click on the advanced button to see more search options.
For best results when doing address searches do NOT use suffixes (e.g. St., Dr., etc) or directional prefixes (e.g. N, S, E, W). Using ONLY the street name will give you the best results. If you don’t get any results after using the whole street name then just enter the first few letters or numbers of the street name then sort through the addresses.
If you decided to click on the advanced search button you will have the following property search options:
Once you found the property you are looking for now you can see all the important details about it such as property tax records, assessed value, etc. This is useful information if you are considering buying a house or a commercial property in Austin Tx and want to know who the current owner is as well as the previous owners, the legal description of the property, the property assessed values, and the taxing jurisdiction and tax rate.
Joe Thomas thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/J6k8Lhb7C4
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 29, 2018
Moving to a new city (e.g. Austin, Tx) means a lot of changes for your family, work life or company. Whether you are moving into a new home or renting Austin commercial real estate you are going to need to have some sort of utility services turned on such as electric, gas, phone, or internet. Since you are new to Austin you may wonder…….Who is the Austin electric company? What company do I call for gas services? Who are the internet/cable companies? Depending on the service it can take anywhere from a couple of days to over 30 days to have services turned. Because of this you need to determine your needs and time frame and call them in advance to find out how long it will take. Then coordinate having your Austin utilities turned on before your ideal move in date. To help you get started we have compiled a list of the City of Austin utility providers.
Phone Number: (512) 494-9400
Outside Austin (888) 340-6465
https://austinenergy.com/ae/
(800) 842-7708
https://www.bluebonnetelectric.coop/
(512) 332-8830
https://www.cityofbastrop.org/page/us.home
(888) 554-4732
https://www.pec.coop/
(800) 700-2443
https://www.texasgasservice.com/
(512) 472-6950
https://www.atmosenergy.com/
(877) 4Level3
www.level3.com/en/
www.business.att.com/solutions/support/
www.enterprise.spectrum.com
(877) 906-9121
www.business.spectrum.com
(855) 388-7433
www.mygrande.com/business/
(877) 881-7575
(866) 218-2555
(877) 875-4432
Automobile Registration
http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle
(888) 368-4689
Driver’s License (TXDPS)
http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/
(512) 424-2000
https://www.capmetro.org/
(512) 474-1200
professional drone videos thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/zpMrBNWpRO
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 27, 2018
Time is of the Essence is language in an agreement or contract that means that performance by one party within a specified time period in a contract is required for that party to necessitate performance by the other party. Failure to act within this specified time period required will result in breach of contract.
Most things in business run on some sort of schedule. Sales and loan escrows, legal notifications, and other business transactions operate on fixed time periods. For example you will see the time is of the essence clause in commercial real estate purchases & leases and 1-4 Family residential contracts. If a contract does not expressly provide or the parties have not manifested such an intent then time is NOT of the essence.
In commercial real estate contracts the time that we are talking about is typically on the executed contract. There are quite a few performance requirements that are contingent on time. For example in a commercial contract on an improved property the following all have a time in which things are due by either the buyer or seller. Failure to comply with these dates could mean breach of contract or other legal consequences. The time period typically begins on the Effective date of the contract.
Let’s pretend you executed a commercial contract on January 1st, 2019. This becomes the effective date. In the contract you have 30 days for the feasibility period (aka option period) which is when you figure out if anything is wrong with the property. This would mean that on January 31st aat 11:59 pm your feasibility period would expire. Before this time period you can cancel the contract for any reason with written notice. After this date you are required to perform the contract.
In commercial lease contracts there are a lot of dates and timelines to keep up with and it’s important that you be very diligent in doing so. Missing these dates can have severe consequences that are typically laid out in the contract. If you do not understand the importance of the timelines or the consequences then you should seek the advice of an attorney.
This is available for commercial purchases. There is also a critical date list available for the 1-4 Family Residential Contract. Take the time to fill this out after a contract is executed and/or have your agent do this. This list will help you keep track of critical timelines and avoid mistakes.
So you’ve found a commercial space that you liked, the landlord presented you a proposal, and you just finalized negotiating the base terms and conditions. Next the landlord will draft a lease contract for you to review, comment on, and sign. in reality landlords hope that you don’t actually review it and just sign on the dotted line. They would rather have it 100% their way.
The commercial lease contract is a legal binding contract between you (tenant) and the landlord. If you do not pay rent or breach the contract in any way the landlord is able to come after you for damages. Before signing a commercial lease make sure to read the contract AND have an attorney review it. You want to understand some of the key commercial lease terminology before signing. If you don’t have your attorney explain them to you.
Are the tenant and the landlord. If you’re operating as a corporation or LLC or other entity then use that on the lease. You may have to sign a personal guarantee to rent commercial space however you can still use your business name as the Party. Make sure to get the names right. Are you dealing with an individual, partnership, or corporation? Make sure the person signing the lease on either side has legal authority to bind the entity into a contract. Ask for a copy of the partnership agreement or a corporate resolution.
This is the description of the space you are leasing. Make sure you understand what square footage you are actually paying rent on. Ask to have an exhibit / siteplan and floor plan attached to the lease so both parties can visualize where the premises is located in the building. You need to know the exact size, address, and list of tenant improvements existing or to be provided by landlord.
How rent is calculated and how it should be paid. Spells out the day and month rent is to be paid and where. It will also show the initial year base rent amounts, yearly escalations, and operating expenses (aka NNN).
Most leases have a commencement date and termination date. These dates are subject to negotiation. This is also where you may cover early access, options to extend, or surrender inspection & condition
Landlords typically want some sort of security deposit. This will define the amount as well as the form of payment. Could be cash, check, letter of credit, etc.. This will also define when the security deposit will be reimbursed.
If a new lease or an extension of the current lease has not been negotiated by the time the lease term expires, the tenant is said to be holding over. As an inducement to the tenant to come to an agreement with the landlord the holding over clause imposes a penalty in the form of a rent premium on the tenant. This is typically 150% to 200% of the last applicable rent under the original lease.
To be effective the use clause must state the specific purpose for which the premises are leased and prohibit all other uses. The clause is primarily intended to ensure that uses are restricted to functions for which the building was structurally designed and that they conform to city zoning ordinances. Tenants must also be in compliance with city and state laws.
Tenants will be charged for taxes and assessments. This clause sets forth which taxes are included as the tenants responsibility. Most common are real estate taxes assessed by the city or county. This discusses the basis for determination, pro-rate share, taxes on tenants property, and the tenants right to contest (if negotiated).
Defines who is responsible for paying the utilities. In a “net” lease the tenant pays the entire cost of all utilities. The negotiable part is who is responsible for bringing the utilities to the premises and maintaining their physical condition. In a gross lease the utilities are paid for by the landlord then allocates the cost evenly to all tenants based on the square footage of the space.
In an “assignment” all rights and obligations in the lease are transferred to another party (the assignee) and the primary (transferring) tenant (the assignor) has no ongoing responsibility. Under a “sublease” the primary tenant (the sublessor) remains responsible to the landlord and the subtenant is responsible to the primary tenant.
Defines who is responsible for making the repairs and maintenance to the premises and the common area. Most leases require that the tenant maintain the premises and the landlord is responsible for the property’s structural repairs and common area.
Defines the type and amounts of insurance that tenants are required to have. Tenants typically need personal property and general liability. Every landlord has different requirements. This also
If a property is taken by eminent domain tenants and landlords need to determine how this will be handled. Situations are different. What if an entire building was taken under eminent domain?
Describes the process if a building is damaged by fire or some other catastrophe. Landlords typically get to make this call however tenants can negotiate this item.
Anytime a building is being purchased or refinanced the bank will require proof that the tenant leases are in full force and effect. They do this with an estoppel certificate that each tenant must sign confirming the lease expiration date, size of space, rental rate, etc…
Defines what happens if the tenant or landlord break the agreement. For tenants the default falls into either financial or behavioral. Financial is if they don’t pay rent or additional rent. Landlord default language is typically very short so make sure the landlord has some skin in the game if they don’t deliver what is expected in the lease contract.
This means a Tenant agrees to accept a new owner as landlord. When a property is sold or exchanged, or if a ground lease is terminated before it’s term expires the lease is transferred by assignment to the new owner. Without this clause the tenant could refuse to honor the new owner as the landlord.
It may be impossible for the landlord to obtain financing without this lease provision. Lenders consider the lease to be a lien on the property. Absent a subordination clause, leases signed before a mortgage or trust deed could take precedence. Lenders want their lien to be superior to any others. However the tenant may negotiate a nondisturbance clause providing that if the tenant is not in default its lease will not be canceled in the event of a foreclosure. Major tenants will want this agreement in writing from the lender before agreeing to subordinate their lease to a mortgage.
Means the right to use leased property without disturbance of possession by the landlord.
Courts are overloaded. Jury trials are time consuming. Attorneys are expensive. Litigation is costly. As a result some landlords prefer arbitration to resolve disputes. The number and qualifications of the arbitrators, and how they are paid is spelled out in this provision.
Getting the best deal possible on a commercial lease is an important part of starting or running a growing business. For example negotiate poorly or focus on the wrong terms you will end up in an Austin commercial lease contract that will suck the profits out of your company. The more prepared you are the more leverage you will have in commercial lease negotiations. To get the best deal on a commercial lease consider these tips below.
Don’t expect the landlord’s agent to help you. They represent the building owner’s best interest. They may give you a little guidance however they CANNOT help you negotiate. They legally cannot tell you what concessions the owner is willing to give up. Their fiduciary duty is ONLY to the Landlord/Building Owner. Having your own agent who has your best interests in mind can help ensure you find the right space and negotiate the best commercial lease possible.
Landlords will require that you show some sort of financials when leasing commercial space. Having those ready will prove to the landlord that you know what you are doing. If you don’t have them prepared beforehand it may indicate to the landlord that you may be a risky tenant. The ore prepared you are the more leverage you will have in negotiations. If you are a start up you will more than likely have to sign a personal guarantee. They may also want you to provide a business plan, fill out a personal financial statement, provide a proforma that shows projected income and expenses, show bank statements, If borrowing money show docs proving that you are approved for a loan, etc. If you are an existing business they will want to see 2-3 years of profit / lost statements, balance sheets, etc.
In a hot market you will have to start the process at least 6-12 months before you ideal open date or before your existing lease expires. Landlords are getting a lot of interest, attorney’s and contractors are slammed, architects are managing multiple projects, etc. Find and negotiating a good deal on a commercial lease takes longer than you think. Do not wait until the last minute or you will end up paying more than you should for space.
It’s important that you are familiar with the common lease terminology before starting negotiations with landlords. This also gives you more leverage in negotiations if the landlord knows you know what your doing. If you hire an agent they can educate you along the way. Know the commercial lease lingo will help you understand which deal is a better one when evaluating multiple properties.
Negotiating the basic deal points on the proposal is only part of the process. Once the lease is drafted you need to review the commercial lease contract. It is negotiable so you need evaluate your company’s current and future needs and goals………and make sure the lease language aligns with your company’s objectives. Even if you are having an attorney review it you still need to interpret and understand how the lease affects your company. What are the tenant responsibilities and expectations? What are the landlords responsibilities and expectations? Do not always assume the landlord got the lease contract right. Check the commencement date, expiration date, rents and escalations and any other negotiated items to ensure they are the same as negotiated on the letter of intent (LOI) and/or proposal.
Don’t let the landlord agent talk you into taking more space than you need. If you plan on growing make sure you have the ability to expand. For example getting a right of first refusal clause.
Make sure you are not paying for things that the landlord should be such as their marketing of space, legal fees incurred with other tenant lease negotiations, benefits for landlord employees, build out costs for other tenant spaces, etc…. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the HVAC units? Who handles janitorial services? What is the tenant responsible for vs the landlord? Make sure you understand who is responsible for what and get all of this in writing. Do not just take the landlords word for it.
Need to add your resume to LinkedIn? Below are the steps to follow that will make it easy to do. As I demonstrate how to upload your resume to LinkedIn I will be using my own profile as an example.
There you have it. Simple steps on how to attach your resume to LinkedIn.
How to add resume to Linkedin in 2018: https://t.co/x6OaLbysL6 via @YouTube
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 23, 2018
“I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn”.
Contrary to what some may say, the above standard invitation to connect is not exactly the invite that entice people to connect with you on LinkedIn. Yes you will get some connections with the standard LinkedIn invite, however if you want to make an impression on people you want to connect and network with your better off taking advantage of the customized invitation feature. By writing personalized notes to people you want to connect with you will increase the probability that they will accept your invitation.
You only have 300 characters to use which should be more than enough to convey the reason why you want to connect. Before you start sending invites to connect be sure your LinkedIn page looks good. Nobody wants to connect to a profile that does not have a nice head shot and updated professional and personal information. For example, take a look at Nathan K Smith LinkedIn Profile who owns an Austin Texas commercial real estate company.
Do you share similar interests, jobs, people, education, colleges, etc. Do a little research about them and try to find some sort of mutual interest, hobby, or connection with other people. In some cases you may not know them AT ALL or don’t have any connections in common. In those cases you need to give them a reason why they should connect with you. Are you in the same job function or industry? Do they work for a company that you would like to work for?
Don’t just connect asking for referrals. That will come later if you do a good job of building a relationship and adding value. Look at what they do and who they are connected with. How can you add value. Can you connect them to someone you know in their industry?
Customize your messages based on what you find in their profile. Mention something about their school, where they are from, or a certain skill set that they have.
Everyone loves a compliment. If they have an awesome LinkedIn profile then TELL them. Think of ways to compliment them in a non cheesy way. For example you can compliment them about their job, company they work for, school they went to, their experience, etc.
Tell them a little about who you are. Give them some basic info about what you do and what your skills are. If you have some common ground maybe share how your background and experience could potentially help them
So you asked for a connection now where do you go from there? How can you help them? Let them know if you would like to further the relationship. Do you want to jump on a phone call or meet for coffee. Don’t hesitate to suggest next steps after asking for an invite
A simple thank you can go a long way when asking people to connect with you on LinkedIn
Hi Barbara, I’ve heard great things about your work, especially your negotiating skills. I hope that we get a chance to work on a project soon. Or at least get together for coffee and share some best practices. Sincerely, Nathan
Hi Jennifer, I’m so glad you have joined our company and I look forward to working with you. If you have any questions about anything feel free to reach out. See you around the office! All the best,
Hi Jess, It was a pleasure to have worked with you for the last few years. Our office wouldn’t have been the same without your knack for dealing with tough clients! I’d love to hear about your new job at XYZ Company. Hope all is well,
Hi Jenna, I saw some of the projects you did for ABC Company, and am very impressed with your work. My business is looking to work on a similar project, and your skills would be a great help. Let me know if you’re interested in working together – I can be reached at example@gmail.com
Hi Ben, I see that you work for XYZ recruiting agency. I’m in the financial industry and have done so for the last 10 years. If you have time, I’d love to discuss my background with you and see if I might be a fit for any of your job listings. Sincerely, Nathan
Hi Beth, It was nice meeting you at the Technology Conference in Austin last week. I really enjoyed learning about what you are doing to get better at your sales presentations. – I’d like to chat even more as you perfect the process. Sincerely,
Hi It was nice meeting you at Adam’s dinner party this past weekend. If you have the time I’d love to get in touch and hear more about what you do at ABC Company. Sincerely,
Hi Joan, I’ve been following your work at XYZ Company for the last few months and am very impressed with what you have accomplished. I’d love to hear more about what you do. If you have some time, I would love to learn more about how you got into your current position
Hi Wendy, I saw you graduated from Southwest Texas State. I too graduated from there in 1995. If you have time, maybe we can meet to discuss your role at ABC Company – as a fellow Sales professional I’d love to hear more about what you do.
Hi Rhett, I’m also a member of the Real Estate LinkedIn group and I always find your posts to be so helpful. I’d love to be able to connect here and learn more about your work. All the Best
Joe Thomas thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/J6k8Lhb7C4
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 23, 2018
There is and has always been the argument that not every startup needs an office space mostly because of remote work and the possibility of it being cheaper working without an office. This is quite true in a way since most startups do not have enough capital to run it over a long period especially without investors. But the advantages of having an office space to help expand and create a core team you can physically relate with and the infrastructure to add more people and resources to your startup is a big advantage to having an office space instead of going from café to café or laying around in your apartment trying to run a business. Explained below are some important reasons why every startup in Austin needs Austin office space.
One of the most important aspects of any business including startups and even large multinational firms is the teams they have working for them. Without a solid team that will be there to work their hardest for the business, there is no business. Getting an Austin office space for lease to help you run your business at a reduced cost help you build great team relationships and an environment where you can support one another in a way that can help drive your business to the point you vision it to be.
One of the biggest issues that startups face when the team does not work together in an office space is productivity and accountability. Sometimes when a team member says they were away because they had internet issues, it could mean they were on a vacation or doing something totally unrelated to the business when they should have been working. With an office space to work out of, all work done or not done is accounted for and productivity levels hardly drop for reason as the inefficiency of the team or teams involved.
There is a reason there is some sort of excitement when great talent from around the world are invited to offices of big brands like Google, Apple or Microsoft. Not only are they selling but they have office spaces that scream “Come and work here”! Office space Austin Texas, is important for the growth of startups and businesses generally. They help attract the best talent for your organization. Every potential worker wants to work in an environment they will feel comfortable and appealing to work in.
When you book an office space for rent Austin TX to work in, it means you become open to working with different kinds of people from different backgrounds and do not limit yourself. It also ensures that each individual in your team is exposed to different people from all walks of life and are should be able t work cordially with them with no problem. When workers themselves cannot tolerate themselves, it becomes a problem for them to tolerate others, especially customers.
If you think a office space can benefit your business feel free to contact us at https://www.austintenantadvisors.com/
Brabners Retail thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/CoSfQySVWN
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 13, 2018
Studio/E thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/JSpbJ8RMXJ
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 10, 2018
Adriana Girdler, PMP thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/qMrFqRuBCb
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 8, 2018
SEMBEE IT Solution thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/3U6yVO67Lg
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 6, 2018
Credit Repair Cos thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/L2cjlxpC6K
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 4, 2018
If you are a startup or new business have you ever been told by a landlord that they did not want to lease you commercial space? You may have gotten offended and been left wondering why they would not lease to you because the space you like has been sitting on the market for 6 months. Doesn’t the landlord want to make money? Of course they do however they know that startups and first time business owners are risky as the failure rate of new businesses is over 45%. As a startup business the cards will be against you in the beginning. Landlords will be hesitant to lease you commercial space and/or give you a tenant improvement allowance if they think you are a risk.
If you want landlords to take you seriously you have to be prepared and show them how much you know your business and numbers. At the end of the day they want to make sure that you will be able to make enough money to pay the rent. Below are a few reasons why landlords won’t lease you commercial space and what you can do to change that.
You may have worked for a company for the last 15 years and have a ton of experience running a sales team however that does not give a landlord the confidence that you are capable of starting and running a business. If you want to build the landlords confidence that you will pay rent and be around for the duration of the lease term then talk about your operational experience. Talk about (embellish) your sales and marketing experience from an operational perspective. If you don’t have much experience in operations then read a few books to brush up on terminology and best practices. You have to get creative here.
You don’t need a full blown business plan in every situation, however you need to know your industry and numbers. The landlord wants to understand your business, your target demographic, initial and future financial projections, operations, marketing plan, etc. If you are a startup knowing your market, competition, strategy, challenges, etc is so important. The more you know the business the more comfortable the landlord will fee about your tenancy. Making a first impression is key. At the end of the day the landlord just wants to make sure that you will be able to pay the rent each month. Your proforma needs to support that.
When leasing commercial real estate you are going to have a lot of up front costs.
The landlord knows that you will incur all of these expenses up front. If you tell the landlord that all you have in the bank is $5,000 they will not want you as a tenant. You need to get your financials in order before speaking with landlords or they will not take you seriously. If you are relying on an SBA loan make sure to have that secured beforehand as well. The more funding you have on hand the more leverage you will have in the commercial lease negotiations.
Here at Austin Tenant Advisors we strive to provide you the best consulting when it comes to leasing and buying commercial real estate. Our goal is to educate and advise you on market conditions so that you may make the best decisions possible. We believe full transparency and insight leads to better set expectations and communication.
We have been through the process over 400 times so when consulting you about commercial real we also put on our business hat to advise you on what to prepare before we start negotiations with landlords. If you want them to take you seriously you have to get your stuff together and know your business inside and out.
PLACEmaking thanks for following me on Twitter! https://t.co/TD9XVx8OV9
— Nathan K Smith (@AustinTenantAdv) August 2, 2018
The history of Austin skyscrapers started with the construction of the original office tower the Scarbrough Building built in 1910. Located at 522 Congress Avenue it still stands in the epicenter of downtown Austin, Tx. Since then downtown Austin has gone through a skyscraper boom between 1970 and 1980, and since 2007 the city has been going through a 2nd skyscraper building boom.
Name | Height in Feet | Floors | Year Built | Purpose |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Independent | 688 | 58 | 2019 | Residential |
The Austonian | 683 | 56 | 2010 | Residential |
Fairmont Austin | 595 | 37 | 2018 | Hotel |
360 Condominiums | 581 | 44 | 2008 | Residential |
Frost Bank Tower | 515 | 33 | 2004 | Office Building |
W Austin Hotel & Residences | 478 | 37 | 2010 | Hotel / Residential |
Spring | 434 | 42 | 2009 | Residential |
The Northshore | 424 | 38 | 2016 | Residential |
The Bowie | 423 | 37 | 2015 | Residential |
The Ashton | 416 | 37 | 2009 | Residential |
JW Marriott Hotel | 408 | 32 | 2015 | Hotel |
Four Seasons Residences | 401 | 32 | 2010 | Residential |
One American Center | 401 | 32 | 1984 | Office Building |
500 West 2nd St | 400 | 28 | 2017 | Office Building |
One Eleven | 397 | 30 | 1987 | Office Building |
Colorado Tower | 397 | 29 | 2014 | Office Building |
Hilton Austin Hotel | 377 | 31 | 2014 | Hotel / Residential |
Seaholm Residences | 341 | 30 | 2016 | Residential |
Legacy at Town Lake | 339 | 31 | 2008 | Residential |
Bank of America Center | 336 | 26 | 1975 | Office Building |
Aloft & Element | 328 | 31 | 2017 | Hotel |
300 West 6th | 328 | 23 | 2002 | Office Building |
100 Congress | 328 | 22 | 1987 | Office Building |
San Jacinto Center | 324 | 20 | 1987 | Office Building |
The Monarch | 323 | 29 | 2008 | Residential |
Chase Bank Tower | 322 | 21 | 1974 | Office Building |
Texas State Capitol | 311 | 4 | 1888 | Office Building |
UT Main Building | 307 | 29 | 1937 | Office Building |
Dobie Center | 307 | 29 | 1972 | Residential |
301 Congress | 306 | 22 | 1986 | Office Building |
Skyhouse | 264 | 23 | 2014 | Residential |
The newest tallest building planned for Austin nicknamed the will be located at 600 Guadalupe St in downtown Austin and is expected to be 850 feet high. San Antonio based developer, Lynd Development Partners and Lincoln Property Co are partnering on the proposed skyscraper.
The plan is for it to be 62 stories high, possibly up 75 stories.