What’s the best way to hold a real estate title? The wrong ownership form can increase legal liability, enlarge your tax burden, and subject an estate to probate. In contrast, choosing the right ownership form can reduce red tape while improving a property’s profitability. This article discusses the different options and who might benefit the most in each case. A sidebar looks at living trusts as a means of holding titles to personal residences and other major assets.

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As the weak economy continues, real estate investors are taking a hard look at ways to maximize the profitability of property management. While some developers delve into management themselves, others are focusing their search on streamlined processes and cost-cutting measures. Fortunately, smart strategies exist that can help to achieve these goals. Two of the best: finding a good property manager and using Web-based property management software.

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As the green building movement continues to take center stage, so do green leases. Through a green lease, landlords and tenants are “bound” to help ensure that high-performance buildings meet and exceed their intended “green” goals. Although specifications vary, a number of characteristics are emerging as likely components in green leases, such as alignment with a third party certification standard such as LEED, BRREAM, Energy Star or Green Globes. But developers who jump through all the LEED or other building certification hoops likely won’t want that certification jeopardized by noncompliant leasehold improvements – so rules defining sustainable product requirements and construction practices should be clearly specified in a tenant construction agreement.

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In recent weeks there have been faint rumblings of recovery in the U.S. economy, but some economists are cautious about saying the recovery is nigh. In their view, the jury is still out about the benefits of the administration’s stimulus package. They also expect state and local governments to lag in joining the rebound.

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