Blogs
Technical articles on environmental and property due diligence for US commercial real estate, written for environmental professionals, lenders, investors and underwriting teams.
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02 · Environmental
REC, CREC, HREC, or BER? A Practical Guide to Environmental Risk Classification
One of the most important professional judgments in a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is determining how an identified environmental condition should be classified.
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03 · Environmental
Why Historical Property Research Is Critical in a Phase I ESA
The current use of a commercial property does not necessarily represent its environmental history.
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Articles 04 to 10
The full series
Written to be read in order, but each one stands on its own.
- 04Environmental
How to Evaluate Gas Stations, USTs, and LUSTs During a Phase I ESA
Former and current gasoline service stations are among the property uses that require careful evaluation during environmental due diligence.
- 05Environmental
When Does an Environmental Database Listing Become a REC?
Environmental database reports are an essential component of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. However, a database listing should not be treated as an automatic indication of a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC).
- 06Environmental
Phase I ESA vs. Phase II ESA: When Is Additional Investigation Necessary?
Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments serve different purposes.
- 07Environmental
How Groundwater Flow, Topography, and Soil Conditions Affect Environmental Risk
Environmental contamination does not necessarily remain at the location where a release occurred.
- 08Property
Property Condition Assessment (PCA): What Commercial Real Estate Investors Should Know
A Property Condition Assessment (PCA) is a commercial real estate due diligence assessment used to evaluate the physical condition of a property's improvements and identify material physical deficiencies and potential repair or capital needs.
- 09Property
PCA vs. Phase I ESA: Why Both Matter in Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence
Commercial real estate transactions can involve multiple categories of risk.
- 10Environmental
Environmental Due Diligence for Commercial Real Estate: From Database Search to Transaction Decision
Environmental due diligence is a structured process used to identify and evaluate potential environmental conditions that may affect a commercial real estate transaction.