Is the signing or purchase of commercial real estate public knowledge?

Alisa Kaleiwahea: When real estate is sold, deeds are recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds. Agreements for the sale and purchase of real estate are generally not required to be recorded, but they sometimes are in circumstances where there is a need to have a public record of the sale. Leases are generally not recorded unless they are for a period longer than a year. A lease with an option to buy would possibly be recorded so as to give public notice of the arrangement....Show more

Lon Pennington: Yes, all real estate transactions are public knowledge. The purchases must be recorded in the registry of deeds. The information may be available on line, I don't know. Many newspapers publish all real estate transactions weekly. There are also services that will provide this information for a fee.However, with commercial real estate, much of it is leased, and changes in leases are not public....Show more