Real Estate Matters.                                                                              attorneytampa.com
Karl Schmitz III, P.A. Attorneys At Law
Residential & Commercial Real Estate | Title & Closing Services | Corporate
Receive legal counsel from our real estate attorneys serving Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa and surrounding area. 

701 Enterprise Rd. E #502 Safety Harbor, FL 34695    Pinellas (727) 450-0778   Hillsborough (813) 963-2066

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Real Estate Matters.
Real estate is one of the biggest investments most people make
and we're here to help you reach your real estate goals.

Our Clients Hire Us Because We're ...
• Client Focused
Our firm enjoys a client base that is primarily word of mouth because of the relationships we build with our clients. 
• Experienced
We have a proven track record of over 25 years as legal counsel representing home-owners, landowners, developers and builders in all non-litigation aspects of real property law and transactions.
• A Closing And Title Service Provider
Highly regarded and experienced Closing Agent for Florida residential and commercial real estate transactions.
• Skilled In The Art Of Negotiation 
Relationship building, mutual trust and understanding supported by dialogue and process help us optimize value and achieve superior, sustainable outcomes for our clients.

FEATURED PRACTICE AREAS
• REAL ESTATE
We assist clients in residential and commercial development, purchase, sale, transfer, and lease transactions. Uniquely qualified, Karl Schmitz is also a Florida licensed real estate broker.
• CORPORATE
We help determine the proper entity structure for your real estate investments as well as the formation of corporations, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships. Our clients turn to us for legal counsel on the "Business" of Real Estate.
• COMMERCIAL
We have broad experience representing developers of retail, new hotel and multi-family construction as well as all phases of acquisition, leasing, title, and disposition of major drug retail stores.

The Small Firm Advantage
At Karl M. Schmitz III, P.A., you don’t need to worry if your file will get lost. 
We treat each client as our only client, and we only agree to be retained by those clients whose real estate-related business needs we determine we can assist.
Once our attorney-client relationship commences, you can be assured your needs will never be overlooked.

PRACTICE AREAS

- ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT
We represent clients in the acquisition, development, construction, leasing, and sale of shopping centers, single-use commercial properties, hotels, development parcels, residential and multifamily properties, single-tenant net-leased properties, and mixed-use projects.
Examples of recent engagements in this area: Fed/Ex Ground Facility acquisition (new construction), 340-unit multifamily apartment community, the acquisition and development of mixed-use exclusive residential subdivisions, development of Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express projects, grocery-anchored shopping centers and out-parcel sale/leasing and development, and single-tenant net and ground leased properties. We assist individual investors, developers, and real estate investment consortia in evaluating and structuring acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing of properties and portfolios. 
Our experience: representing developers on shopping centers anchored by major grocery tenants, and all aspects of site acquisition, including title insurance, purchase agreements, joint development agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, access agreements, survey review, and coordination with the client’s development division from acquisition to disposition of the project.

- THE “BUSINESS” OF REAL ESTATE
Our goal is to provide the client with quality business advice as part of their real estate investment objectives.
Many clients, both domestic and international, understand the need to have the proper structure in place prior to the acquisition of real estate investments, and for those clients, as well as the individual, we work closely with the client’s existing (or recommend the engagement of) tax professional, to achieve tax and liability protections, while working towards reaching the client’s real estate goals.
Our experience: the formation of corporations, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships within the state of Florida and internationally, and we actively work with counsel in other jurisdictions in the formation of non-Florida entities.

- LEASING
Often, business people consider entering into real estate leases or subleases to be “routine” transactions, and frequently they are. However, leases may carry various business and legal risks, and sophisticated clients understand a well-negotiated lease can save time and money.
We have the experience, market knowledge, and business savvy to help clients sort through dense leasing documents and complex construction and development issues. We also understand the need to negotiate and document the transaction quickly while minimizing the client’s legal and business risks.
Our experience: representing landlords and tenants in a variety of leasing transactions, including build-to-suit leases, turnkey leases, tenant improvement allowance leases, subleases, office leases, retail leases, and warehouse and industrial leases.

- REAL ESTATE FINANCE
There is a dizzying array of financing options available to the real estate investor; however, each option carries some risk.
We have over 20 years of experience in all aspects of representation of single-tenant investors, including the acquisition, disposition, lease negotiation and restructuring, investment entity formation, I.R.C. Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, and development.
Our clients: major private equity investors, family limited partnerships, and individuals.
Tenants: national drug chains, gas station convenience stores, casual dining and fast-food restaurants, and small retail. We have been engaged to represent clients throughout the country and engage local counsel as required to meet the clients’ needs.

- SMALL BUSINESS SALE AND PURCHASE
Our business clients may not have real estate interests, other than as a tenant for leased space, yet are interested in acquiring or selling an existing business.
We assist the client in the structuring of the business contract, determining, with the assistance of the client’s tax professional, whether an asset sale/purchase or an equity sale/purchase is in the client’s best interests, review the financing options and ultimately the final acquisition or sale of the business.
Our experience: mergers and acquisitions of small businesses (under $10,000,000 gross annual revenues), family businesses, partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies.

Experience In Real Estate Matters.
• Renewable Energy Development
We provide assistance and advice to clients in new installation and expansion of existing renewable energy products, including large scale solar/pv installations and electric vehicle "destination charging" leases.
• Lease Negotiation
Successful negotiation in sale and leaseback transactions with major national chain store operators and franchises.
• Development
Real Estate Counsel for developers of grocery-anchored shopping centers in the southeastern U.S.
• Real Estate Counsel
We represent clients in the purchase of single-tenant net lease properties. 
• Real Estate Counsel
Counsel in the acquisition of and equity participation in the development of national distribution and delivery centers for a parcel company. 
• The Business of Real Estate
Counsel in the representation of businesses and medical practices in negotiation of asset purchase agreements, leasing, and sale of business enterprise.
• Real Estate Broker
Karl M. Schmitz, III is an active Florida licensed real estate broker, his brokerage is Commercial Property Brokers, LLC.

Representative Engagements and Transactions Include:

DEVELOPMENT
• Development of grocery-anchored shopping centers in Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
• Development of flagged hotel properties within Florida and the acquisition and disposition of existing flagged and non-flagged hotel properties throughout the country.
• Development, including all phases of acquisition, leasing, title, and disposition of major drug retail stores in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.
• Development, including drafting of purchase agreements, formation of owner’s association and preparation of governing documents for 22-unit townhome development.

NEGOTIATION
• Negotiation a sale and leaseback with major national chain store operators and franchises.
• Complex commercial restaurant lease negotiations on behalf of tenant client for signature restaurant locations on property owned and leased by local government.
• Structuring of complex equity participation agreements between a major developer and equity partners in connection with anchor tenant shopping centers.
• Representation of a multi-state franchisee in leasing, franchise participation, and business development.
• Representation in financing the development of commercial property within Florida through a primary commercial lender and secondary debenture lender.
• Representation of business and medical practice in negotiation of asset purchase agreement, lease, and sale of business enterprise.

REAL ESTATE COUNSEL
• Real estate counsel to the managing partner of a real estate consortium with over 70 single-tenant net-leased properties owned throughout the country.
• Real estate counsel to a major developer of build-to-suit gas station and convenience stores, including the acquisition of a site, lease negotiation with the tenant, development, and the sale of property to the investor.
• Real estate counsel to a major private real estate developer of multifamily lifestyle communities in Florida and in the acquisition of and equity participation in the development of national distribution and delivery centers for a parcel company.
• Real estate counsel in the planned development of a mixed-use resort and convention center in the Lesser Antilles.
• U.S. counsel in the connection sale of stock in a Costa Rican corporation.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
• All facets of representation of buyers and sellers in the sale and purchaser of residential real estate.

TITLE INSURANCE
• Over $1.1 billion in title insurance policies written since 1997, which includes residential and commercial transactions and financing.
• Title insurance and closing services for existing and former clients, and referrals from real estate agents, lenders and “by owner”.

About Karl M. Schmitz III, P.A.
Karl Schmitz III, P.A., A Trusted Attorney With Decades of Experience
Karl M. Schmitz, III opened his law firm in 1997, after several years of working as a litigation attorney, followed by working as an underwriting counsel and direct operations manager for a national title insurance underwriter. While the firm was initially a legal practice devoted solely to real estate matters, Mr. Schmitz has continued to expand legal services offered to clients according to their needs.
As an attorney and Florida licensed real estate broker, he has a unique perspective and has helped numerous clients in brokering deals and realizing their real estate goals. See more information in the Experience section.

Education
• 2017-2017, Harvard Business School Executive Education, Social Enterprise Institute - Governing for Nonprofit Excellence
• J.D., 1992, University of Wisconsin Law School
• B.A., 1988, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Bar Admissions
       Admitted to Practice in Florida and Wisconsin
Volunteer
In addition to his legal work, Mr. Schmitz donates a great deal of time to charities and nonprofits in the Tampa Bay area, currently Board Chair of the Children's Home Foundation, previously served an extended post as Chairman of the Board of the Children's Home, the oldest nonprofit in Central Florida, with an annual budget of nearly $15 million, helping children and families. 
• Jan. 2020 - Present - Chairman of the Board - Foundation Children's Home Network
• July 2020 - Present - Chairman of the Board of Directors
• Jan. 2011 - June 2013 - Member of the Board of Directors Children's Home Network

An Eagle Scout, avid hiker and outdoorsman, Mr. Schmitz and his wife vacation in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument when time permits. Mr. Schmitz is also a supporter of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA).

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Please contact us via online form or calling 727-450-0778 if you need assistance.

Contact Us
PLEASE NOTE: This website provides general information about the firm and is not intended to be legal advice. Contacting Karl M. Schmitz, III, P.A. by email or otherwise does not establish an attorney-client relationship between us. An attorney-client relationship is established only after we have cleared any conflicts of interest and have agreed to represent you, as confirmed by your receipt of an engagement letter from us. You should not provide any confidential information or documents to us prior to our advising you that we are in a position to represent you. Your proceeding to contact us via email or by clicking “Submit” reflects your acknowledgment of and agreement to this notice.

Remote Service Area: Florida
Local Service Area: 
Hillsborough: Brandon, Plant City, Tampa, Temple Terrace, Riverview, Sun City Center
Hillsborough Phone: 813-963-2066
Pinellas: Belleair, Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore, Clearwater, Dunedin, Gulfport, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Kenneth City, Largo, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, Safety Harbor, St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Seminole, South Pasadena, Tarpon Springs, Treasure Island
Pinellas Phone: 727-450-0778

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