Laura Boswell, Realtor

Laura Boswell, Realtor Residential & Commercial Real Estate | North Atlanta Expert | Forsyth • Fulton • Cobb • Gwinnett • Dawson • Hall Discover why you're in the best hands with me!

With 20 years of dedicated experience in real estate marketing, I am proud to be your go-to expert for buying or selling properties in the vibrant North Fulton and Forsyth County areas. As a seasoned professional, I understand the intricacies of the local market and possess the skills necessary to ensure a seamless transaction for my clients. With decades of successful sales and satisfied clients,

I have built a reputation for achieving top dollar for sellers and finding dream homes for buyers. My in-depth knowledge of North Fulton and Forsyth County allows me to provide valuable insights into market trends, property values, and desirable neighborhoods. I am committed to providing exceptional service, clear communication, and guidance at every step of the selling process. Whether you're selling your current home or searching for your dream property, I am here to help you achieve your real estate goals.

09/12/2026

If you lease commercial space, who pays the property taxes?

The landlord?

Maybe.

But depending on the lease, some or all of that expense may ultimately be passed through to the tenant.

In some commercial leases, certain operating expenses are included in the rent.

In others, tenants may be responsible for their share of expenses such as property taxes, insurance, and common-area costs in addition to base rent.

And how those expenses are calculated and allocated can vary from property to property and lease to lease.

That’s why comparing commercial spaces based only on the quoted base rent can give you an incomplete picture.

Before signing a lease, understand what expenses you’ll actually be responsible for paying.

Because even if the property tax bill doesn’t come directly to you, your lease may still make some or all of that expense part of your occupancy cost.

09/11/2026

Everyone says commercial real estate is about:

“Location, location, location.”

But what actually makes a location GOOD?

That depends on the business.

A coffee shop may care about visibility, easy access, traffic patterns, and being close to its customers.

A business that rarely has customers visit may care more about employee commute times, highway access, or keeping occupancy costs down.

An industrial user may prioritize truck access, loading, proximity to suppliers, customers, or a particular interstate.

Same location.

Completely different value depending on who’s using it.

So when someone says:

“This is a GREAT location”...

My next question is:

“Great for what business?”

Because the goal isn’t simply to find a good location.

It’s to find a location that supports what YOUR business needs to do.

09/10/2026

You found the perfect commercial property.

Great location.

Great layout.

The price works.

But there’s another important question:

Can your business actually operate there?

Just because a commercial property is available doesn’t mean every business can use it however they want.

Zoning and other land-use requirements may affect what can legally operate at a property.

And businesses that sound similar can have very different requirements.

An office isn’t necessarily the same as a medical office.

A retail store isn’t necessarily the same as a restaurant.

A warehouse storing inventory may be treated differently from a business doing manufacturing or production.

Before making commitments based on assumptions about a property, investigate whether your intended use is actually permitted.

Because finding the perfect building doesn’t help much if you can’t legally operate your business there.

09/09/2026

I can show you two commercial spaces that are both 1,500 square feet.

One might work beautifully for your business.

The other might not work at all.

Same square footage. So what’s the difference?

The layout.

Maybe you need several private offices, but one space is almost entirely open.

Maybe you need room for equipment or inventory, but the shape of the space or location of columns makes that difficult.

Even the location of entrances, restrooms, windows and walls can affect how efficiently your business can use the property.

And changing those things can cost money.

That’s why square footage alone doesn’t tell me whether a property works for your business.

You’re not really shopping for 1,500 square feet.

You’re shopping for a space that allows your business to function the way it needs to.

09/08/2026

Someone tells you a commercial space rents for $25 per square foot.

What does that actually mean?

If you're accustomed to residential rent, you may naturally think in terms of a monthly payment.

Commercial lease rates are often quoted differently.

For example:

2,000 square feet × $25 per square foot = $50,000 per year.

Divide that by 12 and you're at approximately $4,167 per month in base rent.

But that STILL may not tell you the total cost of occupying the space.

Depending on the lease structure, there may be additional expenses beyond base rent.

So when you hear:

“This space is $25 a foot”...

Don't stop there.

Ask what time period the rate represents, what square footage it's being applied to, and what expenses are — or aren't — included.
One little number can leave out a whole lot of information.

09/07/2026

Your commercial lease expires in six months.

Is that when you should start thinking about what comes next?

Probably not.

If you wait until the lease is almost over, you may have already limited your options.

Want to renew? You need time to understand the market and negotiate with your landlord.

Want to relocate? You may need time to identify alternatives, negotiate a new lease, complete due diligence, potentially build out the new space and actually move the business.

And waiting can affect your negotiating position.

If your landlord knows you don't realistically have enough time to relocate, how strong is your alternative to accepting the renewal they're offering?

Lease expiration isn't just a date on the calendar.

The goal is to give your business enough time to evaluate its options so you're making a decision because it's the best alternative — not because the clock made the decision for you.

09/06/2026

Before you sign a 10-year commercial lease, don't just think about whether the space works for your business today.

Think about what your business might look like in year seven.

Are you expecting to grow?

Could you add employees?

Will you need more storage, production or customer space?

Could the business eventually need LESS space?

None of us can predict exactly what a business will look like years from now.

But we can think about the possibilities before committing to a long-term lease.

Does the property give you room to grow?

Could additional space potentially become available?

What happens if you need to contract?

What options does the lease give you if your needs change?

You're not just choosing a space for the business you have today.

You're entering into a real estate obligation that may still be there when your business looks very different.
Don't just ask:

“Does this space work for us now?”

Ask:

“How well could this space — and this lease — adapt if our business changes?”

09/05/2026

Why would a business sell a building — and then turn around and pay rent to stay in it?

It sounds backwards.

But there’s a commercial real estate strategy built around exactly that: a sale-leaseback.

The business sells the property to an investor and simultaneously leases it back so it can continue operating there.

Why would a company consider doing that?

Capital.

Maybe the business has significant equity tied up in its real estate, and that capital could be used to open another location, purchase equipment, expand operations or invest back into the company.

A sale-leaseback can convert some of that real estate equity into cash without requiring the business to relocate.

That doesn’t automatically make selling the right decision. The business is giving up ownership and taking on a lease obligation.

But it creates another alternative to evaluate.

The bigger question may be:

Where can this company’s capital do the most for the business?

09/04/2026

Would you ever PAY your landlord to let you out of a commercial lease?

Your first reaction might be:

“Absolutely not.”

But there are situations where it could make financial sense.

Imagine your business no longer needs the space, but you still have several years left on the lease.

You could keep paying rent on space you're not using.

You might be able to sublease it — but maybe current market rent is lower than what you're paying.

Or you might be able to negotiate a buyout with the landlord and end the obligation.

At that point, the question isn't whether getting out costs money.

It's how that cost compares with your other alternatives.

If a negotiated exit costs less than staying or taking the expected loss on a sublease, writing that check could actually save the business money.

Don't evaluate the payment in isolation.

Compare it to the alternatives.

Sometimes paying money to get OUT of an obligation can cost less than staying in it.

09/03/2026

You signed a lease for 10,000 square feet.

At the time, your business needed all of it.

Three years later, you only need 7,000.

There's just one problem:

Your lease still says you're paying for 10,000.

So now what?

Staying and continuing to pay the lease may be one option — but it isn't necessarily the only one.

Could you sublease some or all of the space?

Could you relocate into something smaller?

Could you negotiate an early termination with the landlord?

You might even have to take a loss to get out of the existing space.

But if another alternative saves the business MORE than that loss costs, you could still come out ahead.

That's why the question isn't simply:

“How do I avoid losing money?”

It's:

“Which option costs me LESS from here?”

Address

United Country Premier Properties 2750 Premiere Pkwy Ste 200
Duluth, GA
30097

Telephone

+14044237264

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Laura Boswell, Realtor posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Laura Boswell, Realtor:

Shortcuts

Share