Edward Puerta

/My focus

Acquisitions, dispositions and financing

Representing purchasers and sellers of real property is a key aspect of my practice, and includes working with developers, health systems, real estate investors and not-for-profits. In this role, I negotiate agreements and advise clients on structuring issues, financing and refinancing options, compliance matters, and tax strategies.

Affordable housing

My practice also involves affordable housing, and I represent clients in the siting and capitalizing affordable housing developments. I am proud to have worked on and closed more than $1 billion in projects to create and preserve quality housing in urban and suburban areas around the country. This area involves a web of interaction between developers, owners, investors and government agencies before results can be seen. Locally, I serve as outside counsel to the Long Island Housing Partnership, a not-for-profit with nearly forty years’ experience developing, rehabilitating and sustaining affordable housing on Long Island.

Leasing

Commercial, industrial and healthcare leasing is another core area of my practice. I work with both landlords and tenants to negotiate, draft and amend space agreements of almost every nature. I also work extensively with clients on medical and health care leases, which present unique challenges and risks due to governmental regulations and restrictions.

/Representative experience

• Guiding a non-profit health care system in the sale of 600+ units of regulated low-income and senior housing to a national developer and operator of affordable properties.
• Representing a midtown Manhattan office tower owner on all aspects of property leasing and operations
• Advising on the creation and operation of one of Long Island’s first community land trusts
• Negotiating the disposition of an international transportation company’s headquarters property on Long Island

/Looking ahead

The post-pandemic real estate landscape is optically distinct but fundamentally similar, with the interplay between prudent, responsible, sustainable development and profit-oriented investors still primary forces that set the market. At a time when governments are revisiting their tax, regulatory and enforcement models, our clients need one eye on the near-term market uncertainty and another on the long-term fundamentals. I think the next few years will “solve” the return-to-office question in the commercial office market and the trend of healthcare providers leveraging traditional but now underused retail space will pick up steam.