Whether you’re evaluating a property sale, navigating a zoning issue, or setting up an estate plan, here are answers to the questions we hear most often from churches, nonprofits, and charter schools working with our office.
What services does Bushore Church Real Estate provide?
We handle both the legal and brokerage sides of church and nonprofit real estate: buying, selling, and leasing property; zoning and entitlement issues; property tax exemptions; nonprofit formation and tax-exempt status; facility leasing and licensing (including shared-use and cell tower agreements); title curative work; estate planning; and transactional work with contractors and vendors.
Do you only work with churches, or other nonprofits and schools too?
Churches are our core focus, but we regularly represent nonprofits and charter schools facing the same real estate, zoning, and tax-exemption issues
Are you a real estate broker, an attorney, or both?
Both. Ryan C. Bushore is a licensed California real estate broker (DRE #01407656) and an attorney licensed by the California State Bar (#296685), admitted to practice in the U.S. Central District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. That dual license means the same person can list and negotiate a sale and handle the legal work behind it, rather than handing you off between a broker and outside counsel.
Can you help us sell or lease property our congregation no longer uses?
Yes — this is one of our most common engagements. We handle valuation, marketing, and negotiation on the brokerage side, and structure the transaction to account for the zoning, tax, and entity issues specific to church-owned property.
Do you help with nonprofit formation and maintaining tax-exempt status?
Yes, including formation of the nonprofit entity itself and the filings required to obtain and maintain tax-exempt status.
Do you handle property tax exemption issues?
Yes. Church and nonprofit-owned property often qualifies for exemptions that aren’t applied automatically or can lapse — we help evaluate eligibility and handle the filings and disputes that come up.
Do you draft or review leases for shared facility use, like a tenant congregation or a cell tower on our property?
Yes — shared-use and licensing arrangements, including cell tower leases, are a regular part of our practice.
Do you create estate plans, like trusts and wills?
Yes, we prepare wills and trusts.
Can you help clear a cloud on title?
Yes, we handle title curative work to resolve clouds on title.
What does it cost?
Cost depends on the type of service. Legal work is generally billed hourly. Real estate sales and leasing are commission-based. Probate matters are governed by statutory fees under California Probate Code §§ 10800–10810 rather than an hourly rate.
How long does a typical matter take?
Timelines vary considerably depending on the type of matter. A lease negotiation moves on a different clock than a probate sale, a zoning entitlement, or clearing a title defect — and even within one category, factors like government approval timelines, the cooperation of other parties, and the complexity of the underlying facts can add weeks or months. Rather than quote a number that would likely be wrong for your specific situation, we can give you a realistic timeline once we understand the details — that’s part of what the initial consultation is for.
How do I get started?
Call our office at (714) 282-0246 or email office@bushoreinc.com, and we’ll set up a time to talk through your situation.