Resources
Learn more about how churches and real estate agents can partner together for big Kingdom impact.
Standard Terms & Conditions in a Letter of Intent
A Standard Sales Contract, which can be over 50 pages in length, is much more appropriately handled by an attorney familiar with the respective laws of the state, and is more typically referred to as a Purchase and Sales Agreement (or PSA). I focus here on the...
The Process of Formulating a Lease
If the most likely or preferred option is the lease of the property, then the broker should do the following: Work with the Church to identify those areas of the property that could be leased on an exclusive basis versus those areas that may be shared by the tenant...
Developing a Request for Proposal
Now that you’ve met with your congregation, received authorization to explore your options, and engaged a competent and trustworthy real estate broker, you are ready to let the world know. The vehicle for seeking these options is a Request for Proposal (“RFP”). The...
A Plea to Realtors
CEO Mark Zuckerberg loves to recount—over and over again—how he created Facebook in his dorm room at Harvard as a way to connect people with each other. And I believe that he is sincere when he states this as the over-riding mission of his company. But like so many in...
Crafting a Comprehensive Facility Use Agreement
Churches must follow the calling of Christ to be both “wise as serpents” and “innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16, ESV) in missional interactions. Renting out space is absolutely a way to bless a community, but churches must not trade some missional vulnerability for...
Closing Costs: Reimagining Church Real Estate for Missional Purposes
For decades, many different denominations have experienced devastating declines in attendance, finances, and influence. Thousands of church leaders have watched their congregations grow older, smaller, and, in many cases, whiter than their surrounding communities. Rising costs and decreased giving make it virtually impossible to sustain the staff and fabric of these organizations—let alone their spiritual mission. But all hope is not lost.
In a clarion call that demands death to bring new life, Dominic reiterates how the local church is tasked with evaluating and ultimately sacrificing all their resources—including underutilized real estate—to bring healing and hope to the poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised. By reimagining their church spaces, congregations can experience revitalization as they grow to better embody their missional purpose.
Unlocking Church Properties for
COMMUNITY FLOURISHING
Watch the speech “Unlocking Church Properties for Community Flourishing” by Dominic Dutra at the University of Notre Dame’s Conference: The Future of Church Property to learn more about our passion and calling.