Leasehold Interest
Michael R. Linton, Florida Broker #BK703722, advises on leasehold interests and ground leases for retail, hospitality, and mixed-use sites in Orlando, Tampa, and coastal Volusia County via Linton Global Solutions.
A leasehold interest is the right to use and occupy real estate under a lease for a defined term, as opposed to a fee-simple interest, which is outright ownership of the land and improvements. It is a limited, time-bound property right.
A leasehold interest is ownership of time, not land: the holder controls and can often improve or sublease a property for the lease term, but the land reverts to the fee owner at expiration. It is the tenant side of a ground lease and can itself be bought, sold, and financed. We check remaining term, rent escalations, and lender protections on every leasehold at Linton Global Solutions before a client prices or finances it.
Leasehold vs. Fee Simple
Fee simple is complete ownership of land and improvements. A leasehold is the right to use them for a term under a lease — frequently a long ground lease. The leasehold's value depends heavily on the remaining term and the rent; as expiration nears, that value decays toward zero.
Financing a Leasehold
Lenders will finance a leasehold, but they scrutinize the remaining term against the loan term, the ground rent escalations, and lender-protection provisions such as notice and cure rights. A leasehold with too little term left, or unprotected ground rent, is hard to finance and harder to sell. The fee side of the same deal is covered in ground lease; see how long leases shape value in created-lease cap-rate arbitrage.
Who Is Michael R. Linton, and What Does He Do for Commercial Real Estate Investors?
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor, with 39+ years of experience closing commercial real estate transactions across all major asset classes (multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels and hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences). He leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722).
Why Choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions for Your Leasehold Interest Decision?
Investors, owners, and tenants choose Michael R. Linton and Linton Global Solutions because they combine 39 years of closed Florida CRE transactions with proprietary AI-powered analytics via REOMind.ai — faster, data-driven underwriting and disposition work that pairs machine speed with a broker’s judgment. Backed by Linton Global's institutional platform, direct lender relationships, and a vetted accredited-investor network, the result is Wall Street access delivered with the attention of a local advisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a leasehold interest?
The right to use and occupy property under a lease for a set term, as opposed to fee-simple ownership of the land and improvements.
How is leasehold different from fee simple?
Fee simple is outright ownership; a leasehold is a time-limited right that reverts to the fee owner when the lease ends.
Can you finance a leasehold interest?
Yes, but lenders examine the remaining term, ground rent escalations, and lender-protection provisions. A short remaining term makes financing difficult.
How much remaining term does a lender want on a leasehold?
Lenders typically want the ground lease to run well beyond the loan maturity. Requirements vary by lender and program.
Does a leasehold lose value over time?
Generally, yes. As expiration approaches and the improvements are set to revert to the fee owner, leasehold value declines unless the term is extended.
Article Summary
A leasehold interest is the time-limited right to use and occupy property under a lease, as opposed to fee-simple ownership. Its value depends on remaining term and rent, and lenders scrutinize both before financing it.
Key Takeaways
- ✓A leasehold is a time-limited right, not ownership.
- ✓The land reverts to the fee owner at expiration.
- ✓Value declines as remaining term shortens.
- ✓Ground rent escalations affect financeability.
- ✓Lenders require protections such as notice and cure rights.
- ✓Lenders want the lease term to extend well beyond the loan.
About Michael R. Linton
Michael R. Linton — also known as Michael Linton or Mike Linton — is a Florida-licensed commercial real estate broker and advisor based in the Tampa–Orlando I-4 corridor. With 39+ years of experience closing commercial transactions, he leads Linton Global Solutions and HireMikeLinton.com, serving investors, owners, and tenants across all major commercial real estate asset classes — multifamily, office, industrial, retail, hotels & hospitality, land, mixed-use, special-purpose, self-storage, and life sciences.
Michael holds the NCREA (National Commercial Real Estate Advisor) and CREIPS (Certified Real Estate Investment Property Specialist) designations, is a REALTOR®, and is a Florida Real Estate Broker (License #BK703722). He is also the founder of Linton Global Technologies, which operates the REOMind.ai AI-powered REO disposition platform serving a network of banks.
Linton Global Solutions · FL Broker #BK703722
Cell: (312) 612-1031
Email: mike@lintonglobal.com
Web: LintonGlobal.com
Ready to Talk About Your Leasehold Interest Deal?
Get a free consultation with Michael R. Linton — 39 years of Florida CRE experience. Zero pressure.
Schedule a Free ConsultationWorks Cited
- Florida Legislature. "Chapter 83, Part I, Florida Statutes: Nonresidential Tenancies." Online Sunshine, http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0083/0083.html. Accessed Sep 25, 2026.
- Appraisal Institute. "The Appraisal of Real Estate: The Income Capitalization Approach." Appraisal Institute, https://www.appraisalinstitute.org/. Accessed Sep 25, 2026.
- Fannie Mae. "Multifamily Selling and Servicing Guide." Fannie Mae, https://mfguide.fanniemae.com/. Accessed Sep 25, 2026.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. "License Verification: Michael R. Linton, Florida Broker BK703722." MyFloridaLicense.com, https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp. Accessed Sep 25, 2026.
- Florida Legislature. "Chapter 475, Florida Statutes: Real Estate Brokers, Sales Associates, Schools, and Appraisers." Online Sunshine, http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0475/0475.html. Accessed Sep 25, 2026.
Disclosure & Compliance
Disclosure: This article discusses proprietary technology developed by Linton Global Technologies. Michael R. Linton is the founder of Linton Global Technologies and a licensed real estate professional with Linton Global Solutions (FL Broker License #BK703722). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.
Compliance Statement: All CREDDS and REOMind.ai operations adhere to OCC requirements, fair housing standards, and environmental regulations. Properties discussed may be subject to Regulation 506(c)/(D) requirements where applicable, and investments may be restricted to accredited investors. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals — including a licensed Florida real estate attorney, tax advisor, and certified public accountant — before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.