George Craft leads the firm’s real estate and real estate finance sections. His practice focuses on a wide range of real estate related transactions including real estate finance, acquisition and disposition of real estate related assets, structuring of various real estate entities and real estate loan workouts. He has been Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Commercial Real Estate Law and Residential Real Estate Law since 1983. 

Representing Developers, Investors, Landlords & Tenants
George represents both foreign and domestic developers and investors in acquiring, disposing of, developing, and leasing all types of commercial real estate, including mid- and high-rise luxury condominium projects, mid- and high-rise multi-family complexes, office buildings, residential subdivisions, regional shopping centers, unimproved property, hotels, golf courses, deep water facilities, and industrial warehouses and developments. He also represents landlords and tenants regarding complex lease issues, including development agreements, operating agreements, reciprocal access, and restrictive covenant agreements.

Representing Lenders
George's practice also includes representing lenders in construction loans, development loans, and loans secured by unimproved property and improved property, including regional shopping centers, mini warehouse facilities, office buildings, hotels, golf courses, industrial complexes, residential subdivisions, flex space, mid- and high-rise luxury condominium projects, and mid and high rise multi-family complexes, low-income housing tax credit transactions, historical tax credit transactions and the construction of improvements on leasehold estates. He also represents lenders in connection with aircraft financing secured by airframes, aircraft engines and avionics.

Honors & Recognitions

Listed, Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2004-2018

Listed, Texas Super Lawyers, Real Estate, 2003-2019

  • Board Certified - Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law

Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 1973

B.B.A., Texas Christian University, Finance, 1970

Admissions

Texas

Board Certified, Commercial Real Estate Law, Residential Real Estate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Experience

George Craft’s representations have included the following:

  • The lender regarding the development of the Texas Lone Star Flight Museum, secured by two ground leases and 17 World War II aircraft.
  • The sellers of more than 22,000 acres of land located in Wharton and Colorado Counties, Texas in 2018.
  • Certain partners in refinancing and redeeming partnership interests involving a 60 acre industrial project in Houston in 2018.
  • Various lenders regarding several major multi-family projects in 2018.
  • A lender in a construction credit facility for Mid-Main in Houston, Texas, consisting of 363 apartment units, neighborhood parking garage (773 spaces), and transit retail.
  • A lender in an $80,000,000 credit facility for acquiring the Gulf Coast's largest industrial park, which spans 10,897 acres (three-fourths the size of Manhattan), including rail and warehouse facilities.
  • A major international petroleum corporation regarding its relocation to new 250,000 square foot Houston headquarters.
  • Various developers in acquiring, developing, and leasing more than 3,000,000 square feet of retail power centers.
  • A Houston-based developer in acquiring, developing, and leasing more than 1,500,000 square feet of industrial warehouse space in Harris and Fort Bend Counties, Texas.
  • The purchaser of an 850+ acre industrial complex in Harris County, including warehouses, water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, and landfill facilities, together with ongoing development and leasing.
  • Lenders in the workout and foreclosure of three Gulf coast high-rise condominium projects.
  • Lenders in financing hotel construction consisting of over 1,000 keys, including historic tax credit transactions, in 2018.
  • A lender regarding a $50,000,000 Guidance Master Credit Agreement for developing day care centers.

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Affiliations

State Bar of Texas, Member of Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law, and Environmental & Natural Resources Law sections

Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow

Houston Bar Association, Member of Environmental Law and Real Estate Law sections

American Bar Association, Member of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law section; former Committee Member, Real Estate Finance Section

Houston Real Estate Lawyers Counsel, Member

Texas Association of Bank Counsel, Member

Texas College of Real Estate Attorneys, Member

River Oaks Property Owners Association, past President and Chairman of the Board

Proctor Academy, Andover, N.H.; past Member, Board of Trustees

River Oaks Baptist School, Houston, Texas; past Member, Development Board