Frequently asked questions

No. Nexus Towers represents property owners in cell tower lease buyouts and provides consulting services. We advise on leases, amendments, renewals, buyouts, and rent reduction requests, ensuring owners are properly positioned and represented.

The value of a cell tower lease depends on several factors and requires a review of your agreement. One of the most important considerations is the tenant's credit quality and asset type. Leases with investment-grade, national carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T typically command higher valuations than leases with smaller, regional, or non-investment-grade tenants, including certain broadband providers.

Additional key factors include current monthly rent, escalation structure, subtenant revenue share, remaining lease term, Right of First Refusal or consent provisions, and the property's location.

Cell tower lease buyouts are typically structured as a lump sum payment or installment sale, depending on the seller's financial and tax objectives.

Most transactions convey a telecom easement, which grants real property interest in the tower area or rooftop of the building. Because an easement is a recorded property right that “runs with the land”, it generally commands the highest valuation.

Alternatively, some buyers may agree to structure the transaction as a Master Lease Agreement (MLA), Assignment of Lease, or Management Agreement. While these can still be recorded, they do not convey the same real estate interest as an easement. As a result, they may be valued differently, often but not always at a discount.

A telecom easement is a legal property interest that grants a third party the right to use a portion of your land or building for telecommunications infrastructure, such as cell towers, antennas, and related equipment.

In a lease buyout, a telecom easement typically allows the buyer to step into the existing lease position and collect rent, as well as retain the right to add or manage future telecom tenants on the property. Unlike a traditional lease, an easement is tied to the property and remains in place even if the property is sold.

No. A telecom easement generally does not prevent the sale of your property. The rights granted are limited to telecom use, and the easement transfers to the new owner upon sale.

Yes, selling your lease does not give the buyer ownership of your building or absolute control of your rooftop. Because you have already entered into a telecom lease, you agreed not to interfere with the operation of the existing wireless facilities. You generally remain free to use, maintain, improve, and operate your property, provided those activities do not interfere with the telecommunications equipment.

Granting a general easement only conveys the rights to existing tenant leases and the rights to add new telecom tenants, while specific easements convey rights related only to the existing telecommunications facilities, retaining the ability to enter into future cell tower agreements.

If there is a loan or mortgage recorded against your property, then in most cases yes. Your lender is typically asked to execute a Subordination, Non-Disturbance, and Attornment Agreement (SNDA), which grants the buyer priority over the lease revenue in the event of a default with your lender.

If your loan is backed by agencies such as HUD, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you may not be able to sell your lease as obtaining their consent or an SNDA is challenging, as their loan documents are typically more restrictive.

Nexus Towers does not charge any upfront fees or retainers. In most transactions, our fee is paid by the buyer at closing.

In certain situations, such as when a tenant exercises a Right of First Refusal (ROFR), our fee may be paid by the seller. Regardless of structure, our compensation is success-based and only earned upon closing, ensuring our interests remain aligned with our clients.

In addition to buyout advisory, we provide a range of complimentary services, including:

• Lease analysis for new cell tower agreements, amendments and renewals
• Financial analysis and strategic guidance to minimize or eliminate rent reduction requests
• Review of existing buyout offers to confirm pricing and terms meet or exceed industry standards, along with Nexus Towers' estimated lease buyout valuation

Our goal is simple: to ensure you are not signing away valuable rights or leaving money on the table, which too often occurs without an experienced telecom consultant.

Send us your lease — or just your questions — through the form on this site, or call 1-866-896-3987. We review everything and get back to you within 24 hours: free, confidential, and with no obligation.

Yes. A cell tower lease buyout may have federal, state, and local tax consequences, and the tax treatment can vary depending on your specific circumstances, the structure of the transaction, and the laws applicable in your jurisdiction. Some property owners may be able to utilize tax-deferral strategies, including a Section 1031 like-kind exchange.

Because tax laws are complex and fact-specific, Nexus Towers does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. We recommend consulting with your licensed professional before proceeding with any transaction to understand the potential tax implications and available planning opportunities. If you need a referral, we are happy to provide one.

Securing a new tower or rooftop telecom tenant can be highly competitive and depends on a range of factors, including location, elevation, existing carrier coverage, and whether your property falls within a carrier's defined search ring. In many cases, a property must be identified as strategically relevant before a carrier will even consider it for deployment.

While Nexus Towers is not a site acquisition or marketing firm, you can access direct carrier registration links at www.nexustowers.com/consult to submit your property for consideration.

In certain rooftop easement or lump-sum buyout transactions, marketing rights may be conveyed to the buyer. In these cases, the buyer may assume responsibility for carrier outreach and site development and may share a portion of future revenue from new tenants.

Alternatively, some owners engage third-party site marketing companies to pursue carrier leasing opportunities. These arrangements typically involve revenue sharing on initial leases, renewals, and in some cases, a portion of proceeds from any lump-sum buyout tied to new carrier activity.

If you are a landlord under a ground lease on an existing cell tower, you generally do not have the right to independently add tenants to the tower itself. Additional tenant revenue is typically controlled by the tower owner or master tenant. In limited cases, you may see incremental rent if a new tenant's equipment requires expansion beyond the existing compound or leased area, depending on the lease terms. As a result, owners should be cautious of any arrangement that requires upfront payment for “marketing” additional tenants unless it is clearly tied to contractual rights and verified revenue opportunities under the existing lease structure.