Dean Britton is a real estate investment executive with a focus on bifurcation of the ground ownership and operational ownership of properties. Since 2008, he has served as the managing principal of AIA Terra Partners. A key component of Dean Britton’s work is developing ground lease structures.

In a ground lease contract, buyback is a feature that allows landowners to sell control of their land to investors temporarily. The buyback option is suitable for landowners who do not intend to relinquish their properties altogether, and for investors who are interested in a secure exit agreement and a guaranteed profitable sale of the real estate. Both parties decide on a price for the seller to pay in the future and the terms vary based on the contract. The parties may decide to not exercise the feature, or the buyer may have the final say, in which case the seller must take back the property based on the investor’s preference. Conversely, if the seller has the final say, the buyback will be a fixed part of the contract and the buyer or investor must comply when asked.