However, their hopes of a quick purchase suffered a blow when CB Holding's parent company - Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank - had its debt payments frozen until September 2010.

BBC: West Ham's shareholders in no hurry to sell club

One caveat to LLCs: If you're planning to build your brokerage into the next CB Richard Ellis Group (nyse: CBG - news - people ), be aware that it's difficult to go public using this structure.

FORBES: How To Run A Real Estate Brokerage: Legal Structure