This year updates a 2016 state law that created a method for beneficiaries to limit the probate process by creating a trust involving property. A transfer on death (TOD) deed would transfer ownership of it on the owner’s death to the trust’s beneficiary. Changes are meant to address past issues that…
You thought it would never end, didn’t you? Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted earlier this month to wrap up a COVID-related eviction moratorium starting February 1. Landlords will be allowed to return to using the legal process to evict tenants behind in their rent. The restrictions were on the…
Landlords need financial protection in case a tenant damages a unit. You should have insurance, but you have deductibles to pay, and too many claims will boost your premium. A security deposit provides a financial cushion, but its use is limited. It’s not an extra pile of cash you can…
A lis pendens is a powerful document that should only be used when the situation justifies it. Lis pendens is a Latin term for “suit pending.” It’s filed with a county’s recorder office to put others on notice the legal status of the property is uncertain due to pending legal…
That’s a lot of money, even by California standards. The case of Jose Ivan Rodriguez Jimenez v. Capero Investments Inc. & Louis Brian Teque has “teaching moments” for those involved in real estate sales and parties to litigation. Jury Decides Real Estate Agent Ripped Off His Client In this Los…
Most businesses can’t exist without some kind of physical space, even in these days of a work-from-home workforce. It could be an office, retail space, or warehouse. The lease is the contract between the landlord and tenant. It lays down the rules of the relationship and states who’s obligated to…
California real estate is expensive, so earnest money deposits can be tens of thousands of dollars. Potentially losing or gaining that money without a sale going through is a high-stakes game that may involve lawyers. If you’re buying or selling a house, learn more about this issue so you can…
If you break a lease, you’re ending it for a reason that’s allowed under state law and or the lease agreement’s terms. It can also happen if you and the tenant agree to end the lease early. It’s like a divorce between spouses who still get along. A landlord may…
Here are just a few because this is a blog, not a booklet. You need to navigate these needs while maintaining your profitability and sanity. Some of these tasks are easier than others, but overall, you need to find a way to get all these done. Obey Landlord-Tenant Laws Many…
You want tenants living in your building, not guests, for long periods. Trying to prevent all guests from short stays isn’t practical and could hurt your relationship with a tenant. But allowing someone to move in and live in a unit without being screened like any other tenant or signing…
