Legal Updates
A Realtor’s and Seller’s Duty to Disclose All Prior Inspection Reports on a Listed Property
The duty to disclose all that is material affecting price paid or desirability Over the years, I frequently come across risk management inquiries involving whether a seller and his or her listing agent need to disclose prior property inspection reports of the property being listed for sale. Negative prior third-party expert reports on the listedRead More
Is Your Website ADA Compliant? —A New Cyber Risk
The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1992, is to assure equal access and services to disabled individuals. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities. Title III of the Act prohibits entities that own, lease, or operate a place of public accommodation from discriminating against the disabled.Read More
How to Prevent a California Civil Code Section 1088 Violation
California Civil Code section 1088 Many real estate agents are not familiar with the provisions of California Civil Code section 1088. I am quite familiar with this provision having defended many real estate licenses over the years for placing inaccurate information in a listing posted in a given real estate association’s multiple listing service posting.Read More
Americans with Disabilities Act Website Lawsuits
The 1990 “Americans with Disabilities Act” (hereinafter “ADA”) is a federal civil rights law designed to prevent discrimination based upon one’s disability. Disabilities covered, but not limited to those of hearing, mobility, and sight. Discrimination based upon one’s “disability” is illegal in all fifty (50) states and United States territories. The covered disabilities under theRead More
Emails versus Texts in a Real Estate Transaction
The best way to prevent a claim or lawsuit against yourself as a licensed professional is to memorialize what was discussed in writing with your client starting with the log notes in your transaction file and then followed up with an e mail, facsimile transmission or a hard copy letter (preferably certified mail return receiptRead More
How Does a Property Manager Minimize His or Her Exposure in Landlord Tenant Relations?
With the resurgence of the California real estate market after the “Great Recession” I find that many of my real estate clients have diversified their business and have become involved in real property management. In California, a property manager is a person who takes care of the many aspects of commercial, industrial or residential propertiesRead More
The Pros and Cons of Binding Arbitration
Many times I have consulted with my real estate clients as to the advantages and disadvantages of binding arbitration to resolve a dispute concerning real property as opposed to resolving the dispute in a litigated case in a California court room. There are advantages and disadvantages of the binding arbitration process of the binding arbitrationRead More
Cancellation of Escrow Considerations
Invariably I have come across disputes in real estate sales where a cancellation of contract, release of deposit and cancellation of escrow on a California Association of Realtors© form CC has been sent to either the listing or selling agent for his or her client(s) to date, sign and return to the party sending theRead More
What is a Fixture and How to Prevent Misunderstandings After Close
California Civil Code section 660 defines a “fixture” as follows: “A thing is deemed to be affixed to land when it is attached to it by roots, as in the case of trees, vines, or shrubs; or imbedded in it, as in the case of walls; or permanently resting upon it, as in the caseRead More
How to Prevent a Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) Complaint
California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) maintains the authority to investigate complaints of discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and hate violence. Many persons believe they have been treated unfairly or harassed in employment opportunities, in renting or purchasing a home, or in receiving service in a business establishment. TheRead More