California housing is crowded, expensive and difficult to find, but if a package of bills proposed by prominent Senate Democrats becomes law, some cities could look very different a decade from now. Duplexes and small apartment buildings would spring up from single-family lots. Public housing projects, effectively stifled since the 1950s, would dot the landscape…
The new state law which has opened up far more options for the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), including creating ADUs in multi-unit/apartment buildings, has been in effect for over a year now. However, just like with the rest of life, the process of obtaining an ADU permit has changed a bit due to…
If you are considering a transition from active property management to something more passive, it pays to know your options. A 1031 Exchange can be a great strategy to defer taxes on your relinquished property. Landlord responsibilities on qualifying replacement properties, however, can differ widely depending upon how you own the exchange property. For tax…
The pandemic closed the country down for most of 2020 but sadly it did not slow down filing of the drive-by ADA lawsuits. Courtrooms may still be closed to the public; however, the plaintiffs, apparently, are able to still file these lawsuits electronically and are doing so daily. Currently, the most popular businesses being hit…
The Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency (EBEWE) ordinance is a new law that affects certain buildings in the City of Los Angeles. The EBEWE program is overseen by Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). The law covers many types of real estate including office, industrial, commercial, and multifamily residential properties and contains two…
This article is an in-depth exploration of the concepts “Test Only” and “Conflict of Interest” in the mold services industry. Test Only Property Managers need to perform a certain amount of due diligence when investigating the occurrence of tenants who complain about mold. Sometimes there is a problem, other times there is not. A…
On March 25, 2021, Senator Sanders re-introduced the “For the 99.5 Percent Act.” And now, more than ever, property owners need to worry that it will pass this year and devastate the inheritance you can leave for your heirs. Any hope that the Republicans can hold this off in the Senate pretty much disappeared a…
Challenge: Going on a Vacation You’ve been working day-in and day-out and then you realize life is more than just work. So, you decide to go on a vacation. Then the daydreaming begins; relaxing on the beach, taking a hike in the mountains, or maybe taking a road trip across the country. The choices…
Below is a letter sent to the Los Angeles City Council members. Honorable Councilmember and Staff: I just read about a proposal by HCIDLA to increase SCEP fees substantially and make the fees chargeable to the property owners. As you all surely know, SCEP came about during the terrible California Real Estate recession in…
The following are 10 tips on how to achieve a seasonal marketing overhaul. Take New Photos Spring is when the flowers look their very best, when the skies are crystal blue, the summer haze has not yet set in and leaves on trees are multiple shades of green. Shoot new photos with all of your…