I recently purchased a new winter coat, and as the weather is starting to really cool off in the mornings I felt today would be a great day to wear it out. To be fair this wasn’t a really expensive jacket, in fact it wasn’t even a real “jacket”, but rather a nice hoodie that…
California’s long history of seismic activity has consistently shaped building codes and public policy across the state. In recent years, local jurisdictions have taken increasingly proactive steps to address the risks posed by older building stock that was constructed prior to modern seismic standards. The City of San Jose is now preparing to join a…
The national median home price has yo-yoed towards twice what it was ten years ago. The average home in the United States went from around $200k to $400k, molded by an unrelenting storm of inflation, tight supply, and surging demand. With that in mind, let’s gather around the fire and reminisce about an enchanted era…
The Cost of an Empty Unit In real estate, time is money – and a vacant apartment is like a meter running in reverse. Every unoccupied month means lost rent revenue, which property managers in oversupplied or slow-demand markets feel acutely. In 2024, the U.S. saw a record surge of new apartment supply – over…
If you own multifamily property in California, you probably don’t need an industry report to tell you something has changed. You’ve seen it firsthand in your renewal (or non-renewal) notices. Insurance premiums that once crept up modestly are now jumping aggressively, year after year now, sometimes without a single claim to justify the increase. For…
Since 1978 with the passage of Proposition 13, California voters have repeatedly tried to protect their homes and businesses from excessive taxation by imposing limits on property taxes and requiring two-thirds voter approval for other local taxes. Despite the clear intent of the voters, California courts have sided with the government and its special interest…
California lawmakers showed historic enthusiasm for the abundance movement last year as they passed sweeping housing laws that roll back landmark environmental reviews for most urban developments and allow denser housing near transit – ambitious endeavors that would have gotten nowhere just a few years ago. This year, housing advocates are trying to seize the…
For years, the NMHC Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions has provided a snapshot of the apartment market, including trends in sales, equity financing and debt financing. In the first survey of 2026, NMHC included a special question examining the impact of rent regulation. NMHC compared this year’s results to those of the January 2022 survey. The comparison shows that over the last four years: The share…
If you’re a landlord in California, especially a self-managing landlord, one of your top legal obligations is providing a habitable dwelling. But what exactly does “habitability” mean under California law? More importantly, what happens if your rental doesn’t meet those standards? This comprehensive guide outlines your responsibilities as a landlord and offers tips to help self-managing landlords stay compliant,…
Many Californians live in earthquake denial. We laugh them off, ignore their ever-present threat to our lives and livelihoods. After all, some people reason, we’ve lived through earthquakes before. Why should the next one be different? The stark reality is that protecting ourselves from earthquakes should be on all of our minds. We need to…