When considering a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) property for a 1031 exchange, investors and their CPAs must also consider the tax treatment of DST properties. This article gives a brief overview of the various Delaware Statutory Trust tax treatment and DST taxation topics that investors should understand and go over with their CPA and tax attorney prior…
Few Low-Rent Units with Rent Control The concept of shadow markets offers a reasonable explanation of why the results of rent controls are so perverse and why they lead to a sense of helplessness and panic in a rent-controlled population. Although rent controls are widely believed to lower rents, data I have collected from eighteen…
Early Lease Termination If a tenant vacates during the lease term, this person is responsible for the remaining portion of the lease. A landlord must attempt to mitigate damages by attempting to lease the premises to another person. Once the premises have been leased, the original tenant’s obligation is cut off. There is an exception.…
[AOA: The following will not happen to you when we defeat Proposition 10!] One afternoon, a few years ago, I received a call from a guy inquiring about my company’s property management services. His said his name was Will Wright (name changed for privacy reasons) and that he owned a fourplex in Santa Monica, CA…
Last July, we wrote a column regarding the foolishness of Senate Bill 2, a new $75 tax on real estate recordings, ostensibly for the purpose of funding housing programs. We pointed out that imposing a tax on real estate transactions to pay for programs to make housing more affordable is like treating someone with a…
If you’ve missed some of the prior articles, basic guidelines on successful investing are in my book “Stairway to Wealth” available at LuLu.com. Continued from Part 34 – Supply: Elastic vs Inelastic There are two different kinds of supply. They are distinguished by how scarcity affects their prices. “Elastic” supply can be increased or decreased…
In 1986, California voters passed a new law by a direct ballot initiative to address growing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals: Proposition 65 – The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, best known as “Prop 65”. The first statutory requirement of this law protects drinking water sources from substances that…
June 28 was the final day to withdraw the misnamed “Affordable Housing Act,” which repeals Costa-Hawkins and opens the door for local legislative bodies to expand rent control and preside over the demise of rental housing, particularly for us small property owners. It is essential that this measure on the November 6 ballot be defeated.…
Hello everybody. With all the recent changes in resident manager law, it is difficult even for us lawyers to keep abreast of them. My column this month will address a number of the 2018 changes and other important aspects of California law pertaining to on-site managers.
Utility costs are rising without any sign of slowing down. Accountability for consumption is now a key responsibility of housing providers to show tenants how their behavior impacts the environment as well as their wallet. Education plays a powerful role in influencing the outcome of tenant consumption behavior. When utilities are not included, accountability can…