Question: I am a real estate salesperson and showing buyers newly constructed homes in subdivisions. The builder will pay my commission or a referral fee. Do I need to provide my clients with an agency disclosure?Answer: Yes. Prior to working with a buyer or showing property, you should ensure that

Effective July 1, 2018, the California Bureau of Real Estate will return to the Department of Real Estate. It was previously placed under the Department of Consumer Affairs and became the Bureau of Real Estate. It is now returning to a separate department and will be known as the Department of Real

New CAR FormsIn June 2018, the California Association of Realtors will release the following new forms: Buyer Homeowner Association Advisory (“BHAA”); Disclosure Information Advisory (“DIA”); and the Tenant Flood Hazard Disclosure (“TFHD”). Please look for the

Question and Answer Regarding Regarding Whether Mirrors Stay on Property Upon the Close of EscrowQuestion: Do mirrors in bathrooms remain at a property after the close of escrow by the sellers?Answer: It depends. If the mirror is attached to the wall, it is a fixture and should be left at the

Jury Awards $3,500,000 Verdict in Bed Bug CaseA Southern California jury recently awarded tenants in the Park La Brea complex, an apartment building in Southern California, $3,500,000 arising out of ongoing bed bugs located in the apartment units. Plaintiffs included sixteen (16) renters whose units

On October 15, 2017, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 173, which restored the Department of Real Estate. Through this bill, the California Bureau of Real Estate will return to the Department of Real Estate as its own department instead of being under the Department of Consumer Affairs, effective

Question: I am the listing agent. My seller is refusing to pay to obtain the homeowner association's documents. The seller claims that he has all of the required documents and can produce them to the buyer. How do I proceed?Answer: Legally, it is the seller's responsibility to provide all of

Question: I represented a buyer in making an offer on a property. While in escrow, we undertook several inspections and I have those reports. My buyer subsequently decided to cancel the escrow based on the reports. A new buyer is currently in escrow who is represented by another real estate

Question: Can emails create a binding contract?Answer: Recently, an appellate court in New York held that emails between a buyer and seller may constitute a formal binding contract. In Stonehill Capital Management v. Bank of the West 28 NY3D 439, 2016, an appellate court upheld a contract entered

In New York, a manager from a real estate brokerage moved to another brokerage and began soliciting top producing agents from her former broker. The former broker filed suit against the manager and her agents. The New York jury awarded the former brokerage $4,750,000.-Shannon B. Jones, Partner,