April 7th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Two new landlord-tenant laws have come into effect on April 1, 2025. Here’s a quick summary of the new laws:
Landlord Must Offer Credit Reporting of Positive Rental Payments (AB 2747): Starting April 1, 2025, a residential landlord must generally offer their tenants the opportunity to have their timely-paid rental payments reported to at least one nationwide consumer reporting agency (such as Experian or Equifax). The purpose of this new law is to help tenants build their credit. (more…)
March 31st, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Fact Pattern: You are the buyer’s agent for a pending transaction using C.A.R.’s Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA). The seller agreed to do some pricey repairs that have not been completed. Although you have tried everything to keep this deal together, the buyer just wants to cancel and go buy something else. The buyer has not removed any contingencies. Escrow was scheduled to close last week.
Multiple Choice Question: What is the proper way for the buyer to cancel? Pick the best answer:
A. The buyer must first serve a 2-day Notice to Seller to Perform for the repairs.
B. The buyer must first serve a 3-day Demand to Close Escrow.
C. The buyer can cancel under the buyer’s contingencies.
D. Any of the above. (more…)
March 24th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Background: In last week’s Legal Tip, we addressed a situation involving a buyer who submitted an offer asking the seller to pay a coop comp of 2.5%, which was more than the 2% provided for in the written buyer-broker agreement. The seller countered the coop comp down to 2%, and the buyer accepted. (more…)
March 17th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Fact Pattern: A buyer and buyer’s agent agree to a 2% compensation using a C.A.R. Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreement (BRBC). During the BRBC representation period, the buyer writes an offer using C.A.R.’s Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA). In the offer, the buyer asks the seller to pay 2.5% to the buyer’s broker. The seller counters the 2.5% coop comp down to 2%. The buyer accepts the seller’s counteroffer.
Multiple Choice Question: What is the seller required to pay the buyer’s broker? Pick the best answer:
A. 2% under the NAR Settlement Agreement.
B. 2% under California law.
C. 2% under the terms of the RPA.
D. Zero. (more…)
March 11th, 2025 at 10:19 am
The anti-gouging protections for rental housing has been extended until July 1, 2025. On March 7, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order extending California’s anti-gouging protections for victims of the L.A. fires. Those protections were previously scheduled to expire on March 8, 2025.
Here’s a quick summary of the current anti-gouging protections, but refer to the law itself for additional details: (more…)
