Attend the release viewing of Mark Mellor’s New DVD/ Informational Video “Foreclosure or Short Sale: Strategies for Homeowners” at our office tomorrow 5:30 p.m. 6800 Indiana Avenue, Suite 220, Riverside, CA 92506; (951) 221-4744. In return for the advanced viewing, Mr. Mellor wants to hear your constructive criticism for making improvements to the DVD before final […]
Lease Doesn’t Last Forever.
Commercial lease term stated: “Provided that Tenant shall not then be in default hereunder, Tenant shall have the option to extend the Term of this Lease for 5 (FIVE) YEARS additional FIVE year periods upon the same terms and conditions herein contained . . . .” The trial court concluded the lease grants the tenant […]
A Deed Of Trust Is Not A Mortgage.
Civil Code §2932.5 states: “Where a power to sell real property is given to a mortgagee . . .[t]he power of sale may be exercised by the assignee if the assignment is duly acknowledged and recorded.” Here a deed of trust was assigned but not recorded, and the homeowner lost in the trial court. Despite […]
New Bills Give Renters 90 Days to Stay in Foreclosed Home Before Eviction
The California Legislature approved two bills that would help tenants who are on the verge of having their home foreclosed upon remain in their property for a longer period of time. Assembly Bill 2610, sponsored by Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Senate Bill 1473, sponsored by Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), will require purchasers of foreclosed homes to […]
Is a Deed of Trust the Same as a Mortgage? Not in California
A Plaintiff borrower appealed a judgment from the Superior Court of Alameda County (California), which sustained a demurrer to the borrower’s complaint challenging the validity of a non-judicial foreclosure by defendants, the beneficiary under the deed of trust and the loan servicer. In Haynes v. EMC Mortgage Corporation (Cal. App. First Dist., Div. 4; April […]
Which Statute of Limitations Applies in Certain Real Estate Related Matters?
Civil Code §2079.4 imposes a two-year statute of limitations on suits brought against a seller’s real estate broker. The standard buyer-broker agreement form issued by the California Association of Realtors form imposes a two-year limitations period for any legal action against a buyer’s broker. This case involves claims brought against a dual listing agent. The […]
Construction Litigation and City Zoning Restrictions News in California
For my second discussion in this series about recent cases dealing with real estate law in California decided by the California Court of Appeal I wanted to mention these two decisions from the Fourth District, Division Three, and Fifth District in California—one involving construction litigation and the other involving city zoning restrictions. YOU SPOT ZONE […]
California Real Estate Law News
Recently, at the conclusion of last year, 2011, California courts issued a number of important rulings in the area of real estate litigation. Let me briefly mention the first two here and next week I will provide a synopsis of the other two worthy of your consideration. The first two I want to profile for […]
New Real Estate Laws That Protect California Homeowners, Buyers and Tenants in 2012
Condo Rentals Starting January 1, owners of units in a common-interest development, usually a condominium, must be allowed to rent or lease their units unless it was restricted before they took ownership. Senate Bill 150 was designed to counter new homeowner association (“HOA”) rules put in place to stem the tide of tenant-occupied properties. It […]
Law Against Short Sale Deficiencies Expanded
In a major victory for Homeowners facing the loss of their homes, Governor Brown signed into law today, Senate Bill 458, prohibiting a deficiency after a short sale for one-to-four residential units, regardless of whether the lender is a senior, or junior lienholder. Effective immediately for transactions closing escrow from this day forward, both senior […]