Chris Neri, Assistant Commissioner - Subdivision Division of Bureau of Real Estate ("BRE") released on March 4, 2016 a memorandum regarding subdivision documents which require arbitration and prohibit class actions. The Chris Neri memorandum, in part, states...
As this Firm anticipated back in September, the Supreme Court recently declined to hear a challenge to the California Supreme Court's decision in California Building Industry Association v. City of San Jose, 61 Cal. 4th 435 (2015), cert. denied, 577 U.S. __ (2016). At...
After a hard-fought campaign fraught with controversy, Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso has conceded defeat in the special election held in Carlsbad on February 23. The special election was regarding a Caruso Affiliated proposed real estate development adjacent to...
Arbitration Agreements in employee contracts are receiving close scrutiny by the California courts. While the state laws favor enforcement of valid arbitration agreements, the courts are reviewing the mandatory arbitration agreements in the employment arena to ensure...
In a prior post, we noted how foreign real estate investment was likely to increase in 2016 because market for commercial properties was such that opportunities would be difficult to pass up. This, combined with Congress relaxing tax requirements for foreign...
The AIR Standard Form leases for commercial leasing are common. While there are advantages to using the lease for both parties, there are also risk that the parties should be prepared to address. This multi-series blog will focus on areas of the AIR Form lease of...
On February 23, 2016, the 2016 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys will become effective (superseding the 2011 ALTA/ACSM standards).An overview of the changes (courtesy of Chicago Title Insurance Company) include (among others):...
Lender Relief for condominium projects comes from the House of Representatives. The House passed 427 to 0 a bill entitled "House Opportunity through Modernization". Under the bill, the rules and regulations of the FHA are being relaxed. Approximately, ten...
Over the past decade, municipalities up and down the California coast have passed ordinances which limit short-term vacation rentals to properties located within the coastal zone. The City of Carlsbad passed, approved, and adopted Ordinance No. CS-272 on May 5, 2015,...
For the first time, the California Coastal Commission has terminated the services of its Executive Director, Dr. Charles Lester. (For a full report of the decision, see this recent LA Times article).As we've prevously stated, the dismissal controversary has...