Another Look at New Laws

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Let’s take a deeper dive into state legislation coming on the books this year that will impact the real estate industry.

CHIC (Pearl)

Thanks to AB 968, which takes effect July 1, if you sell a property with one to four dwellings within 18 months of acquiring the title, you’ll need to disclose information about any repairs or renovations you’ve had done, in addition to contact info for your contractors and any permits you obtained. Most of this is already covered under existing disclosures in the Seller Property Questionnaire (SPQ), which may be updated to add specific disclosures for flippers.

GEEK (Kevin)

AB 1033 allows for ADUs (aka Accessory Dwelling Units or “Granny Flats”) to be transferred as stand-alone properties, separate from the main dwelling. The property must be classified as a condo, and each lienholder must consent to establishing the condominium. Making matters more complicated, if the property lies in an HOA, the HOA must also approve the condo classification. Fwiw, experts don’t expect this law to be used too often.

The Big Picture

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It’s always important to consider the “big picture” before making any financial decisions, and especially when it comes to real estate. This is particularly true in the Bay Area, where a home is not just a lifestyle choice but also a long-term investment. Here are some dos and don’ts for home buying in an uncertain market.

CHIC (Pearl)

I’ll take the Do’s. First thing’s first: Ignore the noise. Back-of-the-napkin analysis or one set of data should never dictate your next move. If you’ve made a financial plan, stick to it. Wait for the right moment, and make your best offer. And it never hurts to rebalance your investment portfolio to insulate yourself from market fluctuations. Like the meme says: Keep calm, and carry on.

GEEK (Kevin)

Looks like I get the Don’ts, which is only one letter away from donuts, so now I’m hungry. But seriously: You can’t time the market, so don’t even try. Don’t panic because of something you read online (even our emails). As the market continues to recover, you can make significant gains simply by holding steady. Hang on to your investments for the long haul, and your patience will pay off.

Collaborate without ego.

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We make it our mission to treat clients like family, and they return the favor by welcoming us into their homes for holiday drop-ins! But the best holiday gift we could receive is your referral. And we even offer a special bonus. When you refer a friend, colleague, client, or family member to work with us, they’ll get world-class service AND we’ll donate $500 to the local charity of your choice!

New laws for the new year

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At a recent economic seminar with the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors (SILVAR), we learned about changes to real estate law beginning January 1st. We’ll have a full update next week, but in the meantime, let’s focus on four new policies…

CHIC (Pearl)

Under current law, you’re allowed to build an ADU (aka Accessory Dwelling Unit) based on your lot size and zoning regulations in your particular city. Starting in the coming year, you’ll be able to sell an ADU with your lender’s consent and other additional restrictions. Even better, the limit for small real estate claims will jump from $10,000 to $12,050!

GEEK (Kevin)

Starting next year, the environmental hazard information you receive from realtors will have new additions about sea level rise, wildfires, and climate change. Also, if a home has been owned for less than 18 months and has a major renovation, the seller not only has to disclose the changes they made and contacts of subcontractors but also the status of all permits.