The wildfires currently raging across Southern California are a stark reminder that many of our homes are tinder boxes waiting to go up in smoke. While you can’t predict when or where wildfires will strike, there are a number of steps you can take to harden your home. Here are just a few from our toolkit.
Every year, a ton of new laws take effect in California, including some that could impact your personal and household finances. Here’s a rundown of the changes from Patch California. Keep reading for our takes on some that might get missed…
A number of the new rules have to do with consumer protections, including SB 1490, which requires food delivery platforms like DoorDash and Uber Eats to provide an itemized breakdown of their fees. This law also allows restaurants to remove themselves from delivery apps they never intended to use. And if you’re tired of following the breadcrumbs to cancel subscriptions you no longer want or need, it will be easier starting July 1 thanks to AB 2863, which requires companies like gyms and streaming services to let customers cancel their subscriptions in the same way they subscribed — more often than not with a single click.
If you’re a mobile home owner who’s been battling with your HOA or park ownership over solar panels, then SB 1190 should help. This new law clearly stipulates your right to install a solar system just like any other homeowner in an HOA. (A loophole in a 1978 law previously allowed park owners to block you from doing so.) And in other news that could save you money, SB 1061 ensures medical debt is removed from your credit report so you’re “not penalized for the high costs of necessary healthcare," as the Governor’s office said. This law will also prevent lenders from using medical debt against you to deny a loan.
Palo Alto’s popular Teleféric Barcelona restaurant chain filed a lawsuit against a pair of former employees for possibly stealing recipes and client information to help start their own eatery — right down the street! NBC Bay Area has more on the simmering scandal.
Take a look inside these updated 1940s homes that blend classic structure with contemporary style. Open houses all weekend!
743 Hudson St, Redwood City, CA 94061
918 Fleetwood Dr, San Mateo, CA 94402
971 Pine Ave, San José, CA 95125
The Southern California wildfires offer a stark reminder of the fragility of our world — and the resilience of our Compass community. Some of our colleagues have lost their homes or face an uncertain future after being forced to evacuate.
If you’d like to help, please consider donating to this relief fund organized by fellow agents. Together, we will overcome this disaster and rebuild.
