Letters of Intent are often ambiguous documents in which parties set out certain key terms of a deal, usually with the intent there will be further negotiation and documentation. They may also be called a ‘term sheet’ or “memorandum of understanding,” and are used extensively in California real estate transactions…
An easement is the right of an owner of property (the “dominant tenement”) to use the property of another (the subservient tenement”) for a specified type and extent of use. Most common are roadway easements, to allow the owner of the dominant tenement (the easement holder) access to their own…
The California Legislature enacted a comprehensive law covering the requirements for lawsuits regarding construction defects. Its application is limited to new residential units where the purchase agreement with the buyer was signed by the seller on or after January 1, 2003. The “Right to Repair Act” (Civil code section 895…
Easements in California can be expressly reserved in a deed, or implied. When they are express, generally courts look to the terms of the easement language itself to determine the extent of the easement – the physical dimensions, and the type and amount of use permitted to the easement holder.…
Standard in most form real estate contracts are provisions for liquidated damages. Not so common is the non-refundable deposit. A “liquidated damages” provision stipulates an estimate of what the damages would be in the event of a breach of a contract. It is generally valid, unless it can be shown…
In commercial leases the landlord and commercial tenant may agree to notice procedures that differ from those provided in the statutory provisions governing landlord – tenant relations. Residential leases are different, given the Legislature’s long standing concerning with protecting unwary residential tenants, and the swift process of unlawful detainer. The…
A lis pendens, or “notice of action,” is a document recorded to perfect a claim being alleged in a lawsuit regarding title to real property. Once recorded, the world has notice of the lawsuit, and no purchaser may buy the property free of the claim – if the plaintiff wins…
Anti deficiency legislation has been a mainstay of California real estate law for many years. It is a set of rules that prohibits, in certain instances, a creditor with real property security from pursuing a debtor in default directly for the debt. Many other states do not have the anti-deficiency…
The California Legislature enacted, and then revised, Code of Civil Procedure section 580e in response to the collapse of the housing market. As reported elsewhere, 580e now prohibits deficiencies whenever a short sale is approved by a lender on a residential property. Prior to that, it was common for lenders…
Acceleration clauses are standard in loans secured by California real estate. The clause provides that on the happening of a listed event, the lender (or beneficiary) may call the entire loan balance due and payable immediately. The events stated are usually a) if the borrower (trustor) defaults on any provision…