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COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020

By our JohnHart Attorney:  Over the past six months, there has been a flurry of different eviction moratoriums enacted by cities, counties, and even the State of California. The different local orders created a complicated framework, usually requiring an attorney to decipher which rule applied to each rental. On Monday, August 31st, Governor Newsom signed the COVID-19 Tenan...

California Re-Opening Soon: Are We Ready?

  As we approach the so-called Covid-versary, California appears to be inching towards a full reopening. But an important question looms: Are we ready? Yes, the number of vaccinated residents across the state continues to rise. Plus the recent approval of the Johnson & Johnson single-use vaccine brings more good news in the ever-evolving fight against this epidemic. Ho...

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How Real Estate Fixture Planning Saves You an 11th Hour Headache

  Real estate transactions are usually so massive that disagreements are commonplace. We try to catch potential pain points as early on in the process as possible. But some home sales are a little more turbulent than others. Real estate fixture disputes are one of the most common sources of discord in this industry. Unfamiliar with fixtures in real estate? In realty terms, a fixture...

When Should You Use an Assignment of Contract?

  Real estate is full of all sorts of interesting twists and turns. For many agents, this diversity is all part of the thrill. But no matter how you feel about it, change is the norm and no two transactions are the same. For example, sometimes, in the midst of a transaction, a buyer may need to assign their contract to another buyer. This can even mean adding them to the title or th...

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When Should You Use a Counter Offer in Real Estate?

Real estate transactions are rarely simple, even when buyers see eye to eye. This is through no lack of trying on our part! As real estate agents, we use our expertise and an industry-spanning system to try to keep things as straightforward as possible. But when approaching the escrow process, there are often a few more details that need to be ironed out. This is where counter offers c...

Are You Sure You're Adhering to Fair Housing Laws?

  In our industry, and America in general, fair housing is an unalienable right. That’s why it’s every agent’s responsibility to uphold these values with unimpeachable ethics. This isn’t just a social belief. It’s the law. At JohnHart, we strictly adhere to the Fair Housing and Discrimination Law. Even if this law weren’t in place, we’d upho...

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In a Hurry to Find Your Dream Home? Then You Need Off Market Properties

Photo Credit: Envato In Orange County and Los Angeles, we’re still enjoying a housing market where homes can feasibly spend less than a week on the market. But the market is tumultuous at the best of times. We recognize there’s an urgency to finding your dream home. Maybe you’re searching for your very first property. Maybe you’re ready for an upgrade. Or may...

  There’s an absurd amount of propaganda about the housing market in the news these days. And it’s not just our clients who are absorbing it. Realtors are coming to me in a panic over clickbait-style headlines from respected journalists. I was watching a video the other day in which a journalist stated we could see a “20% decrease in housing year over year.”...

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How to Complete Your Transfer Disclosure Statement with No Surprises

When you sell your home, it can be tempting to gloss over that leaky plumbing your cousin “fixed.” But this isn’t Craigslist. And California Case Law declares that it’s a home seller’s legal obligation to disclose to the buyer any known material facts impacting a property’s value or desirability. A transfer disclosure statement (TDS) allows a seller to ta...