Blog

Rent control and California’s Costa Hawkins law

As rents in Santa Clara County continue to surge, some tenants are facing harsh economic realities. With the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Jose hovering at $2,550–nearly $1,000 more than the national average–lower- and middle-class residents are feeling the squeeze of Silicon Valley’s housing demands. Northern California

Read More »

Claiming tax deductions on co-owned properties

Owning a property offers several benefits to Santa Cruz residents, including certain tax advantages. Chief among these advantages is the opportunity to claim deductions related to the expenses of ownership. Deductions do tend to get slightly more complicated, however, when a property is co-owned. Thus, prior to purchasing a property

Read More »

When a leaky roof turns into a legal landlord battle

Renting a home in California can come with endless perks: no expensive monthly mortgages and coverage of maintenance repairs are only a few to start. By the same token, those renting a home under an inattentive or inaccessible landlord can face a mountain of issues. With the pros and cons that

Read More »

The pesky problem of real estate fraud

For most California house hunters, buying or selling a home typically creates joy, not headaches. Unfortunately, however, some consumers find themselves in situations where realtors, contractors and other professionals have not carried out honest practices. What constitutes as real estate fraud, and can consumers in the housing market take proactive steps to

Read More »

Evicting tenants the legal way

Most landlords have heard the typical horror stories about tenants: loud noises late at night, unruly animals and failure to pay rent on time are just a few of the hassles that can occur during a lease. These are never lighthearted matters to deal with, but exactly what constitutes as

Read More »

Eviction may take court action

Tenant eviction seems like a simple matter of contract law. The lease is up or the terms of the lease were violated and eviction proceeds naturally. But it is not that simple for a number of reasons. Tenants have rights under California law, and cannot be evicted without a legal

Read More »

Can I break my lease due to an assault?

Imagine the terror of a woman, man or elder who is being stalked or who has been assaulted in California and fears for her life because the perpetrator knows where she lives. If it were you, you would likely be on edge all the time, anxious and worrying about it

Read More »

Excessive heat, restrictive policies prompt tenant lawsuit

When considering the landlord/tenant relationship, many in Santa Cruz may only associate it with residential dwellings. Yet it should be remembered that many of the businesses that people frequent every day are in fact tenants renting commercial space. Just as residential landlords are responsible for ensuring that their units remain

Read More »

Protect property from squatters by being vigilant

When there are easily accessed online articles and even a few websites dedicated to helping squatters be successful, it is easy to understand why the practice is so widespread. Property owners In California need to take extra care in safeguarding their property due to somewhat easier restrictions on squatters and

Read More »

Honors and Memberships