Zillow avoided trial recently by settling federal and state antitrust claims over a 2025 agreement in which it paid Redfin $100 million to shut down its rental listings business and hand its advertising customers over to Zillow. The case, brought in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, offers a useful reminder […]
San Diego’s City Council voted recently to repeal Measure C, the 2022 ballot initiative that had exempted the Midway District, home to the old Sports Arena site, from the city’s 30-foot coastal height limit. The repeal was not a policy change the council chose on its own timeline. A judge ordered it, and the council was […]
Many consumers confuse mediation with arbitration; however, the two processes couldn’t be more different. This article explores the nature of mediation, how it actually works, when and why to choose arbitration over litigation, and what the real trade-offs are so you can make an informed decision before you ever sign a purchase agreement. Understanding the […]
Court of Appeal Reverses Trial Court and Orders Anti-SLAPP Motion Granted Free speech and the constitutional right to petition the courts remain fundamental protections within California’s legal system. In a significant appellate victory, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One reversed a San Diego Superior Court ruling and directed the trial court […]
Wildfires remain one of California’s most persistent threats to homes and communities, and the risk keeps growing despite years of prevention efforts. In response, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has approved final Zone 0 defensible space regulations, the first rules of their kind in the nation, and a direct response to lessons […]
Growing a business often means crossing state lines or national borders before the paperwork catches up. A company signs its first out of state contract, hires a remote employee in a new state, or opens a small office to serve a growing client base on the opposite coast; they are now “doing business” in that […]
Affordable housing requirements are now a defining feature of residential development in San Diego and across California. These rules, often called inclusionary housing regulations, require certain projects to include below-market units, affordable housing for seniors or a financial contribution toward affordable housing programs Under the City of San Diego’s inclusionary housing ordinance, the requirement applies […]
We’re proud to share that Hoffman | Forde has been named one of the Best Places to Work in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal. It’s an honor for the whole firm, and it belongs to every person who shows up here each day and helps make this place what it is. We wanted to take […]
Hoffman Forde has been named Best Real Estate Law Firm in the San Diego Union-Tribune’s annual “Best Of” awards. The honor was announced in the paper on Sunday, July 26th, following an award ceremony held the previous Thursday, July 23rd. We’re grateful to San Diego Union-Tribune readers for this recognition. A Team Effort Attorney Christina Elhaddad, on behalf […]
If you live in San Diego County and are planning for the future, you may be wondering: Can I rely on an online will, or should I work with an estate planning attorney? While online platforms offer convenience, they often fail to address key legal issues under California law—especially in a jurisdiction like San Diego, where probate courts strictly enforce statutory […]
Late fees have long been treated as a routine lease provision, rarely questioned and often enforced as a matter of course. For many landlords, they have been viewed as a modest deterrent, a standard contractual term, and an administratively convenient way to address delinquent rent. However, the decade‑long class action in Munguia‑Brown v. Equity Residential shows just how risky those assumptions can […]
Selling and buying a home can be both exciting and intimidating due to the extensive amount of paperwork and tasks that each of the parties must complete before the transaction can close. In today’s real estate market with tight inventory, the buyer may have to agree to allow the seller to remain in the property […]
A federal court has given final approval to another residential brokerage commission settlement; this time totaling roughly $42 million across a group of regional and national firms. This settlement, and those that have come before it, stem from the same antitrust theory that has been reshaping the real estate industry over the past two years: […]
Over the last five (5) years, California’s housing crisis has produced an expanding body of legislation aimed at slowing investor speculation and preserving housing for low to moderate income households. Senate Bill 1079, which took effect in January 2021, fits within that trend. Legislators designed the statute to allow eligible buyers the right to intervene […]
The California Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous decision that directly affects how coastal development projects are reviewed and approved under the California Coastal Act. In Shear Development Co. v. California Coastal Commission (No. S284378), the Court held that once a local government’s coastal development plan has been approved by the California Coastal Commission, the Commission, largely, may not later […]
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