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 […]
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 […]
A seller replacement property contingency (also known as a “seller’s purchase ofreplacement property” contingency) is a clause in a California residentialpurchase agreement that makes the seller’s obligation to sell contingent upon theseller’s ability to locate and enter into a contract to purchase a replacementhome. This contingency protects sellers who need the proceeds of their currentsale […]
The downtown areas and business districts of modern cities across the world are being reshaped in real time, and San Diego is no exception. Commercial real estate in a post-COVID world is no longer defined solely by office floors and operating hours. Instead, a growing number of owners are reimagining buildings as active contributors to community enrichment; innovative owners are […]
Over the past five years, downtown San Diego has undergone a real estate transformation. What was once a relatively balanced mix of local owners, regional developers, and long-term commercial tenants has evolved into a market increasingly shaped by institutional capital, post-pandemic economic forces, and new and aggressive landlord-tenant laws. Residential and commercial properties alike now […]
When “Enhanced” Becomes Misleading: Legal Risks of AI-Altered Listing Photos in California Artificial intelligence tools have moved quickly into the real estate marketing space. Realtors now regularly use software that can add furniture, brighten interiors, replace landscaping, or otherwise visually enhance listing photos. While many of these tools are marketed as a modern extension of […]
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