Whenever money is involved in a particular transaction, there is always a risk of dispute.  Money may not buy happiness, but it is the engine that makes the modern world spin and people are very sensitive to any perceived unfairness or chicanery involving their money.  When it comes to fees paid to or billed by […]

We only own property inasmuch as we can pay the legal taxes applied to it.  Here are the ten most common questions you should know the answers to if you own property or plan to someday own property. 1.  How is Property Tax Computed in California? Annual property taxes will usually be from 1% to 1.25% of the […]

Renting an apartment or even a house is such a common facet of modern life, it’s often completely forgotten that a lease is a form of contract.  Once you sign your name to a lease agreement, you take on certain responsibilities, as does your new landlord.  While the balance of power between a landlord and […]

When buying and selling property, most people assume that once you sign a contract to buy or sell, it’s more or less a done deal.  Unfortunately as too many people already know, many real estate deals that seemed perfectly rock-solid can go sour, often unexpectedly and often causing real harm to one of the parties. […]

It’s a general piece of common wisdom that decisions rendered by a legally-empowered arbitrator are absolute and absolutely binding.  The entire point of a binding arbitration clause, after all, is that it is binding.  If the decisions of arbitrators were easily overturned in the courts, it would render the entire process moot. In general, the […]

Homeowners or condominium owners who have never bought a property to be assessed annually by a Homeowners Association (HOA) are often surprised at the fact that in many states, the Homeowners Association has the power to foreclose on your property if your assessment dues are not paid. This foreclosure can be a non-judicial one if […]

If you are purchasing (or planning to purchase) a home in California, it is important to know your rights as a consumer before you start your search. Many unscrupulous sellers and brokers rely on the fact that home buyers have not done their research and are not aware of their rights in the exchange. Such […]