Fraud

July 19, 2018

What Disclosures Must a California Real Estate Investor Make When Selling an Apartment Building?

Author: Staff

Buying real estate is a risky venture for investors, with buyers betting on the property increasing in value or producing a revenue stream through rental. Buyers also take various chances regarding unknown defects in the property’s title, or defects in the property itself. Researching potential defects is a critical part of any California real estate investment. California law requires sellers of certain types of real estate to make a variety of disclosures to buyers, in the interest of giving prospective buyers as much relevant information as possible. Most of these disclosure rules apply to residential real property. Some investment properties, such as rental houses, are subject to residential real estate disclosure requirements. The sale of an apartment building with more than four dwelling units, however, is not necessarily subject to those rules. It is, however, subject to other disclosure requirements, including known defects or hazards, particularly environmental hazards. California also requires disclosure of certain earthquake risks.

Residential vs. Commercial Property

Residential properties, defined as properties with one to four dwelling units, are subject to a substantial number of disclosure requirements in California. Residential rental properties can appear to fall into both categories, since they are residential for tenants, but commercial for owners. Rental houses, duplexes, and other small structures generally fall under the “residential” category. Sellers must follow the residential disclosure guidelines, even if the buyer is another investor. Larger apartment buildings, on the other hand, are not necessarily subject to those requirements.

Common Law Disclosure Requirements

A 1963 decision by a California appellate court, Lingsch v. Savage, establishes that sellers of commercial property have a duty to disclose any facts known to them that “materially affect[] the value or desirability of the property.” Failure to do so with the intention of inducing someone to purchase a property can result in civil liability for fraud.
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April 25, 2017

Organizing a Real Estate Syndicate and Securities in California

by Bona Law PC

Author: Staff

Real estate syndication allows you to put your private savings into real estate investments when other financing isn’t available for them. The syndicator’s responsibilities and obligations to an investment group and the investors’ responsibilities to each other are determined by how the syndication is organized.

Choosing the form of organization requires the syndicator to look at the advantages and disadvantages of each. Many people prefer a limited partnership. When there is a corporate form, you can have central management, but most syndicates do not use this form because of negative tax consequences. General partnerships allow you to avoid double taxation but incur unlimited liability, and in addition, there is no central management. A limited partnership allows you to have centralized management but also keep certain tax advantages.

Some syndicates are organized as limited liability companies. This form allows members to actively participate in managing the syndicate and provides for limited liability with specific exceptions. It can incur taxes like a partnership, while avoiding certain double taxation problems that happen when the form of the syndicate is a corporation. But an LLC cannot hold a real estate license in California.

March 31, 2017

Is it Fraud for Owners and Real-Estate Agents to Fail to Disclose a Planned Taking in California?

by Bona Law PC

Author: Staff

In a recent California appellate case, DNI Food Service, Inc. dba Zaya’s Bistro v. Kim, the owner of a multi-tenant retail building in Los Angeles County was notified that two parcels of its land would be affected by a freeway expansion project. The building wasn’t located on either of the parcels, and there were five tenant vacancies.

Caltrans planned to take some land located between the street and building and create an easement over the sidewalk. Real estate agents working for the builder were communicating with Caltrans. At about the same time, these real estate agents advertised tenant space in the building, marketing the property on the basis of its location and its reduced rents. A food services company and its owner saw the ad and contacted the agents. They were hoping for a two-year lease but signed a five-year lease with a personal guarantee. The food services company spent money and time and opened a restaurant in the spot that they rented.