Real Estate Law

Residential Buy/Sell Disputes

Residential real estate transactions involve significant money, competing interests, and representations that don't always hold up after closing. When something goes wrong — whether you're the buyer who discovered undisclosed problems or the seller facing a claim — we provide experienced representation on both sides.

• Nondisclosure claims — representing buyers who were not told about known defects or material conditions, and sellers facing such allegations
• Misrepresentation and fraud — addressing false or misleading statements made during the sale, including claims involving agents and brokers
• Contract disputes — disputes over purchase agreements, contingencies, credits, and failure to close
• Post-closing disputes — claims that arise after title transfers, including damage discovery and indemnification issues

Neighbor Disputes

Property conflicts between neighbors are some of the most disruptive — and often the most personal — disputes a homeowner can face. We handle the legal side of neighbor conflicts involving property rights, use, and interference, with a practical eye toward resolution.

• Boundary disputes — when property lines are unclear, contested, or have been encroached upon
• Easements — establishing, contesting, or enforcing easement rights, including access, utility, and prescriptive easements
• Private nuisance — interference with the use and enjoyment of property, including noise, odor, water intrusion, and encroaching structures
• Tree and fence disputes — damage caused by trees, shared fence obligations, and related property conflicts

Landlord & Property Manager Representation

We represent landlords and property managers — not tenants. This work began with existing clients who needed help on the ownership side of residential tenancy issues and has grown into a regular part of our practice. We keep the focus on practical outcomes: protecting the property, recovering possession, and defending against claims.

• Unlawful detainer (eviction) — non-payment, lease violations, holdover tenancies, and owner move-in situations, handled efficiently and in compliance with current California law
• Defense against habitability claims — responding to tenant allegations of substandard conditions, including warranty of habitability and repair-and-deduct claims
• Negligence and premises liability defense — defending property owners and managers against claims of injury or damage arising from conditions on the property
• Lease review and counsel — reviewing residential lease agreements for existing clients and advising on landlord obligations under California law

Deed & Title Work

Much of our real estate work is on the documentation side — preparing, recording, and correcting the instruments that establish and transfer ownership of California property. This includes straightforward deed preparation and recording, as well as more involved work with county assessors and title complications.

• Deed preparation and recording — grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, interspousal transfers, and deeds into or out of trust
• Preliminary Change of Ownership Reports (PCOR) — preparation and filing for all deed transactions
• Property tax exclusion filings — parent-child exclusions, spousal exclusions, and other transfers that qualify for reassessment exclusions under California law
• County assessor matters — responding to assessor inquiries, contesting assessments, and resolving ownership record discrepancies
• Title corrections and curative work — resolving defects in chain of title, correcting errors in recorded instruments, and clearing clouds on title
• Heggstad and similar petitions — when property was intended to be held in trust but was never properly transferred

We also assist existing clients with review of real estate-related contracts on a selective basis.