Laws and Regulations | firsttuesday Journal

Home prices far outpace incomes — is mortgage deregulation the answer?

by Carrie B. Reyes | Mar 23, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, Mortgages, Real Estate | 0

The current administration seeks to tackle the price-to-income gap by loosening mortgage regulation — it will be as successful as putting out a fire with gasoline.

Third-party reviewer speeds up building permit approval process in California

by Amy Platero | Mar 19, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Homebuilders now have the option to hire their own licensed engineers or architects to approve building plans when a local agency takes longer than 30 days to approve the plans.

Remedies when the city council breaks housing laws

by Lily Hart | Mar 13, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Assembly bill 712 holds local agencies accountable through painful money penalties and protections for applicants when agencies fail to follow housing reform laws.

Analyzing the buyer representation agreement

by Amy Platero | Mar 13, 2026 | Buyer Representation, Buyers and Sellers, Forms, Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Real Estate, Your Practice | 1

Learn to explain to your buyer and tenant clients the provisions contained within the buyer representation agreement and tenant representation agreement.

Housing developments get approvals in 45 days, period

by Lily Hart | Mar 10, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 2

Assembly bill 1007 amends the 90-day deadline into 45 days for a public agency to approve or disapprove a development project.

Buyer representation

by Amy Platero | Feb 26, 2026 | Buyer Representation, Buyers and Sellers, Fundamentals, Laws and Regulations, Real Estate, Your Practice | 1

Learn when to enter into a buyer representation agreement with a buyer-client and distinguish between representing individual and entity clients and the forms and retainer periods used for each.

Heat-related deaths lead to reformed building standards

by Lily Hart | Feb 6, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

SB 655 protects against extreme heat by setting a maximum indoor air temperature in residential units.

Green light for ADUs stopped by red tape

by Lily Hart | Feb 5, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Senate Bill 9 mandates local agencies that do not submit new ADU ordinances to HCD or fail to respond to deficiency notices will have the new ordinance voided.

A California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) primer

by Carrie B. Reyes | Jan 22, 2026 | Feature Articles, Laws and Regulations, Real Estate | 0

Understand the steps required for a CEQA review of a proposed project — and when a project is exempt.

No more unsolicited offers on homes lost in LA wildfires

by Carrie B. Reyes | Jan 22, 2026 | Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-Ventura, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

A new law prohibits investors and their agents from swooping in after a fire and submitting offers to homeowners who have not yet marketed their property for sale.

Homeowners insurance and wildfires

by Carrie B. Reyes | Jan 19, 2026 | Feature Articles, Laws and Regulations, Real Estate | 0

California legislation has evolved to provide more certainty of payment on claims made by property owners with coverage for wildfires.

Form-of-the-Week: Modification of Representation Agreement and Release and Cancellation of Employment Agreement — Forms 120 and 121

by Amy Platero | Jan 15, 2026 | Buyers and Sellers, Forms, Fundamentals, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

After entering into a representation agreement with a client, an agent uses the Modification of Representation Agreement to change the terms of the employment without canceling it and to terminate the authorization to represent, an agent uses the Release and Cancellation of Representation Agreement.