New defensible space rules to harden improvements
New defensible space rules aim to protect suburban and rural homes from high wildfire risk.
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Category: Fundamentals
Property disclosures: buyer retains a home inspector
Learn how a buyer agent uses a home inspection report (HIR) to confirm the condition of a property as disclosed by a seller or seller agent and advises their buyer on remedies for material defects in the property noted in an HIR but not disclosed prior to the seller entering into a purchase agreement.
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Form-of-the-Week: Rental income rent roll, and comparative analysis projection (CAP) — Forms 352-1 and 353
An agent uses Form 352-1 to disclose rental information when marketing or evaluating an income-producing property, and Form 353 when projecting income and returns on an income-producing property.
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BPO series: Property conditions influence value
Learn to adjust a property’s valuation to reflect deviations based on its geography, the presence of natural hazards, level of improvements, energy efficiency and best use.
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The home inspection report: to disclose and shield
Learn how to use a home inspection report (HIR) to mitigate liability risks for misrepresentation in the preparation of a seller’s Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), exercise care in the section of a qualified home inspector and use an energy efficiency audit report by a certified home energy rater to market property.
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Safety standards for improvements
Learn common safety standard conditions and violations found on residential properties and how to provide terms to remedy safety issues in a real estate transaction.
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The AI apocalypse for real estate agents
AI is smoothing the way for more sellers to take on FSBOs — should agents be worried?
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DRE Bulletin Digest: Spring 2026
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) in their Spring 2026 Real Estate Bulletin reminds licensees of fiduciary duties, advance fee requirements and how to become a real estate broker.
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Opinions with erroneous conclusions
Learn the difference between opinions, assurances and guarantees as well as estimates, projections and forecasts.
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Form-of-the-Week: Escrow instructions, and beneficiary statement — Forms 401 and 415
An agent or escrow officer uses RPI Form 401 when preparing instructions to open a purchase escrow with an escrow officer, and RPI Form 415 when escrow requests mortgage information from a mortgage holder regarding their lien on a property to confirm the terms of the debt or obtain a payoff demand.
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California’s for-sale inventory growth: buyer caution rises faster than owner need to sell
In early 2026, low-tier priced housing has the lowest level of inventory available for sale or rent.
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The rise and fall of real estate brokers and agents
This article analyzes the historical population of active DRE licensees, with discussions and forecasts about future licensing trends.
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Form-of-the-Week: Partial payment agreement — Forms 558 and 559
Commercial landlords and tenants agreeing to partial payments use RPI Form 558, and residential landlords and tenants use RPI Form 559. The forms commit to writing the portion of remaining delinquent rent the tenant owes the landlord, the date the balance is due, and when not paid by the due date, what action the landlord may take to enforce payment.
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The seller agent and the prospective buyer
Learn the difference between a broker’s specific agency duty owed only to their client and the limited general duty they owe to others in a transaction and how to observe and disclose conditions adversely affecting value and qualify statements when they are opinions, not facts.
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The diligent effort for an opinion of value
WLearn the due diligence obligations required from a broker to a client when performing, drafting, delivering and maintaining records for a broker price opinion (BPO).
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Mortgage complaint trends
Compliance doesn’t prevent all consumer complaints, but it goes a long way toward happier customers and borrowers — and better business for MLOs.
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DRE Bulletin Digest: Winter 2026
The Winter 2026 Real Estate Bulletin lays out the California Department of Real Estate’s expectations for ethical conduct by its licensees in the age of ARMs, digital brokerages, and AI.
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Form-of-the-Week: Credit report disclosure forms for originating an SFR mortgage — Forms 302, 217, 217-1, 217-2 and 219
A mortgage loan originator (MLO) processing an SFR mortgage application pulls a credit report, advises the applicant of the credit agency’s score and any derogatory financial information which suggests adverse action on the application. Critical to approval, the applicant provides the MLO with explanations for the derogatory items so the MLO can process the application.
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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac accept new credit score model
Lenders and MLOs now have more Enterprise-approved options for qualifying homebuyers with thin credit histories.
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The representation of a seller-client
Learn how to manage licensed activities as a seller agent from soliciting a seller-client and organizing the marketing of their property through closing a transaction.
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