housing market

Price Gouging: Increases the Scope of What Constitutes Price Gouging in the Sale of Goods or Services.

crime of price gougingThis law amends the crime of price gouging to 1) include where a person, contractor, business, or
other entity to charge a price that is more than 50% greater than either the amount the seller paid for the goods or the seller’s costs in selling or providing the goods or services; and 2) provide that the protections against price gouging may also apply to a timeframe prior to a date as set in the proclamation or declaration. It does not affect provisions of Penal Code 396 pertaining to the price of rental housing.

This law expands the crime for price gouging to also include selling or offering to sell those goods or services for a price 10% greater than the price charged immediately prior to a date set by the proclamation or declaration of emergency.  It makes it a crime for a person, contractor, busines, or other entity who did not charge a price for the goods or services immediately prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency to charge a price that is more than 50% greater than the seller's existing costs, as specified.  It authorizes the Governor or the Legislature to extend the duration of these prohibitions for periods greater than 30 days, and during the extension, authorize specified price increases that exceed the otherwise permissible amount, as specified.

Senate Bill 1196 is codified as Penal Code 396.  Effective January 1, 2021.

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This Home is 5 Minutes to Natural Bridges Beach and West Cliff Drive

This comfortable single level lower Westside Santa Cruz is just a 5 minutes to Natural Bridges Beach and West Cliff Drive. Hop on your bike and go wine tasting at the Swift Street wine district, after a day of surfing at Natural Bridges. As you enter the private courtyard, you'll notice this home is set up for enjoying the fine weather here by the coast. Lounge around the fire pit, sipping wine in the afternoon, or roasting marshmallows. The vaulted ceiling gives one these sense of being light and spacious as you enter the living room to start working on dinner in the remodeled kitchen. The master suite is spacious enough for a king sized bed, and has access to the outdoors and hot tub in the back yard. The other 2 bedrooms have a queen sized beds in them.The saltwater Jacuzzi tub, included, is heated to a pitch-perfect 101 degrees year-round, for a warming way to end the evening after a day of enjoying the events and activities that Santa Cruz has to offer. Call Gregg, 831-818-7524 for more information.

710_Modesto westside santa cruz home for sale

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Prop 19 - Allows to Move Your Tax Base Without Penalty to Other Counties in California

TAX SAVINGS FOR OLDER HOMEOWNERS

Thanks to Prop 19, seniors, retirees, and all homeowners aged 55+ can move closer to family, medical care, or to a home that better meets their needs anywhere in California without a
tax penalty.

 Prop 19 removed unfair location and price restrictions, allowing older homeowners to transfer the tax base of their home to a new home.*

SAVINGS FOR HOMEOWNERS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES

Prop 19 also removed unfair restrictions on Californians with severe disabilities, allowing homeowners to move to a replacement home anywhere in California without
a tax penalty.*

 Under Prop 19, homeowners with severe disabilities can transfer the tax base of their existing home to a replacement home up to three times.

HOUSING RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF WILDFIRE AND NATURAL DISASTER

After wildfires destroyed more than 24,000 family homes in the past few years, wildfire victims have faced massive property tax hikes when relocating to another home.

 Prop 19 allows ...

Mobilehomes: Exemptions from Rent Control Disallowed Until 2025

The exemption from local mobilehome rent control laws for leases of 12 months or more is disallowed temporarily until January 1, 2025.

Previously, the law exempted a rental agreement in a mobilehome park that is in excess of 12 months’ duration, and that meets other specified requirements, from local rent control ordinances.

This new law prohibits the above-described exemption from rent control in mobilehome parks for rental agreements from applying to a rental agreement entered into on or after February 13, 2020. These provisions are repealed on January 1, 2025.

Assembly Bill 2782 is codified as Civil Code Sections 798.17 and 798.56, and Government Code Sections 65863.7 and 66427.4.  Effective January 1, 2021.

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Stillwater Cove, Ocean View Homes in Pebble Beach

Individuals who have thought about purchasing Ocean view homes in Pebble Beach should know that doing so will grant them access to one of the region's most scenic areas: Stillwater Cove. Filled with numerous attractions and recreational activities, this region will keep you and your family active and alive during vacation season or throughout the entire year should you choose to settle here permanently. 

stillwater cove in pebble beach

Beautiful Beaches

One of the biggest benefits of buying Ocean view homes in Pebble Beach is that doing so situates you near the public beach at Stillwater Cove. The beach extends out below the community's golf course and is filled with beautiful white sand. Individuals who enjoy the active lifestyle can scuba dive when they visit the beach, and touring companies will oftentimes make kayaking tours available. Those who prefer to rest and relax on the beach can sunbathe and take in the beautiful scenery without moving a muscle!

Tourist Attractions

stillwater cove fishing in pebble beach...

Upgrading Home to Pro, Perfect for Happy Aging

Once upon a time your house was filled with the laughter and happy chaos of children but now they have all grown up and moved away from the family home. Should you be looking for other Pacific Grove homes for sale? Why not consider instead remaining in your familiar home and neighborhood and upgrade and redesign the spaces to better meet your needs as you grow older.

Many older adults choose to downsize to smaller homes once their children move out on their own but many more choose the option of upgrading their current family to make it more “user friendly”. The facts are that with aging the body sometimes just can’t do what it once did, as well as it did. That does not mean however that you need to move away from the treasured family home and all the memories made and stored there. Upgrading the family home to meet your current and future needs is a viable and acceptable option.

Upgrading and Redesigning for Better Functionality

Your family home likely had more than one storey to it, with numerous bedrooms and likely more than one bathroom. Even though your kids have moved out you know they will be back, filling the house once again during holiday gatherings, or simply for surprise visits. And if they should have children of their own in the future you will definitely need those rooms and extra bathrooms. 

For now, for you and your partner, the house can be redesigned to make your everyday life easier. Simple additions and adjustments can make for less strain and chance of injury, ease of movement, and better accessibility.

Ideas and Tips to Help You with Your Redesign Plans:

As you may already be aware aging does not always...

Fire: Defensible Space: Creation of Ember-Resistant Zone within Five Feet of a Structure

Establishes, upon appropriation, an ember-resistant zone within five feet of a structure as part of the defensible space requirements for structures located in specified high fire hazard areas.  Requires removal of material from the ember-resistant zone based on the probability that vegetation and fuel will lead to ignition of the structure by ember.  

However, CAL Fire will NOT changer defensible space inspection practices and forms or enforcement to to implement the requirement for an ember-resistant zone until the director makes a written finding that the legislature has approrpriated sufficient resources to do so, which the director will post on CAL Fire's website, that the Legislature has appropriated sufficient resources to do so.  Moreover, this law is to be "based on regulations" by CAL Fire, and the promulgation of these regulations is "contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act of another stature for this purpose."

Current law requires a person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or structure to maintain a defensible space of 100 feet from each side of the structure.  This bill would require more instense fuel reductions between 5 and 30 feet around the structure and create an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of the structure to help reduce ember ignitions.

1)  An ember-resistant zone shall include any attached deck.

2)  Required the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to not change defensible...

Simplified California Proposition 19: Break Down of Some Key Aspects

Proposition 19, Simplified:

proposition_19_voting_resultCalifornia Proposition 19 saw victory at the ballot box last November, and the new property tax breaks for some — and increases for others — will start affecting Californians in the coming months. Follow along as we break down some of the key aspects of this complex proposition. And for more in-depth information, check out the full Legal Q&A at on.car.org/prop19qa.

First off, who can take advantage of the tax portability benefits from Prop. 19?

All Californians who:

• Are over 55 years of age;

• Are severely disabled; or

• Own a home that has been substantially damaged due to wildfire or natural disaster.

For people in these groups, Prop. 19 made three significant changes to the way property taxes are calculated when they sell a principal residence and move into a new primary residence. What are those changes?

Sellers in these groups can now transfer the tax basis of their primary residence to a replacement property anywhere in the State of California. Previously, inter-county transfers were done on a limited basis.

Sellers in these groups can now transfer the tax basis of their sold property to their replacement property regardless of value. Previously, transfers had to be only to properties of equal or lesser value. (Some adjustments will be made if the property is of greater value.) Sellers and these groups may take advantage of this benefit up to three times — and victims of wildfires and other natural disasters have no limitations. Previously, sellers could only make...

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