Articles & Insights
Latest Articles
Buying in Bulk
The success of the Costco chain of stores has proven that buying in bulk makes sense to a lot of us. From retail sales to
Deferment of Assessments (for Unimproved Common Area)
When an HOA is created, the assessments are triggered when the first lot or unit is sold. For planning purposes, it’s important to note that
You’ve closed the first sale… What’s next?
After the Final Public Report is issued, and the master documents are disbursed, the DRE file here at CBS is suspended, in case any issues
Balcony Inspections are now part of Condo Conversion filings with DRE
In response to a balcony collapse in Berkley, California in 2015, SB 721 has been passed and signed into law. Effective January 2019, all multi-family
Phasing Predictor Launch
It is that time again. The time of year to hone in on short term goals and personal achievements for the coming year. And, if
How Long Does it Take to obtain a Public Report
This is by far the most-frequent question we encounter in our day-to-day business. And the good news is, that we can usually provide a fairly
Phasing Predictor – Why You Need It
When we ask our clients about their marketing phasing, we tend to get many blank stares or, “well, what is everyone else doing?” There is
When your Public Report needs to be Amended
Final Public Reports that are issued to a Subdivision are subject to maintaining an accurate representation of the property. Sometimes what sparks the need for
Keeping an eye on your Bond Exposure
Part of the mapping and development process in conjunction with the Public Report filing process may involve bonding for various items along the way. There
Builder-to-Builder Exemptions
A “subdivision” is defined as “improved or unimproved land” divided into five or more lots or parcels for the purpose of sale, lease, or financing…
Electronically Filing Your Public Report
The time has finally come! E-filing is available at the DRE. All it requires is a quick registration with the Subdivision Online Public Reporting System,
Creating Multiple Street Lots
Selling homes in phases? Consider structuring your next subdivision map to include multiple road lots. Asphalt streets are definitely one of the most expensive items
Deferment of Assessments
When an HOA is created, the dues start in any phase when the first lot or unit is sold. For planning purposes, it’s important to
HOA Financing
Does your HOA common area need to be rejuvenated, but your bank account doesn’t allow for much more than a new paint job? Well, the
DRE Due-Diligence Matters
We often get calls from clients considering a purchase of a “broken” project, who are in the due diligence period on a project. In this
E-FILING becomes a reality in 2018
E-FILING becomes a reality in 2018 Electronic filings have been discussed for the past five years, and some thought it might never happen. Alas, it
Processing Delays at DRE on the Horizon
It’s official – the Department of Real Estate is back! The former Bureau of Real Estate has regained independence and is back to operating as an
The Benefits to Living in A Common Interest Development
A well-run Homeowners Association (HOA) can lead to an increase in property value and heightened satisfaction from owners and can considerably enhance your home ownership
Why It’s Good To Be A Home Builder In California
It’s a great time to be a homebuilder in California. Not only is our state a gorgeous place to live, but it’s a state very
The Californian Drought and Real Estate Issues
One of the first questions we get asked when meeting someone is, “Which Projects have you worked on?” Most recently, the second question is almost
How Much Is Your Marketing Plan Costing You?
Here’s the scenario: you’re creating a 50-lot gated community where the monthly dues will be $100 per lot. Here’s the problem: Once you begin selling
California Introduces More Bills to End the Housing Crisis
The Bills Are Coming The state has been working on several bills to overcome the housing crisis, and one of the most discussed and disputed
Hostages To The HOA Board
Building dream homes in a planned development is a smooth and uninterrupted process for most of our clients. It’s a fairly simple process despite a
California Measure May Help Seniors Sell Their Homes
California passed the famous Proposition 13 more than forty years ago to rein in exorbitant property taxes. From the taxation perspective, the initiative also made