Real Estate Law Blog
Plain-English guides on the real estate problems Jimmy sees most often — seller nondisclosure, agent misconduct, earnest money deposits, case damages, and mediation — written for California home buyers trying to figure out what happened and what to do next.
Nondisclosure & Seller Fraud
What sellers are legally required to tell you, and what to do when they don’t.
Seller Didn’t Disclose a Defect? What California Home Buyers Can Do
What counts as a nondisclosure violation under California law, and what you may be able to recover.
Read More →Understanding California’s TDS and SPQ: What Sellers Must Tell You
A plain-English guide to the two disclosure forms at the center of most nondisclosure cases.
Read More →5 Signs Your Home Seller Lied on the Disclosure Form
Five warning signs worth investigating if something feels off about your new home.
Read More →Unpermitted Additions and Conversions: What Buyers Need to Know
Why unpermitted work is more than a paperwork issue, and how to check before and after closing.
Read More →Water Intrusion, Mold, and Foundation Issues
The three most common categories behind California real estate nondisclosure claims.
Read More →Earnest Money & Deposits
What happens to your deposit when a purchase falls apart, and how to get it back.
How to Get Your Earnest Money Deposit Back in California
The Civil Code § 1057.3 written demand, the 3% liquidated damages cap, and what to do first.
Read More →Agent Misconduct
What your agent owes you, and what happens when that duty is broken.
Can You Sue Your Real Estate Agent in California?
Breach of fiduciary duty explained — what it looks like and what you may be able to recover.
Read More →Dual Agency in California: Is Your Agent Really on Your Side?
Dual agency is legal in California, but it comes with risks buyers often don’t understand.
Read More →Damages & Case Value
How California calculates what a nondisclosure or fraud case is actually worth.
How Much Is My Nondisclosure Case Worth?
Understanding California damages under Civil Code §3343(a), in plain terms.
Read More →Punitive Damages in Real Estate Fraud Cases
When punitive damages are available in a California nondisclosure case — and when they’re not.
Read More →Mediation & Process
What to know about the process before you file a lawsuit.
What to Do Before You Sue: Mediation Requirements in the CAR Purchase Agreement
Skipping mediation first can cost you the right to recover attorney’s fees — even if you win.
Read More →Do I Need a Lawyer at a C.A.R. Mediation?
What happens in the session, what an advocate does there that you cannot, and what it costs.
Read More →Commercial Real Estate
Leases, renewals and commercial purchases, for tenants and buyers.
Before You Sign a Commercial Lease Renewal in California
The notice window, CAM pass-throughs, the personal guaranty, the CASp disclosure and the deposit rules that actually apply to commercial space.
Read More →Las Vegas & Nevada
For Californians relocating to Las Vegas or buying Nevada property. Jimmy acts as a broker in Nevada, not as an attorney.
Moving from California to Las Vegas: What a Real Estate Attorney Checks First
The two-state timeline, the California sale, Nevada’s disclosure form, the HOA five-day right and the tax questions for your CPA.
Read More →Buying a Las Vegas Rental Property from California
The 1031 exchange’s California tail, short-term rental licensing, HOA rental caps and the property tax cap.
Read More →Have a real estate problem that doesn’t quite match what you’ve read here? Email jimmy@lawjn.com and describe your situation — Jimmy will follow up to set a complimentary phone consultation.
Have a problem these articles didn’t cover?
Write out what happened and Jimmy will review it personally. There is no charge for the initial case evaluation. Please keep it to the facts for now — until an attorney-client relationship is established in writing, what you send may not be protected as confidential.
Jimmy represents home buyers in seller non-disclosure, agent misconduct, and earnest money disputes in California, and takes other real estate matters where the facts warrant it. He is based in San Jose and works throughout Santa Clara County and elsewhere in California — the property does not have to be nearby. He is a licensed broker in California and Nevada.
Jimmy reads every submission himself, and you can expect a reply usually within one business day.