In this episode of the Legal Matters Podcast, brought to you by the California Association of REALTORS®, Jana and Dana discuss the most important forms updates and new laws that you need to know about.

New Forms and New Laws for 2021 (Episode 9)

This month, Dana and Jana run down the hottest topics on the C.A.R. Legal Hotline, from the most current showing guidelines to what mistakes agents are making in this competitive market.  

Resources discussed on this Episode:
Current Showing Guidelines Q&A https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/advertising-folder/June15Reopening

Appraisal Contingency Quick Guide
https://www.car.org/-/media/CAR/Documents/Transaction-Center/PDF/QUICK-GUIDES/Quick-Guide---Amending-the-Appraisal-Contingency---The-Wrong-Way-and-the-Right-Way-3-2-21(2).pdf

Defensible Space Q&A
https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/disclosure-folder/Defensible-Space-Law

The Hottest Topics on the Legal Hotline (Episode 10)

For the final episode of 2021, Jana and Dana cover more hot topics from the Legal Hotline and let you know how you can get up to date with the new RPA. Stay safe and have a Happy New Year!

All things RPA can be found here - https://www.car.org/en/riskmanagement/rpa2021

Most Common New RPA Questions (Episode 12)

For this episode, Jana and Dana are joined by C.A.R. Counsel Brian Polinsky to discuss some of the most common questions that agents and brokers have about the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

Resources discussed in this episode:

CAR Ombudsman Hotline: https://www.car.org/helplines/ombudsman

CAR Peer to Peer Ethics Hotline: https://www.car.org/en/helplines/Ethics

Standard of Practice 10-5 regarding Hate Speech: https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/fair-housing-folder/codeofethicshatespeech

Common Ethical Dilemmas for Realtors (Episode 13)

In this episode, Jana and Dana are joined by C.A.R. Senior Counsel Robert Bloom to discuss some of the most common questions we get from Realtors about trees, fences, and other tricky neighbor issues.

Legal Q&A on Tree Issues: https://www.car.org/en/riskmanagement/qa/real-property-title/trees

Quick Guide on Trees and Neighbors: https://www.car.org/-/media/CAR/Documents/Transaction-Center/PDF/QUICK-GUIDES/Quick-Guide---Trees-and-Neighbors.pdf

Trees, Property Lines, and Other Neighbor Disputes (Episode 14)

In this episode of the Legal Matters Podcast, brought to you by the California Association of REALTORS®, Jana and Dana discuss the recent Standard Forms updates, including brand new releases and significant revisions.

June 2022 Forms Quick Summary - https://www.car.org/transactions/standard-forms/summary-forms-releases-chart/June-2022-Forms-Release

Newly Released and Revised Forms (Episode 15)

For our final episode of the year, Dana and Jana are once again joined by C.A.R. Supervising Senior Counsel Robert Bloom. They discuss the most important new laws that may impact your business in 2023, from tenant protections to Prop 19 updates.

A detailed summary of all the new laws can be found here: https://www.car.org/en/riskmanagement/qa/New-Laws/2023-New-Laws

2023 New Laws (Episode 16)

This episode, Jana and Dana are joined by C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Farrah Wilder to discuss what every REALTOR needs to know about implicit bias and how it affects their business. They also discuss the new license renewal requirements and what resources are available to REALTORS on this topic.

Resources discussed in this episode:
Harvard Implicit Bias Assessment - https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/user/agg/blindspot/indexrk.htm

NAR Bias Override -https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing/bias-override-overcoming-barriers-to-fair-housing

CAR License Renewal w/Implicit Bias Training - https://www.car.org/education/licenserenewal

Implicit Bias - What REALTORS need to know (Episode 17)

In this episode, C.A.R. Attorneys Jana Gardner and Dana Spears discuss the most recent changes to the leasing and property management forms. 

Episode Links:
SmartZone https://www.smartzonecar.org/

Forms Webinars https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/live

New Forms Summary https://www.car.org/transactions/standard-forms/summary-forms-releases-chart/June-2023-Forms-Release

New Rental Forms (Episode 19)

In this episode, Jana and Dana are joined by Allyson Richman, Staff Attorney with Californians for Homeownership. They discuss the important work that the non-profit does around the state to address California’s housing crisis by enforcing housing laws and fighting unlawful policies that limit access to affordable housing for families at all income levels.

For more information, go to https://www.caforhomes.org/

Californians For Homeownership (Episode 20)

Jana and Dana are joined by C.A.R. Supervising Senior Counsel Robert Bloom to discuss the most important 2025 new laws that will impact REALTORS. 

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. 

Wildfire Resources:
https://www.car.org/difference/realtorscare
https://www.smartzonecar.org/disaster-relief

2025 New Laws Information:
https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/New-Laws/2025-New-Laws
https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/live

2025 New Laws

C.A.R. Attorneys Jana Gardner and Dana Spears give you a rundown of the most significant recent forms updates in Part 1 of this two part episode.

NOTE: As mentioned at the end of this episode, the new FINCEN reporting rule deadline has been extended from December 1, 2025, to MARCH 1, 2026.

For more information on all recent forms releases, go to https://www.car.org/transactions/standard-forms/new-forms-and-revisions



Fall 2025 New and Revised Forms (Part 1)

C.A.R. Attorneys Jana Gardner and Dana Spears give you a rundown of the most significant recent forms updates in Part 2 of this two part episode.

For more information on all recent forms releases, go to https://www.car.org/transactions/standard-forms/new-forms-and-revisions

Fall 2025 New and Revised Forms (Part 2)

Welcome to the Legal Matters Podcast, brought to you by the Member Legal Services Department of the California Association of REALTORS®. In this first episode we introduce ourselves, answer the Question of the Month, and then run down the top 5 mistakes REALTORS® make on the RPA.

Welcome to the Legal Matters Podcast, Top 5 RPA Mistakes (Episode 1)

Welcome to the very first Bedtime Stories edition of the podcast. Join Neil Kalin as he tells you about the case of the Defective Diving Board.

Legal Bedtime Stories - The Case of the Defective Diving Board

Welcome back to the Legal Matters Podcast, brought to you by the Member Legal Services Department of the California Association of REALTORS®. Join us for our form spotlight, followed by a discussion of what every landlord and property manager needs to know about Emotional Support Animals.

Emotional Support Animals (Episode 2)

Join Neil Kalin as he tells you about the case of the noisy neighbor.

Legal Bedtime Stories - The Case of the Noisy Neighbor

This month on the Legal Matters Podcast, C.A.R. attorneys Jana Gardner and Dana Spears briefly discuss the best way to extend contract timeframes before going into detail on the history of California's Transfer Disclosure Statement Law, including a discussion of when sellers are actually exempt from providing the TDS form.

The Transfer Disclosure Statement - Requirements and Exemptions (Episode 3)

Join Neil Kalin as he tells you about the case of the haunted house.

Legal Bedtime Stories - The Case of the Haunted House

In this month's Legal Matters Podcast, brought to you by the California Association of REALTORS®, Jana and Dana are joined by Senior Counsel Robert Bloom to discuss the new statewide rent cap and just cause eviction ordinance (AB 1482) Links discussed in the episode:

AB 1482 Q&A -https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/landlord-tenant-folder/Rent-Cap-and-Just-Cause-Eviction-Law

AB 1482 Legal Tools - https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/tools/Tenant-Protection-Act

2020 New Laws Webinar - https://www.car.org/knowledge/multimedialibrary/webinars/legal/live

AB 1482, The Statewide Rent Cap and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (Episode 4)

For the final Legal Matters Podcast of 2019, Jana and Dana discuss the Do's and Don'ts of working with an unlicensed assistant.

Links discussed in the episode:

Unlicensed Assistants Q&A -https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/licensing-folder/unlicensed-assistants

Do-Not-Call Q&A - https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/advertising-folder/do-not-call-fax-email

Working with Unlicensed Assistants (Episode 5)

Join Attorney Neil Kalin as he tells you about the case of the missing penny.

Legal Bedtime Stories - The Case of the Missing Penny

Welcome to the first Legal Matters Podcast of 2020!  In this episode, Dana and Jana shine a form spotlight on the Referral Fee Agreement (C.A.R. Form RFA), and then dig into the details of offers, counter offers, and how to know when you are officially in contract.

For more information on the counter offer process, check out our Legal Q&A https://www.car.org/riskmanagement/qa/contract-forms-folder/counter-offer-form.

Reach out to the podcast at legalpodcast@car.org

Offers and Counter Offers and RFA Spotlight (Episode 6)

Join Attorneys Neil Kalin and Jana Gardner as they tell you about the case of the construction project.

Legal Bedtime Stories - The Case Of The Construction Project

We are back!  Thanks for bearing with us as we, like all of you,  figured out how to do things a little differently over the past few months. This month we give you some quick updates on resources available to help you navigate the current COVID-19 Real Estate rules, and then do a deep dive on the COP Form.

Contingent Sales and the COP Form, Plus a Brief COVID-19 Update (Episode 7)

For our last episode of 2020, we continue our discussion of contingent transactions by going in-depth on the SPRP Form - the Seller's Purchase of Replacement Property Contingency.

Thanks for sticking with us during this turbulent year, and we hope all of you have a safe, happy, and healthy New Year. See you in 2021!

Contingent Sales, Continued - The Seller's Purchase of Replacement Property Contingency (Episode 8)

The Legal Matters Podcast is the official podcast of the California Association of REALTORS® Member Legal Services Department.  C.A.R.'s Member Legal Services Department provides C.A.R. members with the latest in legal information to give our members a competitive edge and minimize legal exposure.

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