Legal Updates in Real Estate

Family Loans for Real Estate: How Newport Beach and Costa Mesa Families Can Help Children Buy Homes While Avoiding IRS Problems: Understanding IRS Applicable Federal Rates (AFR) in 2026

June 10, 2026
devinlucas

Many Newport Beach and Costa Mesa parents want to help children buy a home, but few realize the legal, tax, estate planning, and property tax implications that can arise from family loans, gifts, or below-market sales. In this comprehensive guide, Real Estate Attorney, Broker, and REALTOR® Devin Lucas and CPA/REALTOR® Courtney Lucas explain how IRS Applicable Federal Rates (AFR), Promissory Notes, Deeds of Trust, Proposition 19, and family wealth transfer strategies can help families structure real estate transactions the right way while avoiding costly mistakes. Whether you’re helping a child purchase a first home, transferring investment property, or planning for the next generation, understanding your options before transferring funds can preserve wealth and create better long-term outcomes.

Real Estate Fraud Is Rising: Why Newport Beach and Costa Mesa Homeowners Need More Than Just a REALTOR®

June 10, 2026
devinlucas

Real estate fraud is on the rise, with the FBI reporting more than $275 million in losses last year alone. But for Newport Beach and Costa Mesa homeowners, the bigger lesson is this: today’s real estate transactions are more complex than ever. From wire fraud and seller impersonation scams to trust sales, capital gains concerns, Proposition 19 planning, and disclosure obligations, homeowners need more than just a real estate agent. Learn why Lucas Real Estate Group’s unique combination of real estate, legal, and tax expertise helps clients navigate every stage of the process with confidence while maximizing value and reducing risk.

Luxury real estate and property management graphic for Newport Beach and Costa Mesa rentals featuring a golden retriever emotional support animal inside a high-end coastal home overlooking the harbor. Elegant navy and gold typography reads “Emotional Support Animals in Newport Beach & Costa Mesa Rentals: What Landlords & Property Owners Need to Know,” alongside icons highlighting fair housing compliance, ESA requests, property protection, liability reduction, and professional property management services by Lucas Real Estate.

Emotional Support Animals in Newport Beach & Costa Mesa Rentals: What Landlords and Property Owners Need to Know

May 11, 2026
devinlucas

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa landlords are facing increasingly complex fair housing and emotional support animal regulations. Learn what California property owners should know about ESA accommodation requests, tenant rights, HOA concerns, liability exposure, and how experienced property management can help reduce legal risk and protect luxury rental properties.

Prop 19 and Duplexes (or Properties with ADUs or JADUs): What Happens When You Live in One Unit and Rent the Other?

April 23, 2026
devinlucas

Own a duplex in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa and thinking about Proposition 19? If you live in one unit and rent the other, you may be in for a surprise. The law doesn’t treat your property as one home—it splits it. And that can mean a major property tax hit. Here’s what you need to know before you sell or pass it down.

As a Trustee, When Do You Have to Notify the County About a Death Involving Real Estate? A simple guide for children, heirs, and trustees handling a deceased parent’s home in California.

February 13, 2026
devinlucas

When a parent passes away, one of the most common questions trustees ask is: “When do I have to notify the county about the home?” In most cases, California law requires a Change in Ownership Statement within 150 days of death. California actually has multiple timelines—some with penalties if missed—and they apply even if the property stays in the trust and no sale is planned. In this guide, we break down the 150-day rule, the 90-day rule, and how Proposition 19 fits into the picture so you can protect your family’s property taxes and avoid costly mistakes.

Photo of Devin Lucas of Lucas Real Estate Group with Compass CEO and Founder Robert Reffkin at the Coldwell Banker Newport Beach office in Newport Beach, California

Compass + Coldwell Banker: What the World’s Largest Brokerage Means for Lucas Real Estate and Our Clients in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa & Orange County

January 22, 2026
devinlucas

Now part of the world’s largest real estate brokerage, we’re expanding our reach, resources, and network in Newport Beach and beyond—so our clients gain more opportunity, stronger execution, and even greater confidence in every transaction.

California Landlord–Tenant Update for 2026: New Refrigerator and Stove Appliance Requirements You Need to Know

January 22, 2026
devinlucas

Starting in 2026, California landlords must provide a working stove and refrigerator under AB 628. Learn how this impacts leases and habitability rules.

2026 IRS Gift & Estate Tax Rules: $15 Million Lifetime Exclusion Is Here — What Newport Beach Homeowners Need to Know Now

January 22, 2026
devinlucas

The rules have changed—and high-value real estate owners should pay attention.
With the new $15 million federal gift and estate tax exclusion for 2026, families owning coastal California real estate now have unprecedented flexibility in estate and tax planning. Here’s what this means for Newport Beach and Orange County property owners.

The Garn–St. Germain Act: How a Little-Known Federal Law May Let You Transfer Your Ultra-Low Mortgage Rate to Your Children

January 14, 2026
devinlucas

Many Newport Beach and Costa Mesa homeowners are sitting on historically low mortgage rates—and don’t realize a federal law may allow them to transfer property, and their low mortgage, to their children without triggering a refinance. The Garn–St. Germain Act of 1982 can protect certain family transfers, but only when done correctly. In this article, we break down what the law allows, where it doesn’t apply, and how local families are using it as part of smart real estate, tax, and estate planning.

All-Cash? All Eyes on You: What the New 2026 FinCEN Rule Means for Real Estate in Newport Beach & Beyond

October 30, 2025
devinlucas

Starting March 1, 2026, the U.S. Treasury’s new FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule will require escrow and title companies to collect and report detailed information on all-cash purchases by trusts and LLCs. Here’s what Newport Beach and Costa Mesa buyers and sellers need to know—and why expert guidance is essential.

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