San Bernardino County Real Estate Attorney

With proper representation, most uncontested unlawful detainers run 30–60 days from service of notice through sheriff lockout. Contested cases typically run 60–90 days. Defective notices are the most common cause of delay they force a restart.

It depends on property type and ownership. AB 1482's rent cap and "just cause" rules generally apply to multi-family properties more than 15 years old, but single-family homes and condos owned by individuals are typically exempt if you have served the proper exemption disclosure to the tenant. Missing that disclosure can subject otherwise-exempt properties to AB 1482.

Yes. Under Davis-Stirling, an HOA can record an assessment lien once delinquent assessments exceed $1,800 or are more than 12 months overdue, and then pursue foreclosure. Procedural defects in pre-lien notice, board approval, or pre-foreclosure notice are common and a properly challenged HOA foreclosure can often be enjoined or unwound.

21 calendar days after the tenant vacates. Civil Code §1950.5 requires the deposit, or an itemized statement of deductions with supporting receipts (for any deduction over $125), within 21 days. Missing the deadline can mean forfeiture of all deductions plus statutory damages of up to twice the deposit, plus attorneys' fees.

Yes, but heavily regulated. The City of Big Bear Lake and San Bernardino County Land Use Services (which administers Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and other unincorporated mountain communities) each enforce permit, occupancy, TOT, parking, and noise rules. Big Bear in particular has caps and zoning restrictions, and operating without a permit triggers significant fines and disqualifies you from future permits.

The HOA disclosure package (CC&Rs, financials, meeting minutes), Mello-Roos special tax disclosures (common in Ontario Ranch and parts of Fontana, Chino Hills, and the Victor Valley), title history for foreclosure-era properties, natural hazard disclosures (fire for foothill and mountain properties, flood for desert washes, Alquist-Priolo earthquake fault zones near the San Andreas), permit history at the city or county building department, and for mountain or High Desert parcels defensible space compliance, road association status, septic and well records, and verified legal access.

Yes. The county's massive logistics, warehouse, and distribution corridor (Ontario, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, Bloomington) is one of the largest in North America. We handle commercial leasing, purchase and sale, lease enforcement and unlawful detainer, and disputes for industrial, retail, and office properties throughout the county.