Real Estate Law Unlocked

Exploring California's Housing Project Entitlement Landscape

California's housing reforms have given developers new leverage, but they have not eliminated the legal and economic barriers to building homes. In this episode of "Real Estate Law Unlocked," West Coast Land Use and Environment attorney Kevin Ashe [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/a/ashe-kevin-john] speaks with his fellow land use lawyers Daniel Golub [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/g/golub-daniel-r] and Ryan Leaderman [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/l/leaderman-ryan-michael]about how state laws such as the Housing Accountability Act (HAA), Housing Element Law, State Density Bonus Law and builder's remedy have reshaped the entitlement landscape. They discuss the shift from years of discretionary local approvals and "creative groveling" to a more enforceable system, while noting that fees, construction costs, replacement housing requirements and continued opposition to ministerial approvals still slow production.

Soul of the City: How Ward 8 Built Washington, D.C.'s, Newest BID

A successful business improvement district (BID) requires more than a strong vision; it needs the right mix of market conditions, political support and community trust. Land use attorney Kyrus Freeman [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/f/freeman-kyrus-lamont] and Soul of the City BID Founder Monica Ray discuss the formation of Washington, D.C.'s, 13th BID, which serves the Congress Heights, Washington Highlands and Bellevue neighborhoods in Ward 8. Ms. Ray traces the evolution of the BID from initial efforts in 2014 through growth into what it is now, plus how it received the name "Soul of the City." In doing so, she highlights the practical challenges of BID formation, including property ownership patterns, boundary decisions, petition requirements and the sustained outreach needed to persuade owners to invest in the future of their neighborhoods. This episode provides an insider perspective on community reinvestment and economic development.

U.S. Real Estate Tax Planning for Global Families

Tax structure at acquisition can determine whether a global family's U.S. real estate investment preserves value or creates avoidable exposure for years to come. Real Estate attorney Shawn Amuial [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/a/amuial-shawn-s] joins Private Wealth Services and Tax attorneys Sean Tevel [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/t/tevel-sean-j] and Logan Gans [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/g/gans-logan-e] to discuss how global families should structure U.S. real estate investments before closing. They stress that investors who buy first and seek tax advice later often find themselves facing costly – yet preventable – issues such as estate tax and Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) exposure coupled with state tax noncompliance. Proper planning, they add, turns on core facts such as residency, intended use, holding period and home jurisdiction treatment. For real estate lawyers, early coordination between transactional and tax counsel remains critical to protecting clients' assets and avoiding mistakes that are difficult to unwind.

The Legal Landscape of Housing and Transit Growth in West Hollywood

Growth initiatives throughout California municipalities demonstrate how local housing policy can change a city's map while also running up against statewide legislation. In this episode of "Real Estate Law Unlocked," Los Angeles land use attorney Ryan Leaderman [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/l/leaderman-ryan-michael] speaks with West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman about housing density, housing affordability, transit expansion and the tension between state mandates and local planning. Heilman points to West Hollywood's early rent control ordinance, inclusionary housing programs and support for affordable housing development as ways the city focused on opportunity from its founding, then explains how the upcoming K line extension and Senate Bill (SB) 79 could reconfigure where new development goes. He also describes how California's density bonus law and Housing Accountability Act introduce beneficial tools for local governments while also resulting in unintended roadblocks. This conversation highlights how local leaders manage growth while balancing competing interests.

What Florida Real Estate Developers Should Know About Emergency Permit Extensions

When government offices shut down and need material or economic assistance after a natural disaster, a provision in Florida law can help developers protect project schedules. Real estate attorneys Erica Adams [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/a/adams-erica-c] and Alessandria San Roman [https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/s/san-roman-alessandria] break down Florida Statute 252.363, a powerful but often overlooked tool that can assist developers when hurricanes, floods and other declared states of emergency disrupt permitting and construction. They explain what qualifies as a development order that can be extended under the statute and list the approval and permits that may be eligible, from certain building and environmental permits to buildout dates for developments of regional impact. They also point out key exclusions that can block an extension and highlight the practical mechanics of tolling and extensions, including how to calculate the paused time and how overlapping emergencies are handled. Ms. Adams and Ms. San Roman conclude by identifying common compliance pitfalls and advising developers to maintain calendar deadlines, review agency-specific requirements and file proactively to keep projects on track.