Buyer Beware: Property Buying Education Program

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

To many hardworking Angelinos, buying a home is an American dream realized. With the median home price in the Los Angeles County close to $400,000, the purchase represents a significant, life-time investment. The excitement of owning a home may quickly disappear when new home owners receive an official notice that their new homes have existing zoning violations that they are now responsible for correcting. This is especially common with first time homebuyers. “I did not know” or “my real estate agent never told me the property had a violation.” Or a small business owner who already signed a lease and paid the deposit only to learn that his business was not allowed on the property. Regional Planning (DRP) created the property buying education program to prevent individuals from buying or leasing properties that will not meet their needs or that have existing code violations. The program includes the “Buying Property” brochure and presentations to real estate professionals so that they could have adequate knowledge about zoning and land use regulations to counsel their clients.