As online retailers continue to chip away at the market share of brick-and-mortar shops, smaller, mobile, shipping containers are providing consumers with an innovative means to examine, touch, feel and buy the goods they most desire at festivals, concerts and sporting events.  The business of customizing old shipping containers into versatile and mobile retail shops has boomed.  Seasonal and event retailers can take their products when and where they’re in demand, without being anchored ... Read more

CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, landed an official message unveiling the Powerwall, a battery designed to power your home.  The message came at a convention center powered completely by renewable battery power.  The battery unit itself contains the same batteries present in the Tesla electric cars.  The 7kWh unit will ship for $3,000, while the 10kWh unit will go for $3,500. They will store electricity from the grid or from solar and wind ... Read more

A new Citizens for Tax Justice (“CTJ”) analysis based on 2015 tax rates reveals that when federal, state and local taxes are tallied, the share of taxes paid by Americans across the economic spectrum is roughly equivalent to their total share of income – meaning our tax system is not really progressive. Although the federal income tax is somewhat progressive, state and local tax systems are highly regressive. A recent report from the Institute ... Read more

Regal Properties now handles leasing for the community shopping center known as South Bay Plaza in National City, California.  The center is anchored by Smart & Final, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Chase Bank, and includes Carl's Jr., Papa John's and many other restaurant and shop tenants on highly-trafficked Plaza Boulevard.  Contact us for information about available retail space. Read more

California law has long required residential real estate brokers, representing both the buyer and seller in a single transaction, to obtain each client’s written consent for that “dual agency” relationship.  The purpose of this requirement is to inform buyers and sellers about the potential conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the dual agency relationship, and to compel agents to memorialize in writing the each client’s informed decision to proceed with ... Read more

In December 2014, the California Court of Appeal held an employment arbitration agreement was unenforceable because the employer did not properly authenticate the employee's electronic signature -- raising some concerns about the enforceability of real estate contracts with electronic signatures.  The most widely used real estate forms in California can be signed digitally using Digital Ink® or DocuSign®.  However, each of these systems has an audit trail which can be used for authentication purposes. ... Read more

LIMITLESS concisely describes essential steps for living a purposeful life of accomplishment and fulfillment.  The author, Larry Murnane, explains the simple, practical and proven techniques and strategies used by all high-achieving men and women, in every field, to accomplish their goals and dreams as rapidly as possible.  50% of the proceeds from this book will go to charities benefiting underprivileged children, including the Hogar Infantil children's home sponsored by Regal Properties.  The book is ... Read more

Congress established the EB-5 program in 1990 to stimulate the American economy by attracting investments from qualified foreign investors. Under the program, each investor is required to demonstrate at least 10 new jobs are created or saved as a result of the EB-5 investment -- which must be a minimum of $1 million (or $500,000 if the funds are invested in certain high-unemployment or rural areas).  In 1992, Congress enhanced the economic impact of ... Read more

Obtaining a Certified Access Specialist Certificate (“CASp”) can help commercial real estate owners and tenants avoid the headache and expense relating to lawsuits alleging violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”).  Recently enacted California Civil Code Section 1938 provides: “A commercial property owner or lessor shall state on every lease form or rental agreement executed on or after July 1, 2013, whether the property being leased or rented has undergone inspection by a ... Read more

2015 will be the office and industrial sector’s turn to shine as a fully recovered labor market finally starts to translate into meaningful tenant demand in these property types.  Expect the OFFICE sector to lead the pack in 2015 because demand, occupancy and rent growth are poised to accelerate with the continually improving job market. The INDUSTRIAL sector performance continues to strengthen as increased tenant demand and investment activity returns to historical norms. Industrial is benefitting ... Read more