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Practice Of Real Estate DisclosuresMello_roos_and_special_taxesEASY

A seller in a Mello-Roos district in California fails to provide the required written Mello-Roos disclosure to the buyer before closing. After closing, the buyer discovers the $3,800 annual Mello-Roos tax. Under California law, what is the buyer's potential remedy?

Correct Answer

B) The buyer may recover actual damages from the seller; the completed transfer is not invalidated

The Mello-Roos notice required by Civil Code §1102.6b belongs to the transfer disclosure article, and Civil Code §1102.13 fixes the consequence of a breach: no transfer is invalidated solely because a person failed to comply with the article, but anyone who willfully or negligently fails to perform a duty under it is liable for the transferee's actual damages. Once escrow has closed, then, the buyer's claim is for money — typically the reduced value of a property carrying a $3,800 annual special tax. A notice delivered after the offer is signed but before closing gives the buyer a short window to back out; after closing that window is gone. Undoing a closed sale would take proof of fraud, which a missed disclosure by itself does not establish.

Answer Options
A
The buyer has no remedy, because the special tax is a matter of public record
B
The buyer may recover actual damages from the seller; the completed transfer is not invalidated
C
The buyer may only file a complaint with the county assessor, which can cancel the special tax
D
The buyer must pay the special tax, and deducting it on a federal return is the only relief

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

mello_roosdisclosure_failurebuyer_remedyrescissionCal_Civil_Code_1102.6b

Related Concepts

Violating fair housing laws can lead to significant penalties, including fines, civil liability, and professional discipline.

Death on property disclosure addresses whether sellers must inform buyers about deaths that occurred on the property, including natural deaths, suicides, and murders. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Environmental hazards disclosure involves informing buyers about environmental contamination or hazards affecting or potentially affecting a property, including underground storage tanks, contaminated soil, hazardous waste, and proximity to Superfund sites.

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