Lawmakers move on realty bills

Lawmakers approved several real-estate-related bills last weekend that await Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s action.

Among the measures was AB 2702, which would make it easier for property owners to build “granny flats.� State Realtors supported the bill, which they said could help ease the state’s shortage of affordable housing. Officials from several communities, who voiced concerns about traffic problems and the potential for increased crime, opposed the measure.

Also approved was AB 2598, which would prohibit homeowners associations from foreclosing, or threatening to foreclose, on a property if a disputed bill against an owner is less than $2,500. If it is signed, associations would have to take such disputes to Small Claims Court.

Among the bills signed by Schwarzenegger are ones that:

* require the California Department of Insurance to establish a mediation program for disputed claims occurring after Sept. 30, 2003, related to fires in Southern California (SB 64).

* prohibit homeowner associations from requiring a member to install or repair a roof in a way that violates health and safety laws for high fire-hazard areas (AB 224).