REDBO · For sale by owner
Selling your home without an agent inCovina, California
What the steps look like, what commonly comes up at closing, and the homes already on REDBO in Covina, California. REDBO does not practice law.
Homes on REDBO in Covina, California
2 homes on REDBO
Resources for Covina, California
Seller disclosure
Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.13
A willful or negligent violation of an Article 1.5 duty can make the violator liable for the transferee’s actual damages, while noncompliance alone does not invalidate the transfer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.19(a)
For an Article 1.5 property in a high or very high fire-hazard-severity zone, the seller must provide the buyer with qualifying documentation of compliance with Public Resources Code § 4291 or the applicable local vegetation-management ordinance when § 1102.19’s conditions are met.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.19(b)
If the covered wildfire-zone seller has not obtained the qualifying compliance documentation, § 1102.19 requires the seller and buyer to enter a written agreement under which the buyer undertakes the applicable documentation duty.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.19(b)(2)
Under the specified § 1102.19 buyer path where no local documentation ordinance applies but a qualifying inspection source exists, the buyer must obtain compliance documentation within one year after escrow closes.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.3(a)
For a covered sale, the seller must deliver the completed Article 1.5 written statement as soon as practicable before title transfers.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.3(c)
If a required disclosure or material amendment is delivered after an offer is executed, the prospective buyer has three days after in-person delivery or five days after mail or agreed electronic delivery to terminate by written notice.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6f(a)(2)
For a covered pre-2010 home in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, the seller’s notice must include the statutory low-cost retrofit list and identify listed retrofits completed during the seller’s ownership.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6i
On or after January 1, 2026, a seller or seller’s agent in an Article 1.5 transfer must deliver the statutory electrical-system inspection advisory to the prospective buyer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6j
On or after January 1, 2026, a seller of covered single-family residential property must disclose in writing any state or local future gas-appliance replacement requirements or restrictions known to the seller or agent.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6k(a)
A seller of covered single-family residential property with actual knowledge of tobacco or nicotine residue, or a history of occupants smoking those products on the property, must disclose that knowledge to the buyer in writing.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102(a)
California Civil Code Article 1.5 generally applies to listed transfers of single-family residential property, subject to the exemptions in Section 1102.2.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1710.2(a)(1)(A)
California law does not require an owner or covered agent to disclose an occupant’s death or manner of death when it occurred more than three years before the prospective transferee’s offer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1710.2(d)
Civil Code § 1710.2 does not protect an owner or agent who intentionally misrepresents a death on the property in response to a prospective transferee’s direct inquiry.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1103.2(a), 1103.3(a)
For property subject to Article 1.7, the required natural-hazard disclosures must be made on the statutory Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17926(d)
Noncompliance with California’s carbon-monoxide-device rule does not by itself invalidate a title transfer; the section specifies actual damages capped at $100, apart from costs and attorney fees, without displacing other legal duties or remedies.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Transfer tax
Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a)
California law authorizes a county or city-and-county to impose a documentary transfer tax by ordinance on qualifying instruments conveying sold real property when taxable consideration exceeds $100, at the state-law rate stated in § 11911(a).
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Property tax
Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6b(a)
California’s special-tax notice rule can apply to an Article 1.5 sale when the property is subject to a continuing Mello-Roos special-tax lien, a covered Improvement Bond Act assessment lien, or a covered contractual assessment and the separate Government Code notice is not required.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6b(b)
When § 1102.6b applies and the local agency makes the notice available, the seller must make a good-faith effort to obtain the applicable special-tax or assessment notice and deliver it to the prospective buyer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6c(a)
For a real-property sale subject to Article 1.5, the seller or seller’s agent is responsible for delivering the statutory supplemental-property-tax notice to the prospective buyer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Capital gains
FTB Publication 1016 > Information for Sellers > Exemptions for Sellers
A California real-property seller claiming a full or partial withholding exemption must complete and sign Form 593 with a valid taxpayer identification number and provide it to the buyer or real-estate escrow person before closing.
Source: California Franchise Tax Board · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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FTB Publication 1016 > Information for Sellers > Exemptions for Sellers
FTB guidance says withholding is required if the buyer or real-estate escrow person does not receive a completed and signed Form 593 identifying the seller’s exemption before closing.
Source: California Franchise Tax Board · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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FTB Publication 1016 > Withholding Requirement
California FTB guidance states that real-estate withholding is the buyer’s or qualified intermediary’s responsibility, although the real-estate escrow person may perform it for the buyer.
Source: California Franchise Tax Board · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Lead paint
42 U.S.C. § 4851b(27)
Federal lead-disclosure law generally defines target housing as housing constructed before 1978, subject to the statutory elderly, disability, zero-bedroom, child-occupancy, and jurisdiction-specific exceptions.
Source: Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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42 U.S.C. § 4852d(a)(1)(B)
Before a purchaser or lessee is contractually obligated for target housing, the seller or lessor must disclose known lead-based paint or hazards and provide available lead-hazard evaluation reports.
Source: Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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42 U.S.C. § 4852d(a)(1)(C)
For a target-housing sale, the seller must permit the purchaser a 10-day lead risk-assessment or inspection period unless the parties mutually agree to a different period.
Source: Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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HOA and condominium
Cal. Civ. Code § 4525(a)
A California owner selling a separate interest in a common interest development must provide the listed § 4525 documents to the prospective purchaser as soon as practicable before title transfer or execution of a real property sales contract.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 4525(a)(11)
For a covered California common-interest-development resale, the § 4525 package now includes the report from the most recent inspection conducted under § 5551.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 4530(a)(1)
After a qualifying written request, a California common-interest association must provide the requested § 4525 documents to the owner or an owner-authorized recipient within 10 days after mailing or delivery of the request.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 4530(b)(6)
A California seller must give the prospective purchaser, at no cost, current § 4525 documents already in the seller’s possession.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Other local and state resources
Cal. Civ. Code § 1101.4(c)
A California seller or transferor of single-family residential property must disclose in writing both the statutory water-conserving-fixture requirement and whether the property has any noncompliant plumbing fixtures.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.15
A California residential seller subject to Article 1.5 who actually knows of a former federal or state ordnance location within the statutory neighborhood area must give written notice as soon as practicable before title transfer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.156
For a sale on or after January 1, 2025, a seller subject to Article 1.5 who received qualifying domestic-water-storage-tank assistance, or knows the property received it and still has the tank, must deliver the statutory disclosure statement to the prospective buyer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.17
A California residential seller subject to Article 1.5 who actually knows the property is adjacent to or zoned for the specified industrial use, or affected by a nuisance from that use, must give written notice as soon as practicable before title transfer.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6h(a), (d)
A seller accepting an offer within 18 months after taking title must disclose covered contractor-performed additions, modifications, alterations, or repairs made during that ownership period.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6h(c)
When Section 1102.6h applies and the seller obtained a permit for disclosed work, the seller must provide the buyer a copy of that permit.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-20
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Cal. Civ. Code § 2079.10a(a)
Every California contract for sale of residential real property containing one to four dwelling units must include the prescribed registered-sex-offender-database notice in at least 8-point type.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13113.8(a)
A covered California single-family dwelling or factory-built home that is sold must have an operable smoke alarm meeting the applicable approval and installation standards.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13113.8(b)-(c)
For a covered transfer of real property containing a single-family dwelling, the transferor must deliver a written smoke-alarm compliance statement as soon as practicable before title transfer, or before execution of a real property sales contract.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17926(a)
A California owner must install an approved carbon-monoxide device in an existing dwelling unit intended for human occupancy when it has a fossil-fuel heater or appliance, fireplace, or attached garage.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19211(b)
A California seller of real property containing a water heater must certify in writing to the prospective purchaser that the statutory bracing, anchoring, or strapping rule has been satisfied.
Source: California Legislative Information · Retrieved 2026-07-21
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Selling without an agent: the steps, in order
Price the home
Look at recent nearby sales and homes currently for sale, then choose a price you can explain.
Prepare and photograph it
Clean, repair the obvious, and take bright, honest photos of every room.
Publish your listing
Put the home in front of buyers with a full description and photos. On REDBO you publish it yourself; on an MLS package, the partner broker places it on your local MLS.
Handle showings and questions
Answer buyer inquiries and set up showings on times that suit you.
Review offers
Compare price, financing, deposit and timing, and negotiate the terms you want.
Sign the purchase agreement
Put the agreed terms in writing. Ask a local attorney or title company to review before you sign.
Inspection, appraisal and financing
The buyer completes their checks while you respond to repair and paperwork requests.
Close
A title company, escrow company or attorney, depending on where you live, records the transfer and pays you.
How long each step takes depends on the home, the price and the buyer’s financing. REDBO does not publish a typical number of days for this area because it has not sourced one.
What commonly comes up at closing
Costs that commonly come up when a sale closes:
- Title search, title insurance and escrow or attorney fees
- Recording fees for the new deed
- Transfer or documentary taxes, where a state or locality charges them
- Property taxes and other charges divided between buyer and seller on the closing date
- Any buyer-agent compensation you agree to offer
- Payoff of your existing mortgage, if you have one
Amounts and rules differ by state and locality. Ask a title company or attorney for an itemized estimate before you set your price.