Providing effective legal advocacy and
solutions in real estate

SERVING THE NORTH BAY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES

SERVICES

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Real Estate Litigation

The firm provides real estate litigation, pre-litigation and related services.  Matters range from the simple to the complex and include:

 

  • Easements and boundary disputes;
  • Buyer/seller failure to disclose disputes;
  • Landlord/tenant evictions, wrongful eviction, mold, retaliation, habitability and discrimination cases;
  • Drainage/retaining wall/subsidence issues;
  • Ownership disputes/partition lawsuits, and
  • General nuisance neighbor problems.

Representation includes other general litigation matters as well. We focus upon civility and the early resolution of disputes when and where possible.

Landlord/Tenant and Property Management

The firm represents landlords and property management companies throughout the Bay Area, with a focus on Marin and Sonoma counties. Services include, but are not limited to:

  • General property management counsel;
  • All aspects of evictions, whether for nonpayment of rent, nuisance activity, or other;
  • Section 8 issues;
  • Uninhabitable premises claims including mold and other conditions;
  • Retaliation claims;
  • Disability and other discrimination claims;
  • Post-foreclosure evictions; and
  • Abandoned personal property procedures to relieve the landlord of liability.

The firm also provides counsel to property owners and their managers about taking cautious and appropriate steps to help prevent claims brought by the California Civil Rights Department (formerly Department of Fair Employment and Housing or DFEH) and/or Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

 

Real Estate Transactions

When a buyer and seller have already found each other, the firm will prepare the paperwork and assist the parties with the transaction. We facilitate off-market purchases and sales in the Bay Area and statewide, having closed escrow on properties from Mendocino to Los Angeles County.

Homeowners Associations

The firm provides general counsel to homeowners associations, condominium associations, and cooperatives. Areas of counsel include, but are not limited to:

  • Disputes between the Association and owners, contractors, tenants, etc.;
  • Board/governance issues;
  • Rule enforcement;
  • Repair and maintenance matters;
  • Interpretation of governing documents;
  • Delinquent owner/money recovery;
  • Internal dispute resolution (IDR) and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) including mediation and arbitration;
  • Litigation;
  • Drafting, obtaining approval, and implementing rules and policies;
  • Nuisance issues;
  • Insurance claims;
  • Fiduciary duty and conflict of interest education to Board members; and
  • Voting

Representative experience ranges from the simple to the complex, from straightforward day-to-day advice to difficult multi-party disputes.

Barrett R.P. Schaefer

415-672-1844 | bschaefer@bschaeferlawfirm.com

Barrett R.P. Schaefer was born and raised in Marin County. A real estate attorney, Mr. Schaefer represents mainly homeowners, landlords, property management professionals and homeowners associations/common-interest developments in litigation and transactional matters. He has lectured on land use, landlord-tenant law, property management, and homeowners association/CID law. Mr. Schaefer has found success with a solutions-oriented and pragmatic style, and has resolved many multi-million dollar and high-profile matters for satisfied clients.

Mr. Schaefer has shown a strong commitment to the community. He most recently served as a Trustee for the Miller Creek School District (formerly Dixie School District), and for eight years he served on the Planning Commission for the City of San Rafael (2012-2020). He also served on the Board of Directors of both the Marin County Bar Association (MCBA) and San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed by the Mayor of San Rafael to chair a committee that oversaw local library parcel tax expenditures and has served as Program Chair of the MCBA. Mr. Schaefer served as President of his former homeowners association and volunteered at a nonprofit devoted to increasing the number of accessory dwelling units in Marin County.

He also served on the Board and Executive Committee of Buckelew Programs, a local nonprofit with more than 200 employees that helps provide jobs, homes, health and hope to roughly 5,600 clients each year.

Education

Mr. Schaefer earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA in 1995 and obtained both his law degree and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Santa Clara University in 2000. While at UCLA, Mr. Schaefer was elected by the undergraduate population to head the largest department in student government.

Bar Admissions

Mr. Schaefer passed the Bar Exam his first attempt. He is admitted to practice before all courts in the state of California and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

Mr. Schaefer enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. A past Marin County spelling bee champion, Mr. Schaefer has served as spelling master for local spelling bees and for many years presided over the Junior High School state spelling bee.

GET IN TOUCH

Address: 790 Mission Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: 415.485.2200 x577
Email: bschaefer@bschaeferlawfirm.com

Note that while your written submission will be confidential, it will not form an attorney-client relationship with us.