What do I have to disclose when selling a home in California?

Under California Civil Code Section 1102, residential sellers must hand buyers a written Transfer Disclosure Statement before title transfers. The statutory form is a checklist of the property's condition: structural or foundation issues, leaks and water intrusion, pest or mold damage, unpermitted additions or remodeling, appliances included in the sale, and deaths on the property within the last three years. If a disclosure reaches the buyer after the offer is signed, they get three days (or five if mailed) to cancel. Separate disclosures are required for natural hazards like earthquake, flood, and fire zones, and for Mello-Roos special taxes. California also holds sellers to a common-law duty to reveal problems 'known only to them' that materially affect value, even if a buyer could discover them on their own. Selling 'as-is' does not waive the transfer disclosure. Probate, foreclosure, and transfers between family members are exempt from the TDS form, though the general anti-fraud duty can still apply. Your real estate agent completes the broker-inspection portion, and a seller who under-discloses risks the buyer rescinding the sale and seeking damages. Julian guides sellers through the disclosure package so it is thorough, honest, and compliant.