DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



Reverse 1031 Exchanges

By Michael Repka, Esq. (LL.M.—Taxation; NYU School of Law (’01)) The federal government and the state of California provide for the deferral of tax when a taxpayer exchanges investment or business real property for other real property that…

Dishonesty in Real Estate

by Michael Repka, Esq. Dishonesty in Real Estate -- Fraudulent Marketing Techniques There are an awful lot of real estate agents out there and they all seem to be scrambling for the same potential clients. Given the low barriers of entry in the…

Copywriting 101: How to Write Effective Ad Copy

By Michelle Lee Beautiful bedrooms, sun-lit spaces, gleaming floors, sparkling appliances, and glamorous finishes fill this stunning home that you’re sure to love… How many times have you read those phrases before? And what are they really telling…

Danger of Live Offer Presentations

By Michael Repka, Esq. In Silicon Valley, the typical approach to taking offers on a home is for the buyer’s agents to present their clients’ offer in-person to the listing agents and the sellers on offer date. The buyers are generally not present…

The DeLeon Team Presents at the 2018 AREAA National Convention in Las Vegas

by Michael Repka, Esq. As the world continues to shrink due to efficient transportation and ever-evolving telecommunications, global reach has become critically important. This is as true for real estate as it is for most industries. The real…

The Diminishing Role of Buyers’ Agents

By Michael Repka Over the past 20 years, technology has enhanced and improved many industries. The quality of products and services has gone up, while, thanks to improvements in efficiency, the cost to consumers has often gone down. Unfortunately,…

Palo Alto Spotlight: Rinconada and Mitchell Parks

By Michelle Lee As a long-term resident, it sometimes feels like there’s not much to do in this quiet small town where the bars close at 10:00 pm and the streets are empty by 9:00 pm – how many can relate? However with recent remodels, expansions,…

Open House Liability: The Risk and Benefits of Open Houses

By Audrey Sun Although I have been with DeLeon Realty for over four years, I still remember my time as an independent contractor agent working at a big brokerage. At my old firm there was always a push for open houses. However, much of what I heard…

A Snapshot of Some Real Estate Related Propositions on the November Ballot

By Michael Repka, Esq. It is easy to tell when an election is coming up—just watch the countless television commercials paid for by special interest groups. However, every proposition seems to be either the greatest idea ever or pure evil, depending…

Hidden Dangers to Arbitration in Real Estate Contracts

By Michael Repka, Esq. When looking to buy or sell real estate, many clients ask their real estate agent whether they should initial the arbitration provision. If initialed by both sides, this provision binds the parties to arbitrate most disputes…