General information, not legal or tax advice. Sidney works alongside your attorney and CPA. Rules as of October 13, 2026; they change, so check the official sources listed below.
What stays the same when you skip repairs?
Disclosure duties, buyer inspections and the escrow timeline (Civ. Code §1102). Only the repair promise goes away, so expect offers that already account for the work a purchaser sees.
What low-cost prep pays off?
Hauling away clutter, trimming landscaping and replacing burned-out bulbs. Those steps help photos and cost little compared with a remodel.
What should buyers of a Fontana fixer expect locally?
San Bernardino County's documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), collected when the deed is recorded with the county Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. (arc.sbcounty.gov) San Bernardino County's recorder says 'State law requires the transferee/buyer of real property to file a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report' with the deed; 'If the form is not filed, the recorder will charge an additional fee of $20.' (arc.sbcounty.gov) Fontana Building and Safety offers an online Historical Property Permit lookup by address. (fontanaca.gov)
Can unpermitted work stop a sale?
Not by itself, but it must be disclosed and can limit financing or appraisal (Civ. Code §1102). Pulling the permit history early shows what is on record. Keep receipts for anything replaced in recent years, such as a water heater, roof or electrical panel. Buyers of older homes read those records closely, and they can narrow the discount offered for condition.
Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo · About Sidney
Questions
What do Fontana owners ask?
- Can buyers still inspect?
- Yes. Inspections are standard even when no repairs are offered. Sidney, in real estate since 1990, helps you get ahead of inspection findings. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- What about unpermitted additions?
- They must be disclosed and can affect price and financing (Civ. Code §1102). Sidney Manzo (in real estate since 1990) prices homes with unpermitted work. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- Do I need to empty the house first?
- Not legally, but an emptied, clean house shows and photographs better. In real estate since 1990, Sidney connects sellers with clean-out help. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- What if the roof or foundation has problems?
- Disclose them and price for them; some buyers specialize in that kind of work (Civ. Code §1102). Sidney Manzo, in real estate since 1990, gets repair estimates buyers can see. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- What would my Fontana fixer sell for?
- Nearby sales of homes needing similar work set the range. Sidney Manzo (in real estate since 1990) prepares a free opinion of price. Get my free home review
Sources
Sources
- arc.sbcounty.gov: document recording (accessed October 13, 2026)
- fontanaca.gov: Historical Property Permit Information (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Civ. Code §1102 (seller disclosures) (accessed October 13, 2026)
Your agent
Who reviews your home?
Sidney Manzo, Agent, CA DRE #01108914.
- In real estate since 1990
- 155+ closed sales
- RE/MAX Hall of Fame
- Member, Pasadena Association of REALTORS® and C.A.R.
RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193
Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo.