Council Ends Home Inspections with Unanimous Vote

Contributed by the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®:

On Wednesday night, the South San Francisco City Council unanimously rejected a proposed ordinance mandating private property inspections before the city would allow residents to sell their home.

The city had been performing inspections for years without benefit of ordinance, and the council was set to study the issue of codifying the existing practices.  However, the council concluded it was best for the community to halt Point of Sale Inspections. After the 5-0 vote to indefinitely table the matter, Mayor Pedro Gonzalez stated flatly of Point of Sale, “it is dead.”

Mayor Pro Tem Karyl Matsumoto moved to eliminate mandatory inspections as the public hearing opened by making a motion to “drop the concept of Point-of-Sale inspections.” The real estate industry as well as city residents filled the City Council chambers in opposition to the Point-of-Sale proposal.

“By their action, the city council reaffirmed to South San Francisco residents that home ownership matters,” said Steve Blanton, Executive Officer of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®. “We are extremely grateful to the South San Francisco City Council for listening to their constituents and the business community.”

Do you think the council did the right thing backing off of these inspections? Tell us in the comments!