For the purposes of this division, the department has all of the following powers:

(a) To sue and be sued in its own name.

(b) To have an official seal and to alter it at pleasure.

(c) To make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions.

(d) To employ architects, planners, engineers, attorneys, accountants, experts in housing construction, management and finance, and any other advisers, consultants, and agents necessary for the performance of its functions and to fix their compensation in accordance with applicable law.

(e) To provide advice, technical information, and consultative and technical services as provided in this division.

(f) To establish, revise from time to time, and charge and collect fees and charges for services provided pursuant to this division.

(g) To accept gifts, grants, or loans of funds or property, or financial or other aid, from any federal or state agency or private source and to comply with conditions thereof not contrary to law.

(h) To enter into agreements or other transactions with any governmental agency, including an agreement for administration of a housing or community development program of the governmental agency by the department, or for administration by another governmental agency of a program of the department, either in whole or in part.

(i) To enter into any agreements and perform any acts necessary to obtain subsidies for use in connection with the exercise of powers and functions of the department, and to transfer those subsidies to others as required by the agreement.

(j) To appear on its own behalf before boards, commissions, departments, or other agencies of local, state, or federal government.

(k) To establish any regional offices necessary to effectuate the department’s purposes and functions.

(l) To acquire real or personal property, or any interest therein, on either a temporary or long-term basis, in its own name by gift, purchase, transfer, foreclosure, lease, option, or otherwise, including easements or other incorporeal rights in property.

(m) To provide bilingual staff in connection with services of the department and make available departmental publications in a language other than English when necessary to effectively serve groups for which the services or publications are made available.

(n) To do any and all things necessary to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers expressly granted by this division.

(o) (1) To sell real property acquired by the department in a foreclosure, by deed in lieu of foreclosure, or sale under a power of sale on a deed of trust, lien, or by exercise of any other security interest on real property securing repayment of a loan or performance under a grant or loan made by the department. Real property so acquired shall be sold for market value and sale proceeds shall be placed in the fund from which the secured loan or grant was made.

(2) The department may establish terms, conditions, and restrictions for the sale of real property, including a requirement that the real property be used for housing for persons and families of low or moderate income, and those terms, conditions, and restrictions shall be set forth in the deed or other instrument of conveyance.

(3) The department may conduct the sale, utilize the assistance of any local public agency authorized to conduct sales of real property, contract with a licensed real estate broker to conduct the sale, or utilize other reasonable marketing methods if the department determines that one of these options will result in a more prompt or cost-efficient sale.

(4) If the director offers to sell residential real property directly pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall close escrow within 120 days after both of the following have occurred: a qualified buyer has received approval of the department; and the buyer has obtained adequate financing for the purchase. If the deadline set forth in this paragraph is not met, the director shall employ a licensed real estate broker in connection with the proposed sale. The department may exceed the time requirements of this paragraph if the director finds that this is necessary due to factors outside the control of the department, including death of the buyer, inability of the borrower to qualify for financing from a lender, substantial damage to the property resulting from a natural disaster or other act of God, or extraordinary procedural requirements or conditions imposed by the lender or title and escrow company.

(5) The director shall perform all of the actions specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) within 30 days after both of the following have occurred: a qualified buyer has received approval of the department; and the buyer has obtained adequate financing for the purchase.

(A) Identify repair work needed to be performed on the property.

(B) Cause an appraisal of the property to be completed.

(C) Determine whether it is appropriate to rent the property until it is sold.

(6) Sales of real property made pursuant to this section are not subject to the requirements of Sections 11011 and 11011.1 of the Government Code.

(7) Failure to comply with this subdivision does not invalidate any right, title, or interest acquired by a bona fide purchaser or encumbrancer for value.

(p) (1) Where the provisions of tribal law, tribal governance, tribal charter, or difference in tribal entity or agency legal structure would cause a violation or not satisfy the requirements of any state financing being provided to a housing development by the department, the requirements of financing provided by the department may be modified as necessary to ensure program compatibility. Where provisions of tribal law, tribal governance, tribal charter, or difference in tribal entity legal structure or agency create minor inconsistencies, as determined by the director of the department, the department may waive the requirements of the financing provided by the department, as deemed necessary, to avoid an unnecessary administrative burden.

(2) Matters that may be waived or modified pursuant to paragraph (1) include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Instrument recordation requirements.

(B) Security requirements for state financing provided pursuant to department programs.

(C) Title insurance requirements.

(D) Target population percentage requirements, not to exceed a change of more than 5 percent of any amount expressly set forth in statute.

(E) Affordability levels and unit mix requirements, not to exceed a change of more than 5 percent of any amount expressly set forth in statute.

(F) Any matter not expressly or objectively set forth in statute, but is set forth with specificity in guidelines or regulations promulgated by the department.

(3) Any standard requirements or general rules of application that the department develops or implements to carry out modifications or waivers set forth in this subdivision shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Divisions 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 370, Sec. 204. (SB 1371) Effective January 1, 2021.)