Paul Johnston
Author

Paul Johnston

CEO · NextGen Coastal

Chris founded NextGen Coastal in 2020 to bring white-glove property management to coastal California at a 5.9% fee, roughly half the industry standard. His team manages 200+ single-family homes, small apartment buildings, and HOAs within 100 miles of the California coast. He writes these dispatches from the field on what is actually working for owners navigating ADU and JADU permits, Coastal Commission reviews, vacancy cycles, and long-term rent strategy.

28 articles published in Coastal Insights.

Tree-lined residential street in a coastal California suburb, mid-century ranch homes with stucco facades and tile
Eviction Laws

The 14 Just-Cause Eviction Grounds Under AB 1482

AB 1482 replaced at-will eviction with 14 enumerated grounds. We break down every at-fault and no-fault reason, relocation-assistance math, and coastal-city overlay rules.

May 1, 2026 11 min
Tree-lined inland Orange County street with mid-century ranch homes
ADUs

SB 9 Lot Splits in Coastal California

SB 9's ministerial lot-split pathway is suspended inside the Coastal Zone, but discretionary splits remain viable under Local Coastal Programs, if you know the timeline and the LCP rules.

Apr 22, 2026 11 min
Modern luxury single-family home perched on a Malibu hillside with partial Pacific Ocean view in the distance
Luxury Rentals

Malibu Luxury Rental Returns in 2026

NextGen Coastal's Malibu portfolio delivered 5.8–6.4% net yields in 2025. Here's how we position luxury oceanfront SFRs for maximum owner returns in 2026.

Apr 20, 2026 9 min
Modern California residential street in an inland suburban neighborhood
Property Management

The Real Cost of a California Rental LLC

Form 568, the $800 minimum tax, charging-order protection, and the practical owner-economics for coastal California rental LLCs in 2026.

Apr 8, 2026 11 min
Orange County HOA street of single-family homes facing rental-ban legal challenges
Apartments

Fighting HOA Rental Bans in Orange County

Orange County HOAs increasingly restrict or ban rentals through CC&R amendments. Understand your legal options, enforcement patterns, and compliance strategies.

Apr 6, 2026 12 min
Tree-lined Newport Beach street with single-family rental homes
Single Family Homes

Newport Beach HOA Rental Caps in 2026

Newport Beach HOA rental restrictions tighten in 2026. Understand cap calculations, waitlist mechanics, and compliance strategies for coastal SFR operators.

Mar 31, 2026 12 min
Modern detached ADU in a Costa Mesa residential neighborhood
Trends

A Decade of Costa Mesa ADU Entitlement

Costa Mesa's ADU entitlement landscape transformed dramatically over the past decade. We trace the regulatory milestones that turned backyard cottages from planning nightmares into streamlined rental assets.

Mar 27, 2026 12 min
Hillside residential street in Laguna Beach with Spanish-style homes, manicured landscaping, and distant partial ocean
Single Family Homes

Laguna Beach HOA Rental Rules in 2026

Laguna Beach HOAs are tightening rental enforcement in 2026. Learn how to navigate new restrictions, avoid fines, and maintain compliance in coastal communities.

Mar 26, 2026 12 min
Manhattan Beach neighborhood of single-family homes and low-rise mixed-use buildings
Short Term Rentals

Manhattan Beach's STR Ban in R-1 Zones

Manhattan Beach's STR ordinance prohibits vacation rentals in R-1 zones while preserving pathways in mixed-use districts. We decode the compliance mechanics and ROI trade-offs for $2M–$10M coastal investors.

Mar 16, 2026 12 min
San Diego coastal HOA community of single-family homes with rental-cap signage
Single Family Homes

San Diego HOA Rental Caps in 2026

San Diego coastal HOAs are tightening rental caps and enforcement. This guide covers cap limits, notice requirements, violation penalties, and owner remedies for landlords managing SFRs in HOA communities.

Mar 9, 2026 12 min
Modern single-family home in a Carlsbad master-planned community with manicured landscaping and HOA-maintained common
Single Family Homes

Carlsbad HOA Rental Caps in 2026

Carlsbad HOA rental caps take effect January 2026. Understand enforcement mechanics, owner rights, and compliance strategies for coastal single-family operators.

Mar 6, 2026 12 min
Luxury oceanfront home in Dana Point with contemporary architecture, floor-to-ceiling glass, and panoramic Pacific views at
Luxury Rentals

Dana Point Luxury Rental Returns in 2026

Dana Point luxury rentals delivered 4.8–6.2% net yields in Q1 2026. We break down owner returns, tenant quality, and what sets our coastal approach apart.

Jan 30, 2026 9 min