Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

Real Estate-Technical

Technical Real Estate Insight on the Issues that Move Value—Legally, Operationally, and Financially

Legal issues, valuation realities, operational pitfalls, and market shifts—explained in plain English.

Real estate isn’t just “location, location, location.” It’s contracts, compliance, conditions, valuation, and the little details that turn good deals into expensive lessons. My articles cover technical and legal issues, ownership and operations across residential and commercial property, and the market trends reshaping what works (and what doesn’t). If it affects risk, value, or performance, it belongs here.

Most deals don’t fail on the headline numbers—they fail in the details: condition, documentation, liability, tenant/legal exposure, and assumptions that don’t survive due diligence. I write about real estate the way it behaves, benefits, detriments, valuation methods, and the shifting landscape that changes your risk overnight.

Search Results

How Important Are The “5-C’s” in Credit Approval Decisions

The credit approval process is characterized by industry standards, best practices, related litigation references, and regulatory requirements from both state and federal levels.

AB-130: How it Damages Subordinate Financing in California, for Residential Property

AB 130 was signed into law by Gavin Newsom on June 30, 2025

SB-4: A Legal Framework for Faith-Based Institutions and Non-Profit Colleges to Build Affordable Multi-Family Homes on Lands They Own

SB-4: This California legislation is designed to expedite the development process for affordable housing on lands owned by religious and educational institutions, thereby significantly boosting the housing supply.

A Borrower Operates With Very Little Skin in the Game: Trying To Maximize Profits

Maximum Leverage May Be Beneficial To The Borrower or May Be Used to Transfer the Developer’s Risk to the Lender

SB-1079: Modifies The Foreclosure Procedure of Residential 1 to 4 Properties In California

Another Monstrocrity law on the books modifies the foreclosure procedure. It serves to remove protective equity rights from trust deed investors and lenders, transferring the financial benefits to a special class as dictated by the regulation.

Can We Purchase a Property and Subject to the Seller's 2.9% Fully Amortized Loan?

Without Notifying the Lender Who Holds The Loan?

AB-2424: The California Legislature Has Passed Another Monster Law, Making It More Difficult To Foreclose On 1-4 Residential Units

AB 2424 is another law full of financial traps for lenders because it delays foreclosures, by extending the foreclosure period almost, almost, but not quite, idefinitely.

The Savvy Private Money Broker: Uncovered Significant Material Facts In A Potential Loan Transaction

The Borrower Intentionally Hid Pertinent Information

Daisy-Chain Mortgage Brokers Make Their Proposed Transaction Uncompetitive In The Marketplace

If Three Or Four Mortgage Brokers Demand To Get Paid, it will kill almost all transactions

Assessing Private/Hard Money Loan Transactions

Private money, also referred to as hard money, plays a vital role in the real estate industry.

A Trustee Of The Family Trust Holds Title On Behalf Of The Trust And The Beneficiaries

A Family Trust Cannot Hold Legal Title to Real Estate.

Some Agreements Between Principal Parties Are Intended To Be For Non-Binding Mutual Understandings, While Others Are Binding Contracts

Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) vs. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Lady Sues Ex-boyfriend Over His Attempt To Steal Her Property

A Private Money Lender Came To The Rescue

Lien Priority: A Crucial Aspect in Real Property Ownership and Lending

The Procedure for Recording Documents and Instruments

When Real Property Borrowers Default On Their Loan Obligations: Part I of IV

The Key To Preparedness Is Understanding The Legal Procedures

Repositioning Office Buildings Into Apartments And Condominiums Is A Complex Process

In many cases, the demolition crew has a job of dismantling economically, physically, and functionally obsolete buildings.

Loan Brokers and Agents: Understand Fiduciary Responsibility

Most Brokers And Agents Adhere To The Concept Of Fiduciary Relationships, But A Few Fail to do so.

Lightning Speed Of Closing Private/Hard Money Loans: The Pivot When Urgency Is An Issue

Sometimes Borrowers Have An Urgent Need To Get the Proceeds Of A Loan To Solve An Urgent Problem

Networking With Valuable Financial Services Providers Like CPAs, EAs, and Financial Planners

Is A Valuable Referral Source For Private Money Lenders

Debt Consolidation Loans For Small Entrepreneurs

Sometimes Borrowers Need a Fresh Start and Stabilization to Clean Up Past Problems