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

The Rise of Zombie Tower Office Buildings

Office Building With Super High Levels Of Vacancies With No Improvements In Sight

Real Property Easements

The Purpose & The Risks

Subordination of Liens and Encumbrances

Is Someone’s Willingness to Subordinate Fact or Fiction?

Financing Overleveraged Homeowners Who Continuosly Refinance and Living Off The Proceeds

They Preceived That Their Strategy Of Continuous Refinancing Was A Smart Decision Until It Wasn't

Synergies Between Independent Professionals

Are Required To Close Loans

Can We Purchase Property and Take Over the Seller's 3% Loan?

Without Notifying the Lender Who Holds The Loan?

Fractional Trust Deed Investing

Private parties choose trust deed investing because the yields are excellent, while the management is relatively passive.

Daisy-Chain Mortgage Brokerage Services

Some Mortgage Brokers Practive Receiving Leads The Passing To The Next Broker Than Can Become A Mess When All Want To Get Paid

Commercial Properties with Operating Businesses

Lending: Unique Underwriting Considerations

Appraisers' Opinion of Value May Vary in Quality and Completeness

Some Appraisal Reports Are Useless

Should We Sell Our Family Home and Buy a Better One?

Upward Mobility is Being Trapped by Interest Rates

High-Density Housing: The Shifting Landscape

Competing Forces of Oversight Of The Approval Process: Federal, State, & Local

Overcoming Barriers to Real Estate Ownership

Pushing Back Against A System That Only Works For It's Self Interest, Rather Than Real Property Rights

Property Ownership and the American Dream Under Threat- The Shifting Landscape Part I

Changes as Described in Parts I, II, II, & IV

Condominium vs Stock Cooperative Ownership: Condo vs. Co-Operative

There Is A Massive Difference in Possessionary Rights

The Capitalization Approach to Income Property Valuation: A Crucial Tool for Real Estate Professionals

Income Valuation

“Here’s the Borrower’s Name & Phone Number, Call Them. Build Me in for 2 points!”

Realities Of The Business

Consumer vs. Business Purpose Lending

Making The Distinction As Defined In Truth-In-Lending

Real Property Insurance: Part III of III

Issues Relating To The Lender And An Overview Of Types Of Coverage

Property Insurance Part II of III

Property Insurance and Financing Real Estate