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 National Condo Crisis:

75% of older buildings need significant upgrades with the costs passed on the the owners and renters

Possible Actions Taken by Defaulting Borrowers

In Real Property Transactions

Appraisals: By Whose Standards Shall We Operate?

Or Is Their Wiggle Room in The Process For Future Development

Defaults On Real Property Loan Obligations

Understanding the Various Forms of Default, Part II of IV

When Real Property Borrower's Default

Understanding The Legal Procedures: A Key to Preparedness Party I of IV

Assessing Private Money Loan Transactions

Evaluating The Viability Of Approval and Closing

Environmental Hazards in Loaning on Real Property

Serious Risks For Real Estate Owners, Tenants, Agents, and Lenders

Mansion Taxes in California Applies To All Types of Properties: The Devastating Impact on Sales

Soak The Rich Because Thats Where The Money Is

Real Property Easements:

The Purpose & The Risks

Organize Your File And Create An Executive Loan Request Summary:

How to Submit a Loan Transaction to a Funding Broker

Liens and Encumbrances: Subordination

Is Someone’s Willingness to Subordinate Fact or Fiction?

Co-investing in Trust Deeds as Tenants-In-Common:

Under a Common Interest Plan or Arrangement

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

Borrowers Have Liens, Encumbrances, and Judgments to Clear Up:

Working Through The Problems With Highly Skilled Mortgage Brokers Is A Must

Loaning On Small Owner-Occupied Commercial Buildings

The Building is Owned By The Trustee Of The Trust. The Occupant is Ownes His Business As An S-Corportion

Independent Real Estate Professionals: Synergies Between

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