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

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

Property Insurance: Part I of III

Overview Of The Insurance Industry And Real Property Coverages

Should the Borrower Choose The Appraiser? Should a Lender Rely on the Contents?

The Answer Is A Resounding No!

Market Value vs. Appraised Value: They Are Not the Same

Making The Distinction

Loaning to Individuals, Trusts, Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations

Individual Parties and Entity Borrowers

Private Money Loan Documents and Related Disclosures

Summary Overview of Loan Documents

ERISA-Pension Plans: Real Estate and Trust Deed Investor Must Comply

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)

Private Money Lending: Licensing and Regulatory Oversight

On Overview Of The Private Money Industry

A Family Trust Cannot Hold Legal Title to Real Estate

Correct Understanding Of Holding Title For A Family Trust

Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) vs. Understanding (MOU)

Mutual Understand vs Binding Contract