Welcome to DanHarkey.com

Master Private Money Lending & Personal Growth with Expert Guidance

With over 50 years of experience, Dan J. Harkey has helped thousands navigate the complexities of real estate finance, private money lending, and personal development. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or seeking financial wisdom, Dan provides actionable insights to help you succeed.

Giving back to the real estate community and helping others is a proven method of developing lasting and sustaining relationships and friendships.

Dan brings a wealth of knowledge spanning back to 1972. In addition to a life teaching credential, and has owned and operated a successful real estate sales company, mortgage company, escrow company, general insurance brokerage, and property management company.

Dan J. Harkey is a distinguished real estate consultant and educator who has given 350 seminars and written hundreds of insightful articles, all designed to improve the lives of his student partners.

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How Can Dan Help You Today?

Private & Hard Money Lending Insights

Understand market trends, risk assessment, and profit potential
Learn proven strategies to maximize returns
Gain exclusive access to expert analysis from an industry veteran

Real Estate & Economic Trends

Navigate the evolving landscape of real estate finance
Make informed investment decisions with expert guidance
Stay ahead with in-depth economic insights

Reinventing Yourself & Personal Growth

Overcome challenges and embrace change with confidence
Develop resilience and unlock your full potential
Discover strategies for long-term personal and professional success

What Others Are Saying

Hi Dan, I'm excited to share that I've finally left my job and am now running my marketing consulting business full-time. After running it part-time for a year, the demand continued to grow, making it a natural step to leave and focus on this venture. I’m thrilled to be taking this leap. It's a dream come true.

Thank you for lighting the path. I worked for you for 13 years, starting when I was 24 years old. I will never forget that experience. I made the best friends there who are still my best friends. I’m grateful for this life. I hope you know that you made a massive impact on many of us.

— Christy Mindell

Why Learn from Dan?

50+ Years of Experience in real estate finance & lending
350+ Seminars & Hundreds of Published Articles
Successful Entrepreneur – Mortgage, escrow, insurance, & property management
Proven Track Record – Helping investors & professionals build wealth

Dan's Latest Articles

Articles written by Dan Harkey contained in the website are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be comprehensive. Some articles contain opinions expressed by Dan Harkey that may be inconsistent with the views of others.

Dan Harkey’s articles are Not to be construed or relied upon as legal or accounting advice. Each subject written about is complex and may require the advice of qualified professionals in the subject areas discussed.

Qualified professionals typically include, attorneys, accountants, appraisers, architects; and environmental, soils, structural, and civil engineers. Consultation with title insurance and escrow officers; with construction, development, and other business experts may also be appropriate.

Power, Truth, and Control: A Comparative Review of George Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984

George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 (1949) are two of the most influential works of political literature in the 20th century. Both novels explore the dangers of authoritarianism, the manipulation of truth, and the fragility of freedom. Yet, they approach these themes through different lenses: Animal Farm uses allegory and satire to critique the corruption of revolutionary ideals. At the same time, 1984 presents a chilling dystopian vision of a future dominated by surveillance and absolute control.

1984 by George Orwell: Book Review

Published in 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 is a dystopian masterpiece that has become a cultural touchstone for discussions about surveillance, authoritarianism, and the fragility of truth. Set in a totalitarian state where the Party controls every aspect of life, the novel explores themes of power, control, and resistance in a world stripped of freedom.

The Jungle: The Novel That Changed America—and Why It Still Matters

When Upton Sinclair published The Jungle in 1906, his intention was clear: to expose the brutal exploitation of immigrant labor in America’s industrial cities. What he didn’t expect was that his vivid descriptions of unsanitary meatpacking practices would spark a national outcry and lead to the passage of landmark legislation. “I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” —Upton Sinclair

The Grapes of Wrath: A Timeless Portrait of Struggle and Solidarity

By John Steinbeck – A Review When John Steinbeck published The Grapes of Wrath in 1939, America was still reeling from the effects of the Great Depression. The Dust Bowl had driven thousands of families from their land, and the promise of California as a land of opportunity lured many westward. Steinbeck captured this migration in a novel that is both a deeply personal family saga and a sweeping social critique. Eighty-five years later, its themes, which eerily resonate with our current social and environmental crises, remain hauntingly relevant.

Should Commercial Lenders Enforce the Due-on-Encumbrance Clause if a Borrower Records a PACE Loan?

Yes, a commercial lender can generally enforce a due-on-encumbrance clause if the borrower records a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) loan, because:

List Hidden Taxation in the American Enterprise System

If there is any question about the top tax bracket being 70% or more, think again. Hidden taxes are the culprit.

Inflation as a “Hidden Tax”: What It Is, Who Pays, and Why It Matters

Economists have long referred to inflation as a hidden (or stealth) tax because it reduces the purchasing power of money without a vote or new legislation. Milton Friedman put it bluntly: “Inflation is a form of taxation without legislation.” He argued that it acts directly on cash balances and—through unindexed tax rules—quietly raises practical tax burdens as prices rise.

The Origin and Evolution of “Left Out in the Cold”

The phrase “left out in the cold” paints a vivid picture that resonates with us all: the feeling of being excluded from warmth and safety, forced to endure harsh conditions outside. Its literal roots likely trace to the late 19th century, when it described someone physically denied entry to a home or shelter during cold weather. Over time, this image evolved into a figurative expression for exclusion, neglect, or abandonment—whether social, political, or professional.

The Origin and Evolution of “Left Holding the Bag”

Early roots (Britain, 1600s–1700s). The ancestor of the expression was the British phrase “to give someone the bag to hold,” meaning to distract or abandon someone while others made off with the valuables—a figurative way of leaving a victim “in the lurch.” This phrase, which originated in the 17th–18th centuries in Britain, evolved to the modern usage of ‘left holding the bag’, with the focus shifting from the act of abandoning to the victim who is left with the unwanted burden.

Dan J. Harkey

Educator & Private Money Lending Consultant