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.

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Hard Money Loan Submission Checklist

Here’s a Hard Money Loan Submission Checklist specifically designed for mortgage brokers working with private or non-institutional lenders. These lenders typically prioritize asset-based lending, speed, and clear risk mitigation.

Loan Submission Package From a Mortgage Broker to a Lender

An effective loan submission package from a mortgage broker to a lender should be clear, complete, and compelling, enabling the lender to quickly assess the loan’s risk and viability.

Unlock High-Yield Opportunities with Fractional Trust Deed Investing

Looking for strong returns with a hands-off approach? Fractional trust deed investing offers private investors a secure, flexible way to participate in real estate lending—without the headaches of property management.

Setting Up a Professional Executive Loan Summary for Prospective Lenders

Procedures for the Initial Loan Inquiry to Earn Origination Fees

Best Practices for Procuring Brokers

Fractional Trust Deed Investors: Ownership as Tenants-in-Common

Locating Private Money Loans:

Building a Network for Referrals and Identifying Opportunities

Capital Investments in California Real Property Secured Transactions: Legal Framework and Industry Practices

✅ Compliance Checklist for Private Lending: California Real Estate Properties

The Initial Real Estate Loan Inquiry

A Primer in Alternative Reasons

Ask The Right Questions

From A Borrower in a Private Money Loan Transaction

Court Narrows Broker Fiduciary Duties in Malibu Home Dispute- Quick Read

In Larry Wade v. Windstar Investments, LLC, the Los Angeles County Superior Court clarified the limits of a real estate broker’s fiduciary and disclosure obligations. Wade purchased a $3.4 million Malibu property that later proved uninhabitable due to unpermitted construction. He sued the seller and Sotheby’s International Realty, alleging negligence and breach of fiduciary duty for failing to disclose the defects.

Private Money | Hard Money | Loan Originations | Quick Read

Real property borrowers can access alternative sources of financing to banks and other institutional lenders. The subset, private money lending, is designed for non-bankable or non-traditional loan transactions.

Private Money | Hard Money Overview | Quick Read

A Vital Subset of the Real Estate Lending Industry

Trust Deed and Mortgage Investors-Quick Read

As investors/lenders or private parties who purchase an interest in notes and deeds of trust, you hold a pivotal position in the lending process. The investor’s name appears on the Borrower’s promissory note, deed of trust, and title insurance policy, indicating the ownership interest. You are a lender, a payee, or a beneficiary.

SB-748: Safe Parking Sites and Local Responsibility for the Unhoused

California Senate Bill 748 (SB-748), signed into Law in September 2025, marks a significant expansion of the state’s approach to homelessness—specifically addressing the needs of individuals living in vehicles. The bill modifies the existing Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) program to include support for safe parking sites, offering local jurisdictions new tools to manage and assist vehicle-based homelessness.

Top Mortgage Risks: Empowering Knowledge for Every Borrower and Lender.

The mortgage industry, a vital pillar of the housing market, is not immune to significant risks.  Both lenders and borrowers face challenges that, if not managed effectively, can lead to severe financial strain.  Below, we present the top mortgage risks, ranked by their potential Impact, along with real-world examples, to raise awareness and caution.

AB-628: Working Refrigerators and Stoves Become Mandatory in Most Rental Homes (Effective 1 January 2026)- Technical Read

AB-628: Mandatory Refrigerators and Stoves in Rental Units Starting 2026- Quick Read

How to Locate, Vet, and Negotiate with Private Money Lenders: The Key to Secure and Confident Real Estate Financing, Packed with Valuable Insights

(A Borrower’s Handbook)