Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

California Economy

"Onerous Laws & Regulations” and “Unintended Consequences” are the State’s Most Reliable Output.

A reality-based look at housing, lending, regulations, and the consequences nobody expected, nor budgeted for.

California isn’t just an economy—it’s a live experiment in what happens when ambition meets regulation, and regulation meets… more regulation. I break down what’s really driving outcomes in housing, insurance, construction, and credit—tracking the intended and unintended consequences all the way to NOI, DSCR, and deal viability. Humor included, because if you don’t laugh at policy irrational logic, you’ll end up crying into your escrow impound account.

Search Results

AB-413: Expanding Language Access in California Housing Policy- Summary Read

Assembly Bill 413 (AB-413), introduced by Assemblymember Mike Fong during the 2025–2026 legislative session, addresses a critical barrier in California’s housing policy: language accessibility. The bill mandates that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) translate its public-facing guidelines into the non-English languages spoken by a substantial number of residents. This measure aims to ensure that all Californians—regardless of language proficiency—can understand their rights and access housing-related services.

California AB-301: Residential Private Permitting Act and Post-Entitlement Phase Permits

California is currently grappling with a severe housing crisis, a pressing issue that has prompted lawmakers to take action. Assembly Bill 301 (AB-301), authored by Assembly Members Pilar Schiavo and Robert Rivas, is a significant step in this direction. It expands existing housing approval reforms by imposing strict timelines on state agencies for permits issued during the post-entitlement phase—mirroring requirements already applied to local governments

California AB-36: Housing Elements and the Pro-housing Designation Program

California continues to push for accelerated housing production and affordability through legislative reforms. Assembly Bill 36 (AB 36), authored by Assembly Member Esmeralda Soria, strengthens the Pro-housing Designation Program (PDP) by shifting from temporary emergency regulations to permanent rules and expanding incentives for jurisdictions that adopt pro-housing policies.

California AB-87: Housing Development and Density Bonuses Explained

California continues to push aggressive housing reforms to address its affordability crisis. Assembly Bill 87 (AB 87), authored by Assembly Member Tasha Boerner, amends the state’s Density Bonus Law (DBL) to clarify how incentives apply to mixed-use developments and affordable housing projects.

California SB-79: Transforming Housing Near Transit Hubs

On 10 October 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 79 (SB-79) into Law, marking one of the most significant housing reforms in California’s History. Authored by Senator Scott Wiener, SB-79 aims to tackle the state’s housing affordability crisis by upzoning land near major transit stops and streamlining development in transit-rich areas.

California’s New Building Standards: How State Mandates Are Reshaping Property Rights and Neighborhoods

California building standards, Title 24 compliance, electrification mandates, zoning changes, erosion of property rights, high-density housing, progressive energy codes, natural gas bans, and real estate development in California.

California’s Housing Revolution: How Federal Mandates and Progressive Policies Are Reshaping Property Rights and Suburban Life

California housing policy, AFFH regulation, real estate lending crisis, suburban zoning changes, erosion of property rights, HUD mandates, progressive housing agenda, decline of commercial real estate, and threat to suburban lifestyle.

America is at a Crossroads Between Capitalism and Individual Accountability, and Collectivism and Outright Socialism.

Promoting capitalism and individual accountability in a society that’s increasingly debating collectivist approaches requires a mix of policy, culture, and education.

The Road Less Traveled. Lessons in Real Estate Finance. “Life is difficult.” — M. Scott Peck.

Markets shift—insurance costs spike. Regulators rewrite the playbook. These are the challenges that real estate finance professionals face regularly.

Setting Up an Operational Manual for a Company’s Marketing and Promotion Efforts:

The objective is to provide a clear roadmap of the company’s marketing objectives, enabling associates, employees, and vendors to participate and contribute to the company’s success proactively.

AB-130: The New California Law that States That a Homeowner Association Fee Violation cannot be more than $100?

Abusive HOA practices: Some homeowner associations harass their property owners with continuous fee assessments for every little thing. The propensity is irritating and makes property owners feel like another big brother is watching and harassing them. The practice is abusive and creates a bureaucratic infrastructure that supports itself on the backs of homeowners.

Live Your Life for Today, not Yesterday. Yesterday was a Mere Memory. We Only Have Today and Tomorrow.

Time spent on bad memories of yesterday is wasted energy. Associate with people who share the same lifestyle goals for today.

What Event in One’s Life Causes Them to Make Significant Changes for the Better?

That pivotal moment or “spark” that causes someone to make significant life changes for the better often stems from a personal crisis, a profound realization, or a transformative experience. While the catalyst varies from person to person, here are some common types of events that tend to trigger such shifts:

Manufactured Culture: Power, Profits, Access, and the Illusion of Choice

A substantial share of modern culture is intentionally engineered—not only by governments and ideologues, but also, more pervasively, by profit-seeking media, corporate advertisers, and platform firms that shape what we see, how we communicate, and even how we spend our time. Yet culture is never entirely manufactured: it also emerges organically from audiences, creators, and communities.

An Overview of Cloward and Piven, Two Radical Left-wingers in the USA

Overview of Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven, their strategy, and why they remain controversial:

‘Trimming the Fat:’ Understanding the Metaphorical Usage

The idiom ‘trimming fat’ originates from the literal practice of butchering meat. Still, it has now been metaphorically extended to mean removing unnecessary or non-essential parts of something to improve its efficiency.

Public Nuisance Number One: The Federal Bureaucracy Of Non-Essential Parasites.

America’s most pressing threat to efficiency and fiscal health isn’t foreign adversaries or market volatility—it’s the entrenched bureaucracy operating inside its own government. These bureaucratic institutions, often shielded by powerful public-sector unions, have become a self-preserving machine that resists accountability and reform. The time for action is now. Come on, Trumpster, get busy.

If a Christian Professes Faith and Another Person Professes Another Faith, there is no Reason to Argue Which is Better or which God is Real.

Arguing over which faith is “better” or which God is “real” often leads to division rather than understanding.

When the power grid goes down for an extended period, how to survive and what actions to take

A prolonged power grid failure can disrupt nearly every aspect of modern life, so preparation and immediate action are crucial.

When The Electricity Goes Off: And the Inter-Connectivity of Utility Systems

Our utility systems are not isolated entities but rather intricately interconnected, forming a complex web that sustains our daily lives. Understanding this interconnectedness is not just crucial, but it also empowers us with the knowledge to be aware of and informed about potential disruptions.