Category: Articles

By William “Bill” L. Exeter When a real estate investor identifies the perfect property to buy (replacement property) but has not yet sold their current real property (relinquished property), standard tax-deferred exchange rules...

By Michael R. Pfeifer, Esq. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA),[i] originally enacted October 28, 1974, and as modified, amended, and implemented by its implementing Regulation B,[ii] is an important statute for members of...

By Steven E. Ernest, Esq. When a borrower files bankruptcy in California, the filing can feel like someone hit a giant pause button on your loan. Foreclosure stops. Collection calls stop. State court litigation stalls. Tenants,...

By Louise Lamb It’s understanding how AI is changing human behavior and how prospects now discover, evaluate and choose your business. AI is doing all three at once, and the earliest place we’re seeing it is online...

By Mayumi Bowers, VP of Operations, Val-Chris Investments, Inc. On March 4, CMA partnered once again with the United Trustees Association (UTA) for our annual Legislative Day in Sacramento. This year’s event brought together a...

By Brett Davis Jeff Smallowitz’ article in the May, 2025 Points of Interest, Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to Lending to and from Self-Directed Retirement Plans illustrates the complexity involved with private debt...

By Michelle R. Rodriguez, Esq. The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) is in the midst of a multi-year modernization effort that will materially affect how mortgage companies—including private lenders—operate, report,...

By Benjamin Levinson, Esq. Are you a lender who provides short term loans of five years or less secured by a borrower’s principal residence? If so, then the Mission Hen case impacts your business because your loan can be...

By Cathy K. Robinson, Esq. and T. Robert Finlay, Esq. Loan servicers know which loans require a balloon payment notice; but many private lenders servicing their own loans have no idea whether a balloon payment notice is required...

By David Duner, CPA (Retired) The real estate market may have some unpleasant surprises for borrowers who lose their property due to abandonment or foreclosure of their real property.  The focus of this article concerns lender...

By T. Robert Finlay, Esq. and Michelle R. Rodriguez, Esq. This article originally appeared in Scotsman Guide. As mortgage litigators, anytime there is a new lawsuit or a client has an issue with a loan, the first document...

By Michelle R. Rodriguez, Esq. Introduction. Laws addressing unfair and deceptive acts and practices (“UDAP”) have existed for many years, largely in the form of fair-trade legislation. At some point, however, “abusive” acts...