Lending and California’s Usury Laws
California usury laws add a layer of complexity to doing business in the state. Usury laws limit the amount of interest that can be charged by various parties, and usury is the charging of interest in excess of the amounts permitted by those laws. The California Constitution characterizes “interest” as fees, bonuses, commissions, discount, or other compensations received from a borrower. Before brushing aside usury laws, it is important to know that any lender that originates a usurious loan in California will be subject to tough civil penalties. Unfortunately,...Read More
Duties Under the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of Realtors
The Preamble to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice begins with: Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. [Realtors] should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and...Read More
