California real estate disclosure laws California Real Estate Disclosures | Page 66

construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of housing. Further, lenders cannot deny loan applications because of ethnic composition, conditions, characteristics, or expected trends in the neighborhood or geographic area surrounding the property. The Act encourages increased lending in neighborhoods where, in the past, financing has been unavailable. The major goal of the Act is to ensure and increase the supply of safe and decent housing for credit-worthy borrowers and to prevent neighborhood decay. To ensure that prospective borrowers are aware of their rights under this law, lenders must notify all applicants of the provisions of the Holden Act at the time of the loan application. The notice must include the address where complaints may be filed and where information may be obtained. The notice must be in at least 10-point type and must be posted in a conspicuous location in the lender’s place of business. Any applicant seeking a real estate loan in connection with financing a personal residence (containing not more than four dwelling units) who believes he/she has been subjected to discrimination may file a complaint with the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency or his/her designee. The Secretary’s decision will be final unless the applicant or lender requests a hearing. (CAL. HEALTH & SAFETY § 35800 et. seq.) -59-