Which of the following will be affected by California usury laws?

California usury laws are designed to protect consumers from excessively high-interest rates on loans. These laws typically apply to loans made by private lenders, which includes anyone who is not a financial institution like a bank or credit union. This means that if a private lender is making a loan to buy a house, the interest rate charged must comply with the limits set by California law regarding usury.

In contrast, financial institutions such as banks and credit unions are often exempt from state usury laws because they operate under different regulatory frameworks, including federal guidelines that may set their own lending terms. Therefore, the business loans provided by banks or loans made by credit unions generally do not fall under the influence of state usury laws.

Similarly, a mortgage broker charging standard fees does not fall under the realm of usury laws either, as those laws are concerned primarily with interest rates on loans rather than the fees associated with arranging those loans.

Consequently, a private lender making a loan for a residential property would be directly influenced by California usury laws, ensuring that the interest rates charged do not exceed legal limits, thereby protecting the borrower from predatory lending practices.