The Housing Financial Discrimination Act of 1977 is a California law concerning the financial agreements that occur during the housing process. More specifically, the law defines discrimination in the "provisions of or in the availability of financial assistance" as an illegal practice. This means that financial institutions cannot discriminate when making real estate loan decisions, neither based on aspects of the property in question nor on characteristics of the individual requesting a loan, such as race or sex. The act, which is more commonly known as the Holden Act, applies to any loans that are being made on dwellings of one to four units, needed for purchase, rent, or even refinancing purposes. In the event that a violation of the act occurs, a complaint can be filed with the Secretary for Business and Transportation, who will then determine if legal damages are in order.