California Code, Financial Code - FIN § 22301

(a) No licensee shall directly or indirectly charge, contract for, or receive any interest or charge of any nature with respect to a loan of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more unless the loan is made.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), whenever a loan of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more is not consummated because of the borrower's failure to disclose outstanding liens or other information essential to making the loan or solely because of the borrower's failure to complete the loan in accordance with the loan application, a licensee may charge, contract for, and receive an amount equal to the actual expenses incurred by the licensee in connection with the preparation for the loan.