NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL

Redwood Mortgage Investors VIII, a California Limited Partnership (RMI VIII or the partnership), was formed in 1993 to engage in business as a mortgage lender and investor by making and holding-for-investment mortgage loans secured by California real estate, primarily by first and second deeds of trust.

The ongoing sources of funds for loans are the proceeds (net of withdrawals from partner capital accounts subject to limitations) from

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loan payoffs;

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borrowers’ monthly principal and interest payments;

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earnings retained (i.e. not distributed) in partners’ capital accounts;

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REO sales; and

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to a lesser degree and, if obtained, a line of credit.

The partnership is externally managed by Redwood Mortgage Corp., a general partner (or RMC or the manager). The manager is solely responsible for managing the business and affairs of the partnership, subject to the voting rights of the partners on specified matters. The manager acting alone has the power and authority to act for and bind the partnership. RMC provides the personnel and services necessary to conduct our business as we have no employees of our own.

The mortgage loans the partnership funds and/or invests in are arranged and generally are serviced by RMC. The general partner is required to contribute to capital one tenth of one percent (0.1%) of the aggregate capital accounts of the members.

Limited partners representing a majority of the outstanding units may, without the consent of the general partners, vote to:

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dissolve the partnership;

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amend the partnership agreement subject to certain limitations;

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approve or disapprove the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the partnership; and

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remove or replace one or all of the general partners.

A majority in interest of partnership units is required to elect a new general partner to continue the partnership business after a general partner ceases to be a general partner due to its withdrawal.

Profits and losses are allocated among the limited partners according to their respective capital accounts after one percent (1%) of profits and losses are allocated to the general partners. The monthly results are subject to subsequent adjustment as a result of quarterly and year-end accounting and reporting. Investors should not expect the partnership to provide tax benefits of the type commonly associated with limited liability partnership tax shelter investments. Federal and state income taxes are the obligation of the partners, other than the annual California franchise tax and any California LLC cash receipts taxes paid by the partnership’s subsidiaries.

Distribution policy

At the time of their subscription for units, partners elect to have distributed to them their monthly, quarterly or annual allocation of profits, or to have profits allocated to their capital accounts be retained by the partnership to compound. Subject to certain limitations, those electing compounding may subsequently change their election. A partner’s election to receive cash distributions is irrevocable.

Liquidity, capital withdrawals and early withdrawals

Because there are substantial restrictions on transferability of units, there is no established public trading and/or secondary market for the units, and none is expected to develop. To provide liquidity to limited partners, the partnership agreement provides that limited partners, after the minimum five-year period, may withdraw all or a portion of their capital accounts in 20 quarterly installments or longer, as determined by the general partners in light of partnership cash flow, beginning the last day of the calendar quarter following the quarter in which the notice of withdrawal is given. A limited partner may liquidate all or a part of the limited partner’s capital account in four quarterly installments beginning on the last day of the calendar quarter following the quarter in which the notice of withdrawal is given, subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty applicable to any sums withdrawn prior to the time when such sums could have been withdrawn without penalty. There is also a limited right of liquidation for an investor’s heirs upon an investor’s death.

The partnership has not established a cash reserve from which to fund withdrawals and, accordingly, the partnership’s capacity to return a limited partner’s capital is subject to the availability of partnership cash. No more than 20% of the total limited partners’ capital account balances at the beginning of any year may be liquidated during any calendar year.

Investment objectives and lending guidelines

The Partnership’s primary investment objectives are to

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yield a high rate of return from mortgage lending, after the payment of certain fees and expenses to the general partners and their affiliates; and

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preserve and protect the partnership’s capital.

The partnership generally funds loans

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having monthly payments of interest only or of principal and interest at fixed rates, calculated on a 30-year amortization basis; and

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having maturities of 5 years or less.

The partnership’s loans generally have shorter maturity than typical mortgages. In the event that a loan is performing, and collection is deemed probable at maturity, we may elect to extend the loans maturity. In the event a borrower is unable to repay in full the principal owing on the loan maturity, we may elect to modify the loan payment terms and place the designated loan as impaired, or may foreclose and take back the property for sale.

Generally, interest rates on the partnership’s mortgage loans are not affected by market movements in interest rates. If, as expected, we continue to make and invest in fixed rate loans primarily, and interest rates were to rise, a possible result would be lower prepayments of the partnership’s loans. This increase in the duration of the time loans are on the books may reduce overall liquidity, which itself may reduce the partnership’s investment into new loans at higher interest rates. Conversely, if interest rates were to decline, we could see a significant increase in borrower prepayments. If we then invest in new loans at lower rates of interest, a lower yield to partners may possibly result.

The cash flow and the income generated by the real property securing the loan factor into the credit decisions, as does the general creditworthiness, experience and reputation of the borrower. However, for loans secured by real property, other than owner-occupied personal residences, such considerations are subordinate to a determination that the value of the real property is sufficient, in and of itself, as a source of repayment. The amount of the loan combined with the outstanding debt and claims secured by a senior deed of trust on the real property generally will not exceed a specified percentage of the appraised value of the property (the loan-to-value ratio, or LTV) as determined by an independent written appraisal at the time the loan is made. The LTV generally will not exceed 80% for residential properties (including multi-family), 75% for commercial properties, and 50% for land. The excess of the value of the collateral securing the loan over our debt and any senior debt owing on the property is the “protective equity.”

We believe our LTV policy gives us more potential protective equity than competing lenders who fund loans with a higher LTV. However, we may be viewed as an “asset” lender based on our emphasis on LTV in our underwriting process. Being an “asset” lender may increase the likelihood of payment defaults by borrowers. Accordingly, the partnership may have a higher level of payment delinquency and loans designated as impaired for financial reporting purposes than that of lenders, such as banks and other financial institutions subject to federal and state banking regulations, which are typically viewed as “credit” lenders.

Term of the partnership

The partnership will continue until 2032, unless sooner terminated as provided in the partnership agreement.