Who Are Hard Money Lenders and What Do They Do?

A hard money lender is an individual or group of people that invest in various projects based on the collateral or hard asset. These lenders often specialize in a specific type of property and, as private investors, they are not bound by the same regulations that traditional banks face.

A hard money lender provides capital for various types of projects. These include residential, multifamily, businesses, warehouses, industrial, office space and even the growing-in-popularity multi-use projects. Many will not, however, lend on owner-occupied residential properties in part due to the Dodd-Frank Act. Because these investors tend to prefer specific projects, a lender will often develop a working relationship with one lender and turn to them repeatedly for their funding needs.

Hard money lenders tend to provide short-term loans, though these can often be extended for up to five years. They offer the perfect funding scenario for those in the fix and flip business that are looking for quick capital to jump on a promising property when it hits the market, instead of having to wait for a traditional loan to come through—a difference in not just days, but weeks. They can get into the project, complete the rehab, find buyers, and then pay back the loan that usually does not have an early prepayment penalty.

Hard money lenders are also fairly popular among developers. These types of lenders can provide loans with monthly draw programs, perfect for the construction industry. They offer interest only payments for a set period of time while the construction process is proceeding. They will want to see your plan, budget, permits and exit strategy. Not all projects go as planned, sometimes leaving developer’s credit reports with some marks against them. A hard money lender will not place as much emphasis on this aspect of lending as a traditional lender. For those that have some credit issues, they may be the best, and only, option available.

Hard Money Loans offer Quick Financing and Approval

A loan approval is possible the same day that you apply, whereas a traditional bank can take at least a week or more. From that point forward, the underwriting process if fairly straightforward. They will want to know your asset and will place more importance on this collateral than on your credit score or creditworthiness. Because of this, funding can occur in less than a week whereas your bank or credit union can take more than a month.

At Level 4 Funding, we work with a variety of private hard money investors that provide capital for all different types of projects. Our loan-to-value ratios are some of the highest in the industry and we pride ourselves on speed of service. Many investors turn to us when they are looking for capital in order to purchase a foreclosed, bank-owned or short-sale property and time is of the essence. Call us today for a no-obligation quote. Our approval process and funding can occur in as little as 24 hours!

Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel: (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel: (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701

About the Author: Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.