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Best Hard Money Loans 2023: Compare Rates

Written by:  Lorien Strydom
|
Last updated: May 6, 2024

Learn more about hard money loans and find the best hard money lenders in the US. With Financer.com you can:

  • Use our online loan comparison tool
  • Compare rates from multiple lenders
  • Apply for a hard money loan from US lenders
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How to Apply for Hard Money Loans

Save on hard money loan rates by comparing with us first.

How to Apply for Hard Money Loans
1
Choose your loan amount

Choose the amount you would like to borrow.

2
Compare loan offers

Filter the results based on your criteria and compare the best fair credit oan rates.

3
Choose an offer

Find the best fair tribal loan for your needs.

4
Complete the application

Click Get Started to fill in your loan application.

What Are Hard Money Lenders?

A hard money loan is typically used for real estate investments or to finance the maintenance and sale of an investment property. Hard money loans are also typically referred to as short-term bridging loans for a real estate transaction. 

But unlike traditional personal loans, you can't go to a typical lender for a hard money loan. 

You have to get these from hard money lenders that specialize in hard money loans. These loans are different in that the funding time is shorter and the fact that they are given by individuals, not banks.

Hard money lenders consider the value of the property rather than your creditworthiness, making these loans riskier.

 

Requirements for Hard Money Loans

Most hard money lenders have their own requirements but there are a few things that they typically require:

They need to know about your specific property and the project. This may include an appraisal as well as your specific plans with the property.

Some hard money lenders may also ask about your property flipping experience. Lenders do work with first-time flippers but there are lenders that only work with experienced property rehabilitation experts.

In terms of finances, some hard money lenders have income requirements or liquid asset requirements. Most lenders will check your credit although there isn't a specific credit score requirement.

Finally, some lenders may require you to have a business (typically an LLC) to be funded as they don't fund individual buyers. This means you may also need a business bank account. 

Our Top Hard Money Lenders 

Kiavi

Kiavi offers very competitive rates starting at just 9%. It does not require borrowers to be experienced flippers and funds can be made available in as little as 10 days.

Interest rates9%
Loan amountUp to $2 million
Loan term12 - 24 months
Down paymentNone
Repayment methodInterest only, with balloon
Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC) & After Repair Value (ARV)90% LTV, 75% ARV
Fees1.5% - 2% of the loan amount
Time to funding10 days
Minimum credit score660
Experience requiredA past mortgage
Property typesSingle-family homes, attached and detached PUDs, 2-4 unit rentals

With Kiavi you can borrow up to $2 million with up to 24 months of repayments. They offer up to 90% LTV and 75% ARV.

Flip Funding

Flip Funding offers borrowers up to $50 million and interest rates start at 9.99%. No prior flipping experience is required and repayments are available for up to 36 months. 

Interest ratesFrom 9.99%
Loan amountUp to $50 million
Loan term12 - 36 months
Down payment10%
Repayment methodInterest only, with balloon
Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC) & After Repair Value (ARV)Up to 90% LTV, 70% ARV, 85% LTC
Fees2% - 5% of the loan amount
Time to funding10 days
Minimum credit score650
Experience requiredNone
Property typesSingle-family, multi-family, mixed-use

Funding is available within 10 days and they offer multiple loan types, including multifamily loans, fix and flip loans, and bridge loans.

Groundfloor

Groundfloor has low interest rates starting at 6.5%. They offer 80 to 100% of LTC and 75% of ARV but require a minimum credit score of 600. There is no prepayment penalty.

Interest ratesFrom 6.5%
Loan amountUp to $1 million
Loan term12 months
Down paymentN/A
Repayment methodInterest only, with balloon
Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC) & After Repair Value (ARV)Up to 100% LTV, 75% ARV
Fees1.5% - 2% of the loan amount
Time to funding15 days
Minimum credit score660
Experience requiredNone
Property typesNew construction, condo, townhome, single-family, multi-units up to 4

The maximum loan amount is $1 million and they offer loans for various property types: new construction, condo, townhome, single-family, multi-units up to 4.

Residential Capital Partners

With Residential Capital Partners you can benefit from no money down, with 100% financing up to 70% of ARV.

Interest rates10%
Loan amountUp to $1.25 million
Loan term9 months
Down paymentNone
Repayment methodInterest only, with balloon
Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC) & After Repair Value (ARV)100% LTV, 70% ARV
FeesUp to 3%
Time to funding14 days
Minimum credit scoreNone
Experience requiredNone
Property types 

Loans are available from $75,000 to $1.25 million and an online application takes less than 15 minutes. Approvals are done within two business days and they offer fix and flip loans as well as bridge loans and rental loans.

CoreVest

CoreVest is ideal for borrowers with low credit scores. They offer rates starting at 8% with loans up to $50 million. Their loan terms range from six to 24 months and they offer up to 85% LTC.

Interest rates8%
Loan amountUp to $50 million
Loan term - 24 months
Down paymentNone
Repayment methodInterest only, with balloon
Loan-to-Value (LTV), Loan-to-Cost (LTC) & After Repair Value (ARV)85% LTC
Fees2% - 7% of the loan amount
Time to funding21 days
Minimum credit score660
Experience requiredSome flipping experience
Property typesSingle-family homes, attached and detached PUDs, 2-4 unit rentals

With CoreVest you can get funding within 21 days and there is no minimum credit score required. However, some flipping experience is required

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What Fees To Expect

Commercial hard money loans typically come with origination fees which are a percentage of the loan amount. There may also be closing fees to hard money financing like any other real estate loan. 

This can include insurance fees, title fees, and appraisal fees.

Some hard money lenders charge an early payment penalty - be careful of these. Hard money loans come with higher interest rates because they are designed to be repaid ASAP after finishing the project. 

Finding the Best Hard Money Lender

It's important to find the right hard money lender to suit your specific needs. Look at these factors:

  • Loan amount
  • Interest rate
  • Down payment
  • Prepayment penalties 
  • Minimum time to closing
  • Loan-to-value (LTV) and after repair value (ARV) percentages

Pros and Cons of Hard Money Lenders

ProsCons
Fast access to your money - typically within 10 days❌ If you default on the loan you lose collateral
Short-term loans available - usually 24 months or lessHigh interest rates
✅ Some lenders require no minimum credit score❌ Some owner-occupied residences may not qualify for funding

One of the benefits of a hard money loan is that you may get quick access to funding, which is ideal if you're looking for fast funding to flip a property.

Just keep in mind that some lenders may ask higher interest rates and some will have upfront fees as a requirement.

It's best to compare hard money lenders to make sure you get a loan that works for you. 

Alternatives To a Hard Money Loan

The fees for hard money loans tend to be on the high side, which is why it's worth considering a few alternatives to a hard money loan. 

Here are a few alternatives you can consider:

  • Commercial real estate (CRE) loans: A CRE loan typically offer more competitive fees and interest rates and gives you the chase you need to buy and renovate a property.
  • Investment property financing: These loans can be used to buy and sell properties for profit or to buy properties with the aim of renting them out for additional income. It can be more challenging to qualify for investment property financing but the rates are typically lower than hard money loans. 
  • A business line of credit: You'll only pay interest on the money you use. Lenders like Lendio offer a line of credit to businesses of up to $500,000.

Read more: Where to get small business loans

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Find Your Hard Money Lender at Financer.com

Financer.com helps you compare the best hard money lenders and get the lowest loan rates for hard money loans.

We look for lenders that offer full transparency and have a long track record of successful lending and satisfied customers.

We are always improving our comparisons, and you can use our free loan comparison tool to find the right loan for your needs.

Hard Money Lenders - FAQs

What credit score is needed for a hard money loan?

There is no credit score requirement as borrowers typically look at your collateral and property value. 

Is hard money lending a good investment?

Hard money loans are best-suited for wealthy investors who need financing quickly without the red tape of banks.

How do I know if my hard money lender is legit?

Be aware of lenders that offer a very low rate. Hard money lenders typically ask for collateral so if they don't it's a red flag. Unclear terms and errors in application forms can also be reason to take caution.

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