Hard Money Loans

A hard money loan is a loan provided by a private person or entity, not a traditional lender.

People usually go to this form of financing because they can’t get a loan from a regular lender.

Hard money can have several advantages:

-speed in making a loan decision

-able to lend in unusual circumstances

These loans usually come at a higher interest rate, usually much higher.

These loans can often be temporary loans until someone can switch over to a different loan.

These types of loans can be used for:

-construction loans

-just land

-cash out refinances

-bridge loans

Construction loans are not done by many lenders who do mortgages. It is a specialized area of finance.

Construction loans can include pre-start loans, spec builder loans, manufactured homes, and renovation projects.

Land loans include rural properties, large land properties, development land. Many mortgage lenders will not lend on houses that are situated on unusually large plots of land. Rural properties that are manufactured homes that are attached to the land are often not considered single family residences by many lender guidelines.

Cash out refinances are done in circumstances where getting a traditional refinance can take too long or it not an option. Hard money lenders will usually lend on the basis of collateral and not credit. A person with bad credit and lots of equity can turn to this option. This type of refinance can also be done on rental properties where many lender guidelines are stricter than they are on primary residences.

Bridge loans are temporary loans that will be repaid quickly. They are usually for a much higher rate but are paid off quickly, usually with the proceeds of a newer loan.

Hard Money Loans – Reasons Why You Might Want To Try Applying With A Subprime Mortgage Lender

Before you apply for a hard money loan, try applying with a subprime mortgage lender first for lower rates and fees. Hard money lenders charge excessive fees to high-risk borrowers, but will only lend 50% to 75% of the value of the property. On the other hand, subprime lenders offer loans to similar high-risk groups, but with better terms.

Lower Rates

Subprime lenders specialize in B, C, and D class loans. Even with a bankruptcy in your financial records, you can still be approved for a mortgage with a subprime lender. To protect themselves from the higher risk of foreclosure, subprime lenders charge a couple of interest rates higher with additional fees.

Hard money loans are funded by private individuals, who require high interest rates somewhere between 12% to 18%. This is nearly double what a reputable subprime lender would typically charge. You can also expect to pay higher fees upfront with hard money lenders.

Reasonable Terms

Subprime lenders offer mortgage loans similar to that of traditional mortgage lenders. You can expect regular payments and terms, such as no early payment fees. Subprime lenders also require smaller down payments, even zero down if you have a FICO score of 600.

However, hard money lenders may require a balloon payment in one to two years or other difficult terms. Hard money lenders also require as much as 50% of a down payment for the loan to ensure they will make a profit even if they foreclose on the property.

Refinancing Option

Subprime lenders also offer refinancing, unlike hard money lenders. Many subprime lenders will automatically offer refinancing after three years of regular payments so you can reduce your mortgage interest rates or tap into equity. Hard money lenders are interested in high profits, so they will only deal with high interest rates and terms profitable to them.

The Reason For Hard Money Loans

Hard money loans have their place in the financing world. Primarily used for property speculation and development, hard money loans make sense for short-term borrowing. They can also be successfully used for purchasing non-traditional properties such as ranches, where the property value is not realized by a traditional bank.

To view our list of our most recommended subprime mortgage lenders online,
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Commercial Bridge Loans – Basic Facts Regarding Hard Money Loans

You’ve found a great opportunity to make some money. You’ve heard about hard money bridge loans but you don’t know what to expect? Here are some of the basics:

The biggest advantage of a bridge loan is the lenders are always concerned about the value of the property, not so much you personally. In other words; the property is what secures you the loan not your current credit status. It’s all about the value of the property.

The life of a bridge loan is approximately one to six-months; although you can get an extension of up to 2 or more years. Again, these lenders are not your average banks. The flexibility of this type of loan is why you will either get approved (or not) in as little as 2 days.

You may be asked by the lender why are you looking for a hard money loan instead of a traditional loan? There are many reasons why someone may consider using hard money loans. Most likely your response will be because you need the money now and not three months from now when the window of opportunity has most likely closed, or you may respond that your credit has some blemishes, filed recent bankruptcy, low occupancy levels, etc.

Some of the things your hard money loan lenders want to know will be: the type of collateral, the location and approximate value of the property, the amount owed and most important, the exit strategy of the loan or how will you pay the lender back.

Most bridge loan firms want your business and will work with you to get you 60% – 75% financing. (In some cases you can get 100% financing if you have additional assets to put into the deal.) In 99.9% of most cases, the hard money lenders are private companies, and you won’t typically get 100% of the value of the property. The low loan to value is in place to protect the lender in case of default on the loan.

Be prepared though, the interest rate on hard money loans is much higher than on traditional loans. Expect 10 to 15%, depending upon the overall risk. There will also be points or origination percentages that range between 1 and 5% of the loan amount set forth by the lender and assessed at the close of the deal. However, the higher interest rates, flexibility, and the quick turn-around often offset all the paperwork and time involved with traditional banks.

Some hard money lenders charge a fee for pre-payments, some charge an exit fee for the loan and others charge nothing. Make sure you know exactly what the terms of the proposed loan are before engaging any lender. A detailed letter of Intent is an excellent way for you and the hard money lender to understand exactly what is expected by each party.
One more thing, if you are not familiar with bridge loans do some in-depth research first. Talk to others who have experience with hard money bridge loans or ask your lawyer for some help. Don’t forget, there is plenty of information on the web that you can use to your advantage.