Short-Term Loans

A hard money lender makes short-term loans based on the value of an asset, in this case a property, with little regard to the borrower’s credit and/or finances.  Hard money lenders charge higher interest rates than standard banks due to the high risk nature of these loans.  Unlike traditional banks, hard money lenders can provide funds quickly, usually in 10-14 days, to purchase and rehab distressed properties.  These properties can be in need of significant repairs or be in various stages of foreclosure. This makes these loans popular with first time real estate investors that have little working capital or poor credit scores.  Look to use hard money loans to rehab foreclosures as your means to purchase and rehab your first couple properties.

Rehabber Loans

Hard money lenders will only provide loan terms of 4 – 6 months at… Read the rest

Smart investors will get pre-approved to refinance their hard money loan prior to obtaining the loan!  Hard money lenders are not in the business of lending their money for the long term.  They will not refinance your project once complete.  Even if the plan is to sell the property for a handsome profit, one never knows what may happen so be prepared to deal with any scenario.

Rehab finance is not a topic that every mortgage broker or banker is familiar with.  I have learned this lesson the hard way and almost lost a property due not being able to find a suitable end lender for my first rehab project.  Especially in today’s difficult financial and real estate market, the rehab investor MUST have a solid exit strategy when using short term loans.

I once thought that if I bought… Read the rest