Resources
Understand hard money before you borrow
Plain-English guides, tools and reference material for investors and developers. Every guide answers a question we hear from borrowers, and new resources are added as we write them.
Guides and tools
Each guide covers one type of financing in plain terms: how the loan works, what a lender will ask you for, and what to watch out for. When you have enough to go on, every guide ends with an inquiry form so you can send your deal to a specialist.
Hard money loans explained
How borrowing works end to end: rates, terms, draws, lender checks and repayment, with a worked example.
Read the guide
Fix and flip loans
Financing a purchase-and-renovation project, from budgeting the rehab to timing your exit.
Read the guide
Hard money construction loans
Ground-up and build projects: draw schedules, loan-to-cost and preparing a lender-ready package.
Read the guide
Commercial hard money loans
Short-term finance for commercial and mixed-use property when speed or property condition matters.
Read the guide
Foreclosure bailout loans
Realistic options and timing considerations when a property is heading to auction or a sale date is set.
Read the guide
Documents checklist
Useful things to have ready when you talk to a lender, grouped by property, project, borrower and plan.
Read the guide
Hard money loan calculator
Estimate monthly payments, points and total project cost before you request a quote.
Open the calculator
Hard money terminology
- ARV
- After Repair Value — the expected market value of a property once planned work is complete.
- LTV
- Loan to Value — the loan amount as a percentage of the property's value.
- LTC
- Loan to Cost — the loan amount as a percentage of total project cost, including work.
- Draw
- A staged release of renovation or construction funds, paid once a stage is verified.
- Exit
- How the loan is repaid — usually a sale or a refinance onto longer-term finance.
- Points
- An origination fee expressed as a percentage of the loan amount.
- Cross-collateral
- Using an additional property as extra security to increase available leverage.
- Business purpose
- Lending for investment or commercial use rather than an owner-occupied home.
In progress
We add resources as fast as we can write them properly. The next pieces in the library cover pricing, eligibility and state-by-state lending, and any question they do not answer can go straight to a specialist.
Rates & fees
How specialist lenders price risk, and what drives the number you are quoted.
In progress
LTV & eligibility
Loan to value, loan to cost and after-repair value explained with worked examples.
In progress
State lending guides
Closing practice, timelines and market notes state by state.
In progress
Tell us about your deal
Share the property, the numbers and your timeline. We'll help you explore financing options with experienced hard money specialists. Fast closings available, all credit considered. Free, no-obligation inquiry.
Get your financing options
Share the basics and a specialist will review your options with you. All credit considered.