Close in Days, Not Months. Hard Money Gets It Done.

When conventional lenders say no or move too slowly, hard money fills the gap. Asset based underwriting, fast closings, and terms that prioritize the deal over the borrower's tax returns.

Asset Based Lending from Private Capital Sources

Hard money loans are asset based financing provided by private lenders who underwrite the property's value and the deal's merits rather than relying heavily on the borrower's personal financials. They close fast, often in 7 to 14 days, and fill gaps that banks and conventional lenders won't touch. Our network includes a deep bench of private lenders, family offices, and hard money funds that deploy capital across commercial and investment properties nationwide. Hard money is not the cheapest capital available, but it's often the only capital available when you need speed, have credit challenges, or are working a deal that requires a lender willing to look at the asset first and the borrower second.

Key Terms

Loan Range: $100K to $25M+
Terms: 6 to 24 months
LTV: 65% to 75%
Rates: 9% to 14%
Points: 1 to 4 points
Speed: 7 to 14 days

Who Is It For

  • Investors needing to close quickly on competitive acquisitions
  • Borrowers with credit issues who can't qualify for conventional financing
  • Developers needing gap financing between project phases
  • Property owners facing loan maturity with no extension options
  • Buyers in foreclosure, auction, or distressed sale situations

Common Use Cases

  • Time-sensitive property acquisitions requiring 7-14 day closings
  • Bridge financing when conventional lenders decline or move too slowly
  • Foreclosure bailout and payoff of maturing loans
  • Acquisition of properties that don't qualify for bank financing
  • Gap financing between construction phases or renovation milestones

Borrower Scenarios

  • A real estate investor closing on a 12-unit apartment building at a courthouse auction, funding a $1.4M hard money loan in 9 days because the sale required proof of funds within 72 hours and closing within two weeks.
  • A borrower with a 580 credit score acquiring a distressed retail strip center for $800K, using a hard money loan at 65% LTV because conventional lenders declined the deal based on credit history alone, despite the property's strong underlying value.
  • A developer securing $2.5M in hard money to acquire a commercial property while their conventional construction loan was still in underwriting, using the hard money as temporary acquisition financing that was paid off within 45 days when the bank loan funded.
  • A property owner facing a balloon maturity on a $1.8M commercial mortgage, using a 12-month hard money loan to pay off the maturing note and buy time to stabilize occupancy before refinancing into permanent debt at better terms.

Why CapitalAx

Private Lender Relationships Built on Volume: Hard money lenders prioritize brokers who bring them consistent deal flow. CapitalAx's volume across our 350+ lender network means our hard money sources respond faster, offer better terms, and are more willing to stretch on deals because they know we bring quality transactions.
Exit Strategy Planning from Day One: Hard money is temporary capital. Every hard money loan we place includes a clear exit strategy, whether that's a conventional refinance, sale, or permanent takeout. We don't just place the hard money, we plan the path out of it before the first dollar funds.
Asset-First Deal Packaging: We present hard money deals the way private lenders want to see them, leading with property value, comp analysis, and deal structure rather than borrower tax returns. This speeds up the approval process and helps borrowers with non-traditional profiles access capital they'd struggle to find on their own.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can a hard money loan close?

Hard money loans can close in as little as 7 days for straightforward deals with clear title and a recent appraisal. Most close within 10 to 14 days. Speed is the primary reason borrowers choose hard money over conventional financing.

What credit score do I need for a hard money loan?

Hard money lenders focus primarily on the property's value and the deal structure rather than credit scores. Borrowers with scores as low as 550 can qualify if the property has sufficient equity and the loan-to-value ratio is conservative. Some hard money lenders don't check credit at all.

Is hard money only for fix-and-flip deals?

No. While fix-and-flip is a common use case, hard money loans also serve commercial acquisitions, bridge scenarios, foreclosure bailouts, construction gap financing, and situations where conventional lenders are unavailable due to timeline or borrower constraints.