With hard money loans, the only “hard” part is making the decision to choose this loan as opposed to another financing option. Investors often prefer hard money loans as they are easy to apply for, provide quick financing, and have quite flexible loan terms.

The Best Time to Use a Hard Money Loan

How do investors make the decision to use hard money loans? When it comes to financial support in real estate, investors have a variety of factors to consider. If you’re trying to decide between hard loans and other options, you’re not alone.

The following situations are all ideal for hard money loans:

• An investor that has failed to qualify for other financing options.

  Finding financial support in the real estate industry is no easy feat. Nothing is guaranteed and oftentimes, traditional loans are the most complicated to qualify for.

  If you’re a real estate investor that is tired of being turned down for loan after loan, you would benefit from meeting with a hard money lender. With hard money loans, investors that have adequate collateral are able to qualify for a loan.

  Hard money lenders are unlike traditional lenders. They are able to provide loans to borrowers regardless of their financial status, credit, or ability to repay the loan.

• A property becomes available for a limited time.

  An investor knows that the greatest opportunities in the real estate industry must be acted on immediately. Investors that fail to take advantage of a good deal when it happens will likely not see the same kind of opportunity for years.

  To fund these types of property purchases, investors often turn to hard money lenders for the fastest funding options. Once approved, investors are able to gain access to the money sooner than they could with any other type of funding.

• An investor finds that their low credit score makes them ineligible for a bank loan.

  Bank loans certainly have their benefit, but are notoriously hard to qualify for, particularly if your credit is below average. If you have bad credit, don’t give up on getting a loan. With hard money lenders, investors with less-than-perfect credit are able to find funding.

  As most of these lenders are private institutions, they are able to grant investors funding based on collateral rather than any ability to pay their loan back. Wherever your credit may be, these lenders are concerned mostly with the kind of property and down payment you bring to the table.

• An investor wants to fix-and-flip a property quickly so they can resell it.

  The fix-and-flip trend is another reason so many investors prefer hard money loans. With these loans, investors can use their money to finance the purchase of a property before the rehab, as well as use the cash to take care of all of the remodeling costs as well.

  Depending on the hard money lender, investors wil be able to provide the ARV or after-repair value of their property and will receive a loan covering both the cost of the home and the cost of construction. Other lenders will ask investors for an estimate of the repair costs. The lenders will provide them with a construction draw and finances for the property purchase separately.

• Investors that are part of an LLC need quick cash.

  Hard money lenders in Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia typically only lend money to investors that are part of formal business structures. If you’re part of an LLC or a similar business entity, you’re exactly what a hard money lender is looking for.

The benefits of hard money loans are undeniable. Keep this guide in mind as you make your next decisions regarding financing options for your investments.