Hard Money Lending - When to Use It (And When to Avoid It) in 2023
Hard money lending can be great in a pinch. If you don’t have time to wait for a traditional loan to go through, then hard money lending could be an excellent option. With hard money lending, you’ll be required to use a real estate property as collateral, making them a bit of a risk. If you’ve got a piece of property that you’re willing to put up as collateral, however, getting a hard money loan could be an easy way to fund any upcoming investment opportunities.
If you have a lower credit score or other things preventing you from securing a traditional loan, then you’ll probably want to consider hard money lending options. Hard money lending might be your only option, in some cases. It is, however, important to do plenty of research on hard money loans as well as the lender you plan on working with.
Of course, before we dive into the realities of hard money lending, click the link below to book a free strategy call to oversee all of your financing options today.
How is hard money lending different from traditional loans?
There are several differences between hard money loans and traditional loans. Those with good credit and plenty of time often prefer to apply for a traditional loan. Traditional loans are long-term and usually require a monthly payment. Traditional loan lenders assure that a borrower can repay loans by looking at their credit score, debt-to-income ratio and borrowing history. The interest rates on traditional loans can be quite low depending on the lender you work with.
Hard money lenders, on the other hand, use a real estate property owned by the borrower as collateral. This means that if the borrower can’t pay back their loan on time, then the lender will take possession of the collateral. Hard money loans are short-term and take much less time to approve than traditional loans. In fact, hard money loans usually take under a week to approve.
The benefits of using hard money lending options
Real estate investors choose to use hard money loans for plenty of reasons. If you’re short on time, then there are few better options than a hard money loan. For example, if there’s a great property available at a low cost that you plan on reselling, then it’s probably best to buy as soon as possible. You don’t want to risk someone else getting the property, so waiting for a traditional loan to go through might not be an option.
Hard money loans are also considered quite convenient. The process of obtaining a hard money loan doesn’t take long and you can get funding as soon as possible. This allows you to purchase a piece of property and start fixing it up for resell in a short amount of time. Thanks to this short process, you can start making income from your property soon after finding it.
Hard money loan lenders will often work with you when it comes to forms of collateral. If you’re uncomfortable with using a real estate property that you own, then your lender might accept a retirement fund as collateral instead. These lenders are also usually flexible when it comes to your repayment schedule. Be sure to discuss all these things with your lender before applying for a loan.
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When to avoid a hard money loan
There are plenty of things you need to consider before taking out a hard money loan. Hard money loans might seem like a great idea if you’ve fallen in love with an investment opportunity, but there are several risks. For one, hard money loans come with much higher interest rates than traditional loans. Interest rates on hard money loans can go up to around 18 percent while traditional loans usually have an interest rate of around two to three percent. While hard money loans are usually paid off quite quickly, these high interest rates could still cut into your budget.
With their short repayment period, hard money loans can be difficult to pay off in the right amount of time. If your real estate investment doesn’t make money as quickly as planned, then you might find yourself dipping into your savings in order to pay off your hard money loan. Even worse, you may end up not able to pay off your hard money loan, and lose your collateral. Be sure to plan out exactly how you’ll pay off your hard money loan before applying.
Many people see these risks as reasons to not bother with hard money loans. That said, hard money loans are the only option for a lot of people. It’s important to weigh all the pros and cons before making a final decision.
How to find hard money lenders
Hard money loans usually come from private lenders. They can be found in a number of different ways. You could speak with other real estate investors in your area about the lenders they’ve worked with. While these recommendations should always be taken with a grain of salt, they can help you quickly find a good lender. You could also do a quick internet search for hard money lenders in your area, which might also show their reviews and ratings. Reviews and ratings can also help you make the right decision!
Finding a reputable real estate agent to work with could help you in many ways. The right real estate professional could even help you find the perfect lender for your needs.
When in doubt, call our friends at LendCity Mortgages at 519-960-0370. They have access to multiple hard money and private lenders for investors.
Is hard money lending worth it?
If you’re sure that an investment is going to be successful, then getting a hard money loan could be worth the risk. The thing is, no investment is a guaranteed success. If you make an impulse decision to apply for a hard money loan and end up unable to pay it back, you could find yourself down a piece of property. The collateral needed for hard money loans is always something quite expensive, so you’ll be risking a lot of money. The decision, however, is ultimately yours. If you have a strong belief in your investment, then taking a chance with a hard money loan could result in high profits.
Before you commit to relying on hard money lending, click the link below for a free strategy call with our team at LendCity and let us weigh all of your options so that you know you are getting the best funds for your next investment.