Hard Money Loan
A hard money loan is a specific type of asset-based loan financing through which a borrower receives funds secured by the value of a parcel of real estate and are typically issued by private investors or companies.
Most hard money loans are used for projects lasting from a few months to a few years. These loans are similar to bridge loans, which usually has similar criteria for lending as well as cost to the borrowers. The primary difference is that a bridge loan often refers to a commercial property or investment property that may be in transition and does not yet qualify for traditional financing, whereas hard money often refers to not only an asset-based loan with a high interest rate, but possibly a distressed financial situation, such as arrears on the existing mortgage, or where bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings are occurring.
Interested in a Hard Money Loan?
A hard money loan is a species of real estate loan collateralized against the quick-sale value of the property for which the loan is made. Most lenders fund in the first lien position, meaning that in the event of a default, they are the first creditor to receive remuneration. Occasionally, a lender will subordinate to another first lien position loan; this loan is known as a mezzanine loan, a second lien or a junior lien. Lenders structure loans based on a percentage of the quick-sale value of the subject property. This is called the loan-to-value or LTV ratio and typically hovers between 60 and 70% of the market value of the property. For the purpose of determining an LTV, the word “value” is defined as “today’s purchase price.” This is the amount a lender could reasonably expect to realize from the sale of the property in the event that the loan defaults and the property must be sold in a one- to four-month time frame. This value differs from a market value appraisal, which assumes an arms-length transaction in which neither buyer nor seller is acting under duress.
Below is an example of how a commercial real estate purchase might be structured by a hard money lender:
65% Hard money (Conforming loan) 20% Borrower equity (cash or additional collateralized real estate) 15% Seller carryback loan or other subordinated (mezzanine) loan