Hard Money Lending Vs. Private Lending: What’s The Difference?

• Definition Of Hard Money Loans
• Definition Of Private Money Loans
• What Is The Difference Between Hard Money Lending And Private Lending
• Parting Thoughts

 

Whether you are a hardcore and dedicated real estate investor or starting out, you may have come across two primary means of financing portfolios- hard money loans and private loans. While both options are incredibly beneficial in their own way, it is crucial to understand that they cater best to a specific demographic. Conventional loans for purchasing properties are highly daunting and require heavy analysis of a mountain of factors.

These two loans have a fine line between them, but there are a plethora of variances that should be noticed. If you are looking for the option that suits you best, then you have come to the right place. Read more to find out which financing option suits you best.

Definition Of Hard Money Loans

As in the name, hard money loans utilize hard assets like real estate to provide credit amounts. Hard money lenders offer real estate loans to entrepreneurs and business owners at a meagre cost to eradicate financial barriers. They pre-approved loans within a day and closed the deal quickly, with complete assistance from professional appraisers and lawyers. Unlike conventional loans, their interest and principal valuation are based on loan-to-value and After Repair Value (ARV) calculations.

These loans are typically offered to private businesses and budding investors without affiliation with financial institutions. As such, their lending operations and credit standards are different.

Thanks to feasible hard money lending, a property’s after-repair value (ARV) might range from 60% to 80%. Financial institutions base their lending rates and collateral requirements depending on the degree of risk they assume by sanctioning a loan to the borrower. This is why conventional lending rates are often on the lower side compared to hard money loans. Since hard money lenders do not consider credit score and financial standing, they assume a higher risk, thereby imposing significant interest rates to offset the risk.

A reliable HML conducts elaborate processes for quality loans based on individual projects and equity, and charges flexible prices and lenient conditions tied around the borrower. They do not abide by conventional standards of lending.

Definition Of Private Money Loans

As can be understood in the name, private finance is sanctioned by privately-owned institutions whose debt analysis conditions differ among the institutions. Since loan valuations and underwriting procedures are not consistent among organizations, they are free to implement standards that are most profitable to them.

Simply put, private loans are sanctioned by private individuals and organizations who employ varied lending criteria due to their non-affiliated standing with other financial institutions. As such, private lending is much more flexible. They are not licensed to lend money and are sanctioned as asset-based loans.

What Is The Difference Between Hard Money Lending And Private Lending

Hard money and private loans differ on the following grounds:

• Loan Conditions: Hard money lenders have stricter lending criteria than private lenders. Private money lenders have more freedom, whereas hard money lenders frequently follow established rules regarding interest rates, yields, principals, and loan terms.
• Ease Of Availability: Hard money lenders are more accessible to locate than private lending institutions due to their vast range of advertisements on a broader scale. Contrarily, private lenders are less likely to market their services, making it more difficult to find one. As such, you will have to either look for them specially or learn about them through referrals and private sources.
• Licensing structures: On the grounds of authorization, hard money lenders stand to gain due to their flexible and simple licensing arrangements and are permitted to sanction loans. Private lending organizations lack this much-need authorization.

Hard money lending is beneficial for only confident investors and borrowers who seek to gain funding for their projects. These include real estate investors requiring instant funding for renovations. This is because they would need to pay finance interest only for a short duration until a down payment is reached. Hard money loans are perfect for rental properties due to the fact that the borrower is guaranteed stable funding to repay the loan at a longer stipulated time. Hard money lenders may grant a loan extension for these purposes. Lastly, hard money loans are every construction project investor’s first choice.

On the other hand, private lending can range from real estate investing to renovations. They are a great option against conventional loans as they do not consider your credit score.

Parting Thoughts

Make sure you’ve researched to evaluate financing best suits your real estate objectives before you sign the papers. The most straightforward approach to deciding which kind of lending is the most fantastic for you is considering the rewards and hazards. Bear in mind that each lender is unique and brings a host of complementary benefits to the table.