A hard money loan is a specific kind of mortgage that individuals or firms take to obtain funds in a short period of time. Tangible properties are typically used as collateral for these loans. Many real estate investors prefer this kind of mortgage over traditional ones. It is a quick solution to funding needs.
Continue reading to understand the concept of hard money loans in depth.
How Does Hard Money Loan Work
Traditional lenders like banks don’t provide hard money loans; instead, they are offered by private money lenders. Unlike traditional loans, the borrower’s creditworthiness is not taken into account. The loan is provided to the investors considering the condition of the property. Therefore, people who have poor credit scores but possess property can be eligible for them.
However, the possibility of loan denial can happen if the lender deems the property to have a low value compared to the valuation made by the borrower.
How Are They Structured
Harmful money practices may differ greatly because private money lenders are not subjected to federal reserve regulations like banks. Aspects such as terms, rates, and fees rely entirely on the preferences of lenders and whether or not they’re ready to take part in the investment.
Terms Of Hard Money Loans
The duration of hard money can vary from months to a few years. In certain cases, they might have a balloon payment, which implies that the entire loan will be due to the lender at the end of the term. In situations where the borrower is unable to pay the loan, they might either need to refinance it or pay the penalties.
Hard Money Loan Amounts
The lenders use the loan-to-value ratio (LTV) to determine how much money can be offered to the borrower. The total loan amount divided by the value of the asset used as the collateral gives the LTV metric. Investors and lenders give huge importance to this ratio as it enables them to express the loan’s strength numerically. Usually, up to 75% of the collateral’s value can be given as a loan.
Hard Money Loan Points
Points are the origination fee that the lender levies to pay for loan initiation as well as all the mortgage-related costs and fees. These points are determined on a percentage basis. One point, for example, is equal to one percent of the total loan amount. They can vary from 2 to 10% based on the lender and the circumstances of the borrower.
Down Payment
The majority of hard money lenders demand that borrowers put some of their own money into the property in the form of a down payment, similar to traditional mortgages. Although down payments may differ in various cases, they could be around 10% of the property’s appraised value. The loan-to-value ratio of the property is used to determine how much the borrower should pay as a down payment.
If you have any questions regarding hard money loans or need to take one out, Hard Money Georgia is here to help you. Contact us today to get started.