San Francisco Hard Money Lenders

San Francisco Hard Money Lenders

California Hard Money Direct is a prominent San Francisco hard money lender specializing in financing hard money loans (also known as private money loans) to real estate investors and property owners. Our private lenders finance up to $20 million and provide various kinds of hard money loans in San Francisco and throughout California’s real estate markets.

San Francisco Hard Money Loans

California Hard Money Direct has proudly provided funding for a diverse range of San Francisco hard money loan categories. To name a few, these include construction loans, land loans, fix and flip loans, mixed-use, bridge loans, residential owner-occupied loans, business purposed 1st & 2nd’s, commercial refinance loans, distressed property loans, and retail purchase loans.

What is a Hard Money Loan?

The term “hard money loan” refers to any loan that is secured by an asset. Most of these are real estate-related; therefore, the asset is the property itself. The property is used as collateral in the event that the loan is not paid in a timely fashion. Hard money loans offer property as security and carry terms of anywhere up to 30 years. These loans are much different from traditional loans with banks that assess a multitude of financial competencies and the term for repayment may be longer.

What Other Borrowers Say About Working with
Our Hard Money Lenders in San Francisco

Vladimir Brodskiy

I have just closed 4th loan with Judy. She was able to arrange this one with the money that came from the same investor who did my 3rd loan. I refinanced my previous purchase and money was wired to the investor’s bank account. It stayed on her account for a couple days and was wired to the new escrow to fund my new purchase. Wow, Judy is so efficient! Because of her outstanding professionalism people like me can win bidding wars in very competitive markets like San Francisco and at the same time the investors’ money is working non-stop earning very good return. It is a win-win situation. Thank you, Judy for making this process so smooth. Can’t wait to do my next loan.

Sonali de Saram

In my busy world of Real Estate Investing I need financing done as quickly as possible…I need people who can be efficient, streamlined and ones that are good communicators…Judy was all of those things and took my deal to closing. Call and run all your deals by her..she won’t waste your time.

I greatly appreciate you Judy.

Cozette Csoke

Judy was amazing from day 1. I initially reached out to California Hard Money, looking for a loan to purchase an investment flip. Compared to other lenders out there, Judy was confident and knowledgeable about the California market. We ended up connecting back at a later time for a bridge loan; and her service was impeccable. The loan process was seamless, and funded almost immediately. Will definitely be contacting Judy again; and using California Hard Money Direct to fund our investment needs in future!

Hard Money for Residential & Commercial

Unfortunately, there are hard money lenders in San Francisco who are not in a position to quickly meet either the residential or commercial need of a quick closing. This can be especially true for fixer-uppers or flips. It is imperative to find the right funding source. One that closes a transaction quickly. This is exceptionally important when those in need have poor credit, a prior bankruptcy or foreclosure. Traditional institutions balk at approving loans for those with questionable credit. On the contrary, securing a San Francisco hard money loan from California Hard Money Direct will be made quick and easy.

Types of Properties Hard Money Lenders Can Help You Finance

Hard money loans in San Francisco, CA can be used to finance many different types of properties. Both private and commercial properties are financed by our team of hard money specialists. California Hard Money Direct allows the financing of a diverse group of real estate properties.  This allows investors to uncover profitable properties that were once hidden. We can help with funding of single-family homes, duplex, triplex or larger property.

Residential Hard Money Loans

At California Hard Money Direct, we are proud to offer many different residential hard money loan types in San Francisco, including residential owner-occupied business purpose 2nd, and residential non-owner occupied purchase or refi 1st or 2nd’s. A short list of residential properties our loans have helped fund include:

Hard Money Loan Terms for Residential Properties

If you are thinking about investing in any of these types of properties, we can work with you. Our SFR Rates are as low as 8.99% / 9.5% APR dependent on terms and conditions. Work with us to obtain a San Francisco residential hard money loan for up to $10,000,00, and for some loans with no prepayment penalty. 

Commercial Hard Money Loans

Considering in investing in a commercial property? We will work with you. Our SFR Rates are as low as 8.99% / 9.50% APR dependent on terms and conditions. We’ll help you get approved for a San Francisco commercial hard money loan for up to $20,000,00, and for qualified hard money loans with no prepayment penalty.

For commercial hard money loan types, we provide funding for commercial, mixed use or retail purchase or refi. Some commercial property types our loans have helped fund include:

Acquiring Hard Money Loans

Our professional team of hard money experts works rapidly to get you the funds you need to close soon. Never miss out on an investment opportunity again because you didn’t receive the fast funding that you needed. If you are looking to be approved for a San Francisco hard money loan there are two main types offered by private lenders: the purchase loan and the refinance loan.


Purchase Hard Money Loan: A hard money purchase loan, also known as a private money purchase loan, is a type of short-term asset-based lending that is commonly used by real estate investors to purchase property rapidly without having to meet the strict mortgage requirements accompanied by traditional lenders. Since the most important criteria for traditional lenders is that the borrower can pay back the loan, the mortgage application can be a slow process and accompanied by lots of paperwork and credit checks.


However, with hard money lenders, the loan is secured by collateral, which means the lender isn’t as concerned about your credit score and cash flow. It’s important to remember that hard money lenders are private as they are not regulated by the Federal Reserve like banks, and therefore all have their own unique criteria of requirements.

Why might an investor opt for a hard money purchase loan rather than a traditional mortgage? There are many different reasons, including: 


  • They have a low credit score or another discrepancy on their credit report
  • Need funding in a matter of days in order to close on a purchase
  • They are viewed as “risky” for already owning many investment properties

If you are able to provide an adequate down payment, your chances of being approved for a hard money purchase loan are very high. This is crucial; because as investors know, when there’s other competitive bids on a property, fast closing times will earn you the right to purchase the property over other buyers. 


Hard Money Refinance Loan: If you’re looking to make a real estate purchase, there is also the cash-out-refinance loan offered by hard money lenders, which is the refinancing of your existing mortgage loan for an amount that is higher than what you currently owe on your home. If you opt for a refinance hard money, the difference between the balance on your mortgage and your home’s value is disbursed to you in the form of cash. 


The first step in the application process is to calculate your loan to value (LTV). Depending on a variety of factors, loan to value can reach as high as 75%. For example, let’s say you own a property worth $300,000 with current loans totaling $150,000, then your LTV would be 50%. In this situation you will still have equity remaining to take out in the form of cash.


After your LTV has been established, we will then order an appraisal and gather a few documents. With California Hard Money Direct, the underwriting time moves quickly. Most loans can be completed in 7-10 days. If you are approved for a hard money loan in San Francisco or another part of California, you will have made a promise to pay it back in full, plus interest. If you cannot fulfill this promise, you could lose your personal assets or be taken to court. For this reason, take a preemptive step and ensure your personal guarantee on the loan.

If you are in need of fast funding but aren’t sure which hard money loan type is right for you, California Hard Money Direct will help you determine which one works best for your situation.

San Francisco Hard Money Lender FAQs

When making a decision on whether to choose to use a hard money loan or not, one must take into consideration all factors despite the protections that exist. Make sure you have a plan in place to deal with any unexpected costs that may arise when purchasing a fix and flip property, taking into account potential cost overruns.
If you are considering hard money lenders, you should keep in mind the added risks, such as higher interest rates and lower loan-to-value ratios, that come with them. As long as the hard money lender has a good track record of providing loans at reasonable prices with a set of parameters that are acceptable in terms of risk, most of them should be able to provide the loans to clients.

They certainly are. Hard money lenders in California are regulated by two governing bodies: the National Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) and the Bureau of Real Estate (BRE)

NMLS is an informational database for mortgage professionals that is based on data. It was designed to provide prospective borrowers with a quick and easy way to identify certified loan originators, like Hard Money Lenders, allowing them to identify them more easily and quickly.

Hard money lenders in California are regulated by the Bureau of Real Estate (BRE), which is part of the California Department of Business Oversight. As part of its role, the BRE ensures that all real estate brokers are properly licensed and comply with the state’s regulations.

A certified appraiser is not typically required for hard money loans for real estate, as opposed to mortgages. For a traditional loan, you will need to have your home appraised by a licensed appraiser in your state. Real estate appraisal laws vary from state to state.


The approval process may take longer if you wait for traditional appraisal services. It usually takes two weeks for the appraisal process to be completed. You may be able to obtain funding in as little as three business days if you have the appropriate collateral and meet the eligibility requirements.

Usually, hard money loans are used for the purchase of real estate and other hard assets. An investment is used as collateral by hard money lenders, who do not rely on the creditworthiness of borrowers, but rather on the merits of the investment. The purpose of hard money loans is to assist those who need to finance a project quickly and without the hassle of waiting for lengthy loan approval processes.


A variety of structuring options are available. The transaction may be a refinance, a purchase, or even a second trust deed. It is possible to obtain a loan for a period of up to five years. It is possible to amortize them in full or to pay only the interest in some cases. As a matter of course, the real property serves as collateral. Additional properties may be utilized if a property does not have sufficient equity. This process is referred to as cross-collateralization.


Hard money loans are generally shorter in duration and have higher interest rates than traditional bank loans. These types of private money loans do not require any personal guarantee. If a borrower defaults, the lender can seize the underlying asset and liquidate it to recoup its money.

As a general rule, hard money loans are paid back by selling the property, refinancing into a conventional loan or paying back the entire amount using savings or selling another property in order to cover the entire amount of the loan.

A hard money loan serves to bridge the gap between the equity in your property and the cost of your fixer-upper or land. A hard money loan is not used to provide the down payment for the purchase of a new property. In some cases, a hard money loan can be used to finance the purchase of a home under renovation, however, the loan will only cover the amount required to complete the renovation.


Taking out a loan from a hard money lender usually requires a down payment. In the lending industry, this is referred to as “skin in the game,” which means that both the borrower and the lender will lose money if the project fails

While hard money loans are not as popular as traditional mortgages, they can be refinanced. The loan-to-value ratio for refinances is typically not to exceed 65%. If you are refinancing a hard money loan and decide to sell your property, the new buyer will likely require you to deed over the loan in some form. You will be required to pay off all liens on your property as part of the loan documentation. In some cases no prepayment exists all other cases you might be offered a high interest rate for a 3 month prepayment penalty.

Why San Francisco for a Hard Money Loan?​

San Francisco is the center of the U.S. tech industry and that activity stimulates demand for investment properties. The market moves fast, making fast approval from a hard money lender often times a necessity.


With a median home value of $1.6 million, San Francisco is one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country. The unemployment rate is also decreasing and landed at an extremely low 1.8 percent. Homes in California are being sold a few days faster on average compared to previous years and recently reported in San Francisco at slightly over asking price. 


Ready to get started with California Hard Money Direct? Reach out to our experienced team of hard lenders to learn more about your hard money loan options in San Francisco.

San Francisco

California Hard Money Direct helps investors and owners secure private hard money loans throughout California

A partial list of California counties we often serve include Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange County, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Diego. Select California Hard Money Direct, the most experienced California hard money lender for your next loan as we are the best hard money loan provider in the state.

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San Francisco Hard Money Lender

Quickly Funding Hard Money Loans

California Hard Money Direct is San Francisco’s direct hard money lender. We’re available to you to answer your questions and provide you with your hard money loan fast.