The first thing you’d need to get approved for a Hard Money loan is to have at least 25% to 40% down payment in the case of a purchase, or substantial equity in the property if you’re looking for a cash-out refinance.
The higher the down payment or property equity you have, the more likely you will be approved. We will also look at your credit score and cash reserves. We look at this to assess if you can make payments on time and pay for other costs like taxes, insurance, etc. Last but not least, we will look at the borrower’s experience in real estate.
If this is the first time that the borrower is going to finance investment real estate, he or she might face more scrutiny than a borrower with years of experience in these types of deals.