Make Your Hard Money Lender Friendly

In This Article

Comments in last week’s Private Lending blog were made regarding the rigidity of some hard money lenders’ underwriting and approval process.  I heard that readers wanted typical hard money lenders to be more ‘user friendly’.    So, how do you make a hard money lender act more like your family friend or acquaintance, who lends you money with less restrictive structure and standards?    How do you compel a hard money lender, who you really don’t know, to make you a more borrower-friendly loan?

Present your loan to the hard money lender seeing the loan through the eye of the lender.  What would be important to you if you were the lender?  Lenders like mitigated risks with a fair return.  Mitigating factors don’t take away credit risks, but they lessen the sting of potential risk.  So how does a borrower present a loan with mitigated risks?

Let’s Count the Ways

1.  “Profits cure a lot of ills, but cash flow pays the banker’s bills.”

I have a coffee cup with this saying I received from attending one of my corporate banking extended trainings.  The quote is as relevant today as it was years ago.  One way to mitigate risk for the lender is for the borrower to have consistent and sustainable cashflow from a verified source.

2.  Collateral is the lynch pin of the hard money lender’s business model.

If a borrower offers acceptable collateral or additional collateral for security, this mitigates other percieved credit risks to the lender.

3.  Borrower experience goes a long way to mitigate credit risk to a hard money lender.

If a borrower is experienced in the field which the lender is making a loan, this produces warm and fuzzy feelings for the lender and the lender’s loan committee.  An experienced borrower will better know how to navigate the unexpected proverbial ‘bumps in the road’.

4.  Personal guarantees make a lender feel more secure and creates a more desirable lending environment for the lender.

Neither have I rarely executed a personal guarantee in my corporate banking career nor have I ever executed one in my private lending business, a personal guarantee makes it easy to get a loan approved.

5.  Cash is King.

You have heard that saying I am sure.  Having cash on hand shows a lender the borrower has the ability to create cash.  Cash is needed when business take a turn the borrower was not expecting.  It will also help making the lender’s interest payments.

The Takeaway

Hard money lenders will do business with you if you create a less risky loan through mitigated factors.

To find a hard money lender in your area, check out the BiggerPockets Hard Money Lender Directory!

Photo: CarbonNYC

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.