Are private & hard money lending something for individuals to do?

[David Stewart]

As I look around on BP, and listen to podcasts, I hear a lot about private lenders and hard money lenders. Some of the podcasts and books talk about how "you can be the lender." I can be, that is. But can I be? Is it something that is a doable business for an individual?

I see posts from HMLs and PLs. Most if not all I've seen have lending corporations. The directory is all companies who do loans from $50K to $10 million.

I have some money. I'd like to earn decent return on it, and like the idea of financing real estate rehabs, either as a partner (the money), private lender, or hard money lender. But is that a field now taken over by corporate entities? Is there a place for the individual lender?