Dearth of Hard Money Lenders?

[Jason Merchey]

I am feeling out the local market and boning up on my knowledge at present. I have a RE attorney I know and asked him if he knows any local hard money lenders. He said that they very hard to come by, and that he knows one. This is an area that within a 100 mile diameter has 1 million people. It's also an upticking market, and we're not more than about 5% off from where our prices were in 2007 at this time. 1000 sales a month on MLS. So what I'm wondering is, is this normal? Or does it mean his head is in the sand? Or perhaps investors and rehabbers are still in hiding? A Realtor I know told me that there was quite a bit of competition in the under $150k rehab category. What do ya'll make of this?

[Ann Bellamy]

Not sure if he lends in your market, but Bill Worsley is in NC, check with him.