Borrowing from hard money lenders is a lot simpler than you might expect. If you have the collateral in the form of real estate, property, or assets, most lenders are usually ready to make a deal.
Real Estate
Let’s say you have several acres of property with a home, and you’re putting it all up against this loan. You’ll want to bring a copy of your latest appraisal to your meeting with the investor. Some hard money lenders might require a physical copy of the deed of trust to your home, as well as the property itself, if it is declared in a separate document. Occasionally for larger transactions, they might also want a copy of your original bill of sale for reference as they determine the market value of the whole property and how much they would be willing to loan against it.
Property
Perhaps you’re only looking for a smaller, short-term loan. You can back the loan with something such as a diamond necklace or a large vehicle like a boat or a luxury sedan. Similar to your real estate options, you’ll want to be sure you have a verified appraisal of the item on hand. Whether it’s an original purchase receipt or a certificate of authenticity, you’ll want to prove that your property is worth a certain amount, and that a portion of that is reasonable for the hard money lender to borrow against. Occasionally, they might even want to hold the item in custody for the duration of the loan, so be prepared for this possibility.
Assets
Your final available collateral will be assets, such as stocks, holdings, and other investments that you’ve made or collected over time, but don’t want to cash in just yet. You’ll want to bring similar appraisals to real estate and property, but keep in mind that because of the general fluctuations of the market, hard money lenders might not be as open to letting you borrow against certain types of assets. A bond, for example, is relatively stable and won’t lose much of its value in time, usually doing the opposite and appreciating in worth. But stock investments in smaller companies could be subject to the success or failure of the company itself, and unless you’ve invested with a Fortune 500 company, be prepared for a possible setback. You’ll also want to bring proof of ownership of these assets.
Using these forms of collateral will help you get the loan you need.