How to Find a Private Money Lender
A San Diego direct lender on how to find a private money lender: the four kinds, where to look, how to check a license and what you need to borrow on a deal.
INSIGHTS & RESOURCES 15 ARTICLES
BRIDGE LOANS ARTICLES
Articles on bridge loans from the Loan Goat team.
Acquire, recapitalize or stabilize with short-term capital that closes in days, not months. See the bridge loans program page for the published terms, or browse every article.
Notice of Default on an Investment Property
A notice of default on an investment property in California starts a clock: the trustee sale timeline, reinstating vs paying off, and sizing a bailout loan.
Bridge Loan Requirements in California (2026)
Bridge loan requirements in California: a 650 credit floor, 75% or 70% leverage, the equity you bring, the exit you must prove and which properties qualify.
Hard Money Loan Requirements in California
What a California hard money lender checks: credit minimums per program, down payment, the property, the exit, experience, documents, LLCs and the 70% rule.
How Fast Can a Hard Money Loan Close?
Our standard hard money process closes in 5 to 7 days once the file is complete, as fast as 3 days on a clean file. What slows a close and how long you repay.
Hard Money Loan Rates, Points and Closing Costs in California
How hard money pricing is built from rate, points and third party fees, what moves each part up or down, and where Loan Goat's published rates start.
Hard Money vs Private Money: Is There a Difference?
Hard money vs private money: what the two words mean in practice, how the underwriting differs, what changes for the borrower, and which one your deal needs.
What Is a Hard Money Loan? (and When San Diego Investors Use One)
What a hard money loan is, who funds it, five San Diego situations where it wins, what it costs, and how Loan Goat closes one in 5-7 days. Call (619) 617-2797.
Do Hard Money Lenders Check Credit?
Yes, hard money lenders pull credit, but it rarely decides the loan. What the published score floors mean, where a file has room and what matters more.
How to Buy at a Foreclosure Auction with Hard Money
Buying at a trustee sale or online auction: how to get approved before you bid, proof of funds, the as-is risk and how the financing actually lands.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid with Hard Money Loans
The five mistakes that cost private money borrowers the most: skipping the terms, no exit, over-leverage, ignoring credit and overestimating the value.
How to Choose a Hard Money Lender
Direct lender or broker, who approves the file, what the whole cost is and what happens when a deal slips. The questions that separate lenders.
Exit Strategy: How a Hard Money Loan Ends
Every short term loan needs a way out. The sale exit, the refinance exit, how lenders test both and what to do when the original plan stops working.
Title and Escrow on a Hard Money Close
What title and escrow actually do on a private money loan, the reports and clearances involved, and the title problems that delay closings most often.
Understanding Bridge Loans: A Complete Guide for Real Estate Investors
Bridge loans are a powerful financing tool for real estate investors. How they work, when to use them, how to qualify and what Loan Goat's terms look like.