Hard Money Lenders in Florida for Real Estate Investors
We connect Florida real estate investors with hard money lenders in our network for fix and flip, bridge loans and DSCR rental financing. Asset-based financing that closes in days, not months. Serving Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale.
Loan Parameters
Florida hard money at a glance
Programs vary by capital source. Final terms disclosed at offer.
What is a hard money loan in Florida?
A hard money loan is a short-term, asset-based loan secured by real property. Hard money lenders in Florida underwrite the deal on the value of the collateral rather than the borrower's income, employment history, or tax returns. The loan is sized based on the property's current value or projected after-repair value (ARV), with typical loan-to-value ratios ranging from 65 to 85 percent depending on the program and the quality of the deal.
For Florida real estate investors, hard money lending fills a gap that conventional banks cannot serve. Banks require full income documentation, lengthy underwriting timelines, and rarely finance distressed investment properties that need significant renovation. Hard money lenders in our network operate with a different underwriting model: if the numbers work on the property, the loan moves forward. An investor with a strong deal in Miami or Tampa can receive a term sheet in 24 to 48 hours and close in 7 to 14 business days.
Florida hard money loans are business-purpose financing tools for real estate investors. They are not consumer mortgages and are not intended for owner-occupied primary residences. The most common use cases are fix and flip acquisitions, bridge loans between properties, and ground-up construction projects in high-growth Florida corridors. Investors also use hard money as bridge-to-DSCR financing: purchase and renovate with a hard money loan, lease the property at market rents, then refinance into a 30-year DSCR rental mortgage.
Buckle Up Capital is a broker, not a lender. We connect Florida real estate investors with private money and hard money lenders in our network who compete to fund your deal. This gives you access to multiple loan programs, competitive pricing, and faster placement than approaching a single private lender on your own.
How hard money lending works in Florida
Submit the property address, your purchase price or current value, estimated renovation budget, and your exit strategy. Takes about five minutes.
We evaluate the deal on asset value, not your income. Our funding sources review the numbers and return a term sheet within 24 to 48 hours in most cases.
Accept the term sheet and move into underwriting. We coordinate with the private money source and handle condition clearing so you are not chasing emails.
Close in 7 to 14 business days. Funds wire to the title company. You own the property and can start the rehab or rental strategy.
Hard money underwriting is fundamentally different from conventional bank underwriting. A bank loan officer calculates your personal debt-to-income ratio and measures every dollar of outstanding debt against your verifiable income. A hard money lender in our network looks at the deal: what is the property worth today, what will it be worth after renovation, and does the borrower have a credible plan to sell or refinance? Personal income is not a factor.
This approach makes Florida hard money loans accessible to real estate investors who are self-employed, retired, or carry complex income structures that reduce their taxable income. As long as the collateral supports the loan amount and the exit strategy is sound, the loan can move forward. Speed and asset value are what matter in hard money lending, not a W-2.
Florida hard money loan programs
Fix and Flip Loans
The most common hard money loan program for Florida real estate investors. We connect you with private money sources in our network that finance the acquisition and rehabilitation of distressed residential properties. Funds cover purchase price and construction draws released as work is completed across all major Florida markets including Miami, Tampa and Orlando.
Bridge Loans
Short-term bridge financing for real estate investors who need to move fast on a Florida property before permanent financing is in place. Bridge loans close in days, not weeks, giving investors the speed advantage needed in competitive Miami and Tampa markets where off-market deals move quickly.
DSCR Rental Loans
Long-term rental financing for Florida real estate investors building a portfolio of single-family and small multifamily properties. DSCR loans qualify on the rental income of the property, not your personal income. No W-2, no tax returns, no debt-to-income calculation required.
New Construction Loans
Hard money construction loans for Florida investors building new residential or light commercial properties. Draws are released on an inspection schedule. Our network of private money sources funds projects from lot acquisition through certificate of occupancy across Florida growth corridors including the Tampa Bay area and South Florida coastal markets.
Explore all loan programs on our hard money loans page or use the hard money loan calculator to run your deal numbers before applying.
Florida markets we serve
Miami
Miami is one of the most active hard money lending markets in the country. International buyer demand, limited housing supply and strong short-term rental yields attract real estate investors from across the globe. Hard money lenders in our network regularly fund Miami acquisition and renovation projects across Wynwood, Little Havana, Liberty City and the suburban corridors of Miami-Dade County. High transaction volume and consistent investor demand keep deal flow active year-round.
Tampa
Tampa has emerged as a top-tier Florida real estate investment market, driven by corporate relocations, population growth and affordability relative to South Florida. Real estate investors use hard money loans in Tampa to acquire distressed single-family homes and small multifamily properties in neighborhoods like Seminole Heights, Ybor City and the fast-moving suburbs of Hillsborough County. Our network funds Tampa deals with the same asset-based underwriting and speed that competitive markets demand.
Orlando
Orlando supports a large pool of real estate investors drawn by strong short-term rental demand from the tourism economy and steady long-term population growth. Florida hard money loans in Orlando finance fix and flip projects in older residential corridors and bridge financing on investment properties ahead of DSCR refinances. Our network funds Orlando investment properties from single-family renovations to small multifamily acquisitions across Orange and Osceola counties.
Jacksonville
Jacksonville offers some of the best price-to-rent ratios in Florida. A growing financial and logistics employment base, low cost of living and an active military presence support stable rental demand. Real estate investors in Jacksonville use Florida hard money loans to acquire and renovate older single-family properties before placing them on long-term DSCR financing. Our network funds Jacksonville deals with the same asset-based underwriting as major Florida metros.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale sits in the heart of Broward County and attracts Florida real estate investors looking for lower entry points than Miami with similar appreciation fundamentals. Hard money lenders in our network fund Fort Lauderdale investment properties including waterfront renovations, small multifamily acquisitions and suburban fix and flip projects. The Broward market supports both short-term and long-term rental exit strategies for investors on bridge financing.
Naples and Secondary Markets
Naples and Florida's Gulf Coast secondary markets offer strong appreciation potential anchored by affluent retiree demand and limited new inventory. Buckle Up Capital connects investors in Naples, Sarasota, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and other Florida markets with hard money lending sources who understand local valuations and can price investment properties in FL competitively.
Hard money loan rates and terms in Florida
Interest rates on hard money loans in Florida typically range from 9.99% to 13% per year depending on the borrower profile, the property type, the loan-to-value ratio, and which capital source in our network funds the deal. These interest rates are higher than conventional mortgage rates because hard money is short-term bridge financing, not long-term permanent capital.
Points are origination fees charged as a percentage of the loan amount at closing. Most hard money lenders in our network charge 1.5 to 3 points. A borrower taking a $300,000 Florida hard money loan at 2 points would pay $6,000 in origination at closing. Florida real estate investors factor this cost into the deal's renovation budget and projected profit margin, not compared to a 30-year mortgage.
Hard money loan terms in Florida are short, typically 6 to 24 months. This matches the intended use: an investor buys, renovates, and sells or refinances within that window. Some programs offer 12-month terms with a 6-month extension option for projects that take longer than expected. The loan is not meant to be held to maturity; it is a bridge to the next stage of the investment.
Explore your numbers before you apply using our hard money loan calculator. You can also review our bridge loan programs for investors who need short-term capital between acquisitions.
Rate Factors
What moves your rate
Rates are indicative and subject to market conditions. Final rate disclosed at term sheet.
How to qualify for a hard money loan in Florida
Hard money loan requirements in Florida are straightforward compared to conventional bank financing. Because hard money lenders underwrite the asset rather than the borrower, many of the income and employment requirements that block investors at traditional banks simply do not apply.
The most important requirement is a property with sufficient value to support the loan amount. Hard money lenders in our network typically lend up to 85% of purchase price or 70% of after-repair value, whichever is lower. This protects the capital source and ensures the borrower has genuine equity at stake. A 600 credit score minimum applies on most programs, though deal quality matters far more than the score itself.
First-time real estate investors are accepted on select programs. Experienced investors with a track record of completed projects in FL qualify for better pricing and higher loan amounts. We match your borrower profile to the right capital source in our network for the most competitive Florida hard money loan terms your deal can support.
View our complete fix and flip loan programs to see how Florida real estate investors structure renovation deals from acquisition through exit.
Credit Score
600 minimum. Stronger files above 640 and 680.
Down Payment
15 to 25% of purchase price depending on program.
ARV Underwrite
Loan sized to 65 to 70% of after-repair value.
Loan Amount
$100,000 to $5,000,000 per project.
Experience
First-time investors accepted on select programs.
Reserves
3 to 6 months of payments preferred after closing.
Income Verification
None required. Asset-based underwriting only.
Property Types
SFR, 2-4 unit, multifamily, light commercial.
Bridge to long-term financing with DSCR rental loans
A bridge loan is a short-term hard money loan that bridges the gap between buying a property and placing permanent financing. Florida real estate investors use bridge loans when they need to move faster than a conventional lender can process, when the investment property does not qualify for conventional financing in its current condition, or when they are waiting on a refinance to clear on another asset before completing a new purchase.
The bridge-to-DSCR strategy is one of the most powerful financing tools available to Florida rental property investors. The investor identifies a distressed or under-rented single-family or small multifamily property, finances the purchase and renovation with a hard money bridge loan from our network, completes the renovation, and leases the property at market rents. Once the property is stabilized and generating rental income, the investor refinances into a 30-year DSCR rental mortgage.
The DSCR refinance pays off the bridge loan balance, converts the short-term hard money debt into long-term permanent financing, and often unlocks equity the investor built through the renovation. The investor now holds a stabilized Florida rental property on a 30-year fixed mortgage with no personal income documentation required. The hard money capital that started the deal is freed up for the next acquisition.
Buckle Up Capital handles both legs of the bridge-to-DSCR transaction. We place the hard money bridge loan through private money sources in our network, then coordinate the DSCR refinance exit when the property is stabilized and leased. Working with one brokerage on both phases reduces friction and eliminates the need to re-explain your deal to a new lender at the refinance stage. Learn more on our DSCR rental loans page.
What you'll need
Hard money loans have a shorter document list than conventional mortgages. No tax returns, no W-2s, no debt-to-income calculation. Have these ready and the process moves significantly faster.
Completed loan application (we send the form)
Purchase contract or property address and current value estimate
Scope of work and renovation budget (contractor bids preferred)
Entity documents if purchasing in an LLC or corporation
Two months bank statements to verify liquidity
Photo ID
Exit strategy letter or comparable DSCR rental analysis
Property insurance binder at closing
Florida hard money loan questions
All loans facilitated by Buckle Up Capital are for business and commercial purpose only. Buckle Up Capital is a broker, not a lender. Loans are placed with lenders in our network. Rates and terms vary by capital source and are not a commitment to lend.
Ready to fund your next Florida investment property?
Submit your deal and we will run it through our network of hard money lenders in Florida. No credit pull. No commitment. Term sheet in 24 to 48 hours.
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