“Excellent communication and expediency”
Amazing experience with Bryce! Excellent communication and expediency throughout the entire transaction. They were able to close our emergency deal in less than 48 business hours!
Ahmad A.
Direct lending
Hard money, underwritten on the deal.
Hard money is asset-based lending: the property and the exit carry the decision, not two years of tax returns. That is what lets it move at the speed a competitive purchase requires, and why investors use it where a bank timeline would lose the deal.
- The asset leads
- Built for a deadline
- Short by design
The short answer
What is a hard money loan?
A hard money loan is short-term, asset-based financing for real estate investors. The property, the business plan and the way you exit carry the decision, with minimal paperwork, so it can close on a contract deadline. Axelrad is a direct hard-money lender: its fix and flip loans run 12 to 24 months and its bridge loans 6 to 24 months, with no prepayment penalty on either.
How Axelrad hard money works
- Underwritten on
- The property, the business plan and the exit.
- Terms
- Fix & flip 12, 18 or 24 months. Bridge 6–24 months.
- FICO
- Specialty programs go as low as 550, and some have no FICO requirement.
- Paperwork
- Application, purchase contract, rehab budget, entity information and ID.
- Prepayment penalty
- None on fix & flip or bridge loans.
- Lending area
- All 50 states.
- Who you deal with
- A direct lender, so you reach the decision-maker.
Rates, leverage and closing times are on each program's page, so they live in one place.
Hard money vs traditional financing
| Feature | Hard money (Axelrad) | Traditional loan |
|---|---|---|
| Underwritten on | The property, the plan and the exit | Income & credit |
| Paperwork | Minimal | Extensive |
| Speed | Bridge loans close in 10–14 days | 30–60+ days |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
Hard money programs
Rates, advance rates and closing times live on each program page.
- Fix & Flip LoansFix & Flip loans up to 95% LTC with 100% of renovation costs covered. Close in days, draws in as fast as 48 hours, rates from 8.9%.See terms
- Bridge LoansShort-term bridge financing up to 95% LTC with 100% rehab financing, 6–24 month terms and no prepayment penalty. Close in 10–14 days.See terms
- New Construction LoansGround-up construction financing up to 90% LTC with 100% of construction costs covered and rates from 9.99% for seasoned builders.See terms
- Down Payment Assistance / Gap TransactionalInvestor gap transactional funding covers cash to close, with repayment at or shortly after closing. Explore portfolio-backed revolving lines and Morby Method differences.See terms
- Cash Advance / Emergency FundingRequest emergency funding against clear equity in an LLC or asset, including free-and-clear houses. Focused underwriting; qualifying past deals funded in 4–6 hours.See terms
- Emergency Equity PartnershipsLeverage a strong capital partner with LP equity to strengthen your deal — short-term options for time-sensitive opportunities.See terms
- Mixed-Use LoansFinancing for mixed-use properties combining residential and commercial space, structured to fit your deal and timeline.See terms
What makes it hard money
Four things that make it hard money
The asset leads
We underwrite the property, the business plan and the way you get out of the loan. Personal income documentation is not the centre of the file.
Built for a deadline
Investor purchases run on contract dates. These programs are structured around closing on time rather than around a committee calendar.
Short by design
Hard money is a bridge to something: a sale, a refinance, a stabilised rent roll. The exit is part of the underwriting, not an afterthought.
Direct, not brokered out
We are a direct lender as well as a capital-markets partner, so on the programs we fund ourselves you are talking to the decision-maker.
Why borrowers choose Axelrad Capital
- Direct lender, no middlemen
- Available in 50 states
- Real people, real decisions
- Customized terms for your strategy
- No prepayment penalties on fix & flip and bridge
- Permission asked before any credit pull
Our Success Stories
5.0★★★★★29 reviews on Google · Read them
“Total transparency”
Truly quality people. Polite, professional, and always kept the line of communication open. Total transparency which is KEY in lending. I highly recommend. We used them for a BRIDGE loan and will use them again for our next investment property.
Nic B.
“Someone in your corner”
If you want certainty and someone in your corner who will go the extra mile to get your deal done, there’s no one better to work with than Axelrad.
Travis M.
“The easiest to work with”
My experience with Axelrad Cap and Bryce has been top notch. We’ve closed on three transactional deals together and without question, he’s the easiest to work with and operates with the most integrity.
Dan S.
“Dealmakers not dealbreakers”
I’ve used Bryce and his team for several transactions and they always provide the highest level of customer service, they know what they’re doing, and they are dealmakers not dealbreakers.
Green Root Development
“Went way above and beyond”
I was in a bind on a property; needed funds to prevent losing the contract. … Bryce explained what needed to be done in the future to ensure fewer hiccups, then went WAY above and beyond to rush everything that same day to make sure we got the deal closed.
Americo P.
“You couldn't dream of a better lending partner”
You couldn't dream of a better lending partner to work with than the team at Axelrad Capital! In an industry that often feels so cold & transactional, Bryce and his team make you feel like VIP's!
Aaron W.
“Professional, transparent, and always went above and beyond”
Their commitment to high integrity and exceptional service is truly impressive. From start to finish, they were professional, transparent, and always went above and beyond to meet my needs.
Seth A.
“Sharp, responsive”
Bryce is sharp, responsive, and understands how to structure deals efficiently and quickly.
LeadMasters Property LLC
“Creative with difficult deals”
They have a strong desire and willingness to be creative with difficult deals.
Robert
“Always ready to pick up the phone”
They have a ton of resources and a team member is always ready to pick up the phone and help move the project forward.
Brian A.
Common Questions
What people actually ask before they apply.
What is a hard money loan?
A hard money loan is short-term, asset-based financing for real estate investors. The property, the business plan and the exit carry the decision, not two years of tax returns, which is what lets it close on a contract deadline.
How is a hard money loan different from a bank loan?
A bank loan is underwritten on your income and credit, with extensive paperwork and typically 30 to 60+ days to close. Hard money is underwritten on the property and the way you get out of the loan, with minimal paperwork, and is short by design: a bridge to a sale, a refinance or a stabilised rent roll.
Is Axelrad a direct hard money lender?
Yes. Axelrad Capital is a direct creative-loan and hard-money lender that also brokers other loan products and provides business financing. On the programs we fund ourselves you are talking to the decision-maker.
What hard money programs does Axelrad offer?
Fix and flip loans, bridge loans, new construction loans, down payment assistance (gap transactional), cash advance and emergency funding, emergency equity partnerships and mixed-use loans. Each program page lists its own terms.
How long are hard money loans?
Short by design. Axelrad's fix and flip loans run 12, 18 or 24 months, interest only, and its bridge loans run 6 to 24 months. Neither carries a prepayment penalty.
How much does a hard money loan cost?
It depends on the program. Axelrad's fix and flip rates start at 8.9%, and final pricing is determined by market area, borrower experience, asset strength and loan committee risk tolerance. Fix and flip and bridge loans carry no prepayment penalty and no draw fees.
What credit score do I need for a hard money loan?
It depends on the program, because the deal carries the decision. Standard fix and flip terms list a 600 FICO. Specialty programs go as low as 550, and some have no FICO requirement. Axelrad always asks permission before pulling credit.
What do I need to apply?
A loan application, plus your purchase contract, rehab budget, entity information and ID. Axelrad can give soft terms by phone; hard terms need the full file.
Send us the deal. We'll tell you where it fits.
Bring the property, the plan and the exit. A person on our team reviews it.
Related products
Deals rarely fit one box. These are the programs investors most often compare this one against.
- Fix & Flip LoansFix & Flip loans up to 95% LTC with 100% of renovation costs covered. Close in days, draws in as fast as 48 hours, rates from 8.9%.
- Bridge LoansShort-term bridge financing up to 95% LTC with 100% rehab financing, 6–24 month terms and no prepayment penalty. Close in 10–14 days.
- Rental Loan ProgramRental property loans up to 85% LTV with terms up to 30 years and rates from 7.125% — built for stabilized rentals and portfolio growth.
- Transactional FundingA direct transactional lender funding 100% of your A–B close for same-day double closings. Points from 1%, no upfront fees, no credit check.
- EMD FundingGator loans and EMD funding the same day with no credit pull, across all asset categories — we put up the earnest money so your capital stays free.
Guides worth reading
Written for the person doing the deal, not for search engines.