Our Mission
Best Hard Money Lenders researches, ranks, and reviews hard money lenders serving Houston real estate investors. The site compares lenders on concrete deal terms such as typical interest rates, points, LTV/LTC ranges, minimum and maximum loan sizes, rehab holdbacks, draw schedules, and speed to close. It also checks eligibility rules that change outcomes in practice, including borrower experience requirements, property types (SFR, 2-4 units, multifamily, mixed-use), and whether lending is available in Harris County and nearby markets. Reviews factor in costs that often show up late in the process, like origination, underwriting, processing, extension fees, and prepayment penalties, along with how transparent each lender is about them. Rankings are updated quarterly to reflect term-sheet changes, rate moves, and shifts in funding capacity. The value to readers is a shortlist built from side-by-side criteria, so borrowers can match a lender to a specific purchase, refi, or fix-and-flip timeline instead of relying on ads or anecdotes. Trade-offs are spelled out: a faster close can cost more points, higher leverage can mean stricter reserves, and lower rates may come with tighter draw controls. Readers can review the current Houston rankings and methodology to see exactly how lenders were scored and why they placed where they did.
Unbiased
We maintain strict editorial independence. No provider can pay to influence their ranking.
Tested
Every provider is mystery shopped to verify their customer service claims.
Verified
We check licenses, insurance, and legal standing so you don't have to.
The Ranking Factors
Verified Reviews
Credentials Check
Mystery Shopping
Pricing Transparency
Eligibility Criteria
Local Reach
Operate nationally or internationally
Experience
A minimum of five years experience in lending
Impact
A minimum of 100 successful loans in the previous year