Is a Down payments Compulsory in Hard Money Loans

A down payment is not a requirement among hard money lenders, but different scenarios may create cash gaps in the lending process that you need to learn about.

last updated Sunday, July 13, 2025
#HARD MONEY LOANS #Hard money loans

by John Burson

Is a Down payments Compulsory in Hard Money Loans

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Do all hard money lenders require a down payment?

The answer is 'NO,' but you must delve more profoundly to understand the difference between a down payment and money needed to fill a value gap.

Some hard money lenders who require a down payment will base their decision on your credit score. Different hard money lenders assess risk in varying ways. As risk takers, hard money lenders can only risk their money to you if they see a clear indication that you are likely to return their money.

When asking for a down payment, lenders lower their risk. They also put you in a position where you demonstrate your commitment to the project by taking a calculated risk, thereby creating a win-win situation for both parties. As a lender, you put more effort into making the property a success, meaning you profit from reselling the property, and the lender can earn interest on the loan.

Some hard money lenders do not require a down payment in direct lending. However, borrowers always have a financing gap because the after-repair values do not match the lenders' expectations. Often, borrowers confuse this money with a down payment.

For example, if you identify a property that you can renovate and sell for $200,000 after making repairs worth $25,000, and you offer the owner $130,000, you must find the money for both the offer and the repairs.

In such a case, you apply for a loan, and your lenders send evaluators to assess the property's value. Once your lender's underwriter gets the valuation report, they decide that the property's actual value after repairs is $190,000, which means you missed the mark by 10 percent.

The lenders will give you 70 percent of the ARV provided by their underwriters for the property and renovations (70% of $190,000 = $133,000), of which you need to invest $25,000 in the renovation, which means you only have $108,000 ($133,000-$25,000) to purchase the property. This creates a money gap you must fill. This is a difference in valuation, which is quite different from a down payment.

In such situations, you can access money to cover the gap through a 2nd position lien on the investment from gap financiers.

In other scenarios, some hard money lenders base their calculations on the purchase price, unlike the situation above, where they used the after-repair value. In cases where lenders use the purchase price, they typically offer a percentage of the purchase price, up to 80 percent, which means you must make a down payment.

Investing in real estate without capital is possible; however, you must understand the market and utilize all the available resources to make this happen.