Most hard money and private money lenders fund houses. Ask them about 40 acres of raw land and the phone goes quiet. We are the opposite. We lend on vacant land and nothing else, so if you searched "hard money land loan" or "private money lender for land," you are in the right place.
What is a hard money land loan?
A short term loan from a private lender, based mostly on the land's value, used to buy vacant land fast.
A hard money land loan is a private, asset based loan on raw land. The lender cares most about what the land is worth and how you plan to exit. It closes in days, charges more than a bank, and usually runs one to two years. Land investors use it to flip, subdivide, or sell on terms.
You will also hear it called a hard money raw land loan, a private land loan, a land bridge loan, or a land acquisition loan. On land, they mean the same thing. We explain the bridge side in vacant land bridge loans.
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Get a Free QuoteApply NowDo you make hard money loans on raw land?
Yes. Hard money raw land loans are the only loans we make.
Raw land means vacant land with no house on it. That is the collateral most hard money lenders turn down, and the only collateral we take. To qualify, the parcel has to be:
- Vacant land, 2 acres or more
- Reachable by a public road or a recorded easement
- Bought by an LLC or corporation for a business purpose, such as a flip, a split, or a resale on terms
- Outside CA, AZ, NV, NY, NJ, ND, SD, MT, HI, and VT
We value every parcel ourselves from sold comps and resale speed, so there is no appraisal. See how that works in land loans with no appraisal.
What are your hard money land loan terms?
$30K to $1M, 14% to 16% interest only, 20% down, no appraisal, about 7 days to close.
These are our standing terms. There are no points at closing. The 2% exit fee is paid when you pay off, not when you close, so more of your cash stays in the deal while you own the land.
| Term | Damen Capital |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $30K to $1M |
| Rate | 14% at $100K and up, 16% under $100K, interest only |
| Down payment | 20% (0% with one extra property as cross collateral) |
| Max loan to value | 65% (100% with cross collateral) |
| Term | 2 years |
| Fees | $600 closing, 2% exit fee at payoff, $25 a month servicing, no points at closing |
| Minimum interest | 5 months |
| Appraisal | None |
| Close | About 7 days |
| Property | Vacant land, 2 acre minimum, legal access |
| Borrower | Business purpose only, personal guarantee |
| Not in | CA, AZ, NV, NY, NJ, ND, SD, MT, HI, VT |
How much does a hard money land loan cost?
On a $100,000 loan held 6 months, about $9,750 total.
That is $7,000 of interest at 14%, a $2,000 exit fee, the $600 closing fee, and $150 of servicing. Under $100,000 the rate is 16%. Interest runs at least 5 months. Plug in your own loan and hold time on the land loan calculator.
Rule of thumb: if the deal only works at a bank rate, it is not a hard money deal.
Are you a hard money lender or a private money lender?
Both. On land, hard money and private money mean the same thing: a fast, asset based loan from a lender that is not a bank.
"Hard money" is the older term. "Private money lender" and "private lender" are what most lenders call themselves now. Some people use "private money" for an individual lending their own cash; we explain that difference in hard money vs private money for land. What matters is who funds the loan. We fund our own loans with no broker in the middle, so the terms you are quoted are the terms you close on.
| Damen Capital | Bank | Typical house hard money lender | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | About 7 days | 30 to 60+ days | Varies |
| Appraisal | No | Yes | Varies |
| Lends on raw land | Yes, only land | Often no | Often houses only |
| Points at closing | None | Some | 1 to 4 common |
| Rate | 14% to 16% | Lower | Varies |
What do you not fund?
Land purchases only, for business purposes only.
- No construction, entitlements, site work, or soft costs
- No commercial property and no land under 2 acres
- No personal use loans, such as land for your own home
- No double closes or transactional funding
- Not in CA, AZ, NV, NY, NJ, ND, SD, MT, HI, or VT
If your bank already said no, read why banks deny land loans. If you are buying in an LLC, read land loans for an LLC.
How do I apply?
Get a quote first, then apply. Most loans close in as little as 7 days.
- Send the parcel, the price, and your exit on the quote page.
- We send a written quote within 24 hours.
- You apply, we order title, and we close.
See real deals we funded on our case studies page. Every loan case study was a land flip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a private money lender for land?
Yes. Damen Capital is a direct private money and hard money lender for vacant land. We fund our own loans from $30K to $1M with no broker in the middle.
What is a hard money land loan?
A short term, asset based loan from a private lender used to buy vacant land fast. Damen Capital makes hard money land loans from $30K to $1M with no appraisal.
Do you make hard money loans on raw land?
Yes. Raw land is all we lend on. Hard money raw land loans run $30K to $1M on vacant parcels of 2 acres or more with legal access, for LLC and corporation borrowers on business purpose deals.
What is the interest rate on a hard money land loan?
Damen Capital charges 14% interest only on loans of $100K and up, and 16% under $100K. No points at closing; a 2% exit fee is paid at payoff.
How much down payment do I need for a hard money land loan?
20% down, up to 65% of value. With one other property as cross collateral, we can fund up to 100%.
How fast can a hard money land loan close?
About 7 days after you apply, with no appraisal.
Related Reading
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