Every week someone emails me the same question. "I found a lot, the bank said no, who lends on raw land?" I answer it one email at a time. This post is the list I wish I could just send them.
I run a land lending company, so I am not neutral. To keep this useful I pulled the terms from each lender's own website, quoted their numbers, and put ours in the same table. Judge us the same way you judge them.
Who are the best private lenders for vacant land in 2026?
The best private land lender is the one whose box your deal fits: loan size, state, speed, and how much they will lend against value.
There is no single best lender. A $60K rural lot in Georgia and a $5M development parcel in Texas need different lenders. Below are seven that publish real terms for vacant land. I sorted them by the deal size they serve, small to large, then by what they say about speed and how much they lend against value.
Terms as published on each lender's site, September 2026. "Not published" means the site did not state it when I checked. Call them. Terms change.
| Lender | Loan size | Rate | Max LTV | Term | Speed | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damen Capital | $30K to $1M | 14% ($100K+), 16% (under $100K) | 65% (100% with cross collateral) | 2 years, interest only | 7 day close, no appraisal | Nationwide except CA, AZ, NV, NY, NJ, ND, SD, VT |
| EquityMax | Down to $20K | Not published | Not published | Not published | "As little as 48 hours" | Not published (Florida based) |
| Capital Fund 1 | Not published | Not published | Not published | 6 to 24 months | "As little as 48 hours" | AZ, CO, TX, GA, TN, NC, FL, SC |
| vFindLoans | $50K to $2M | 10.99% to 12.99% | 50% on land | 6 to 36 months | 7 to 10 days | California only |
| First National Bank of America | $100K to $1.2M | Not published | 65% | Not published | Not published | All 50 states |
| Alpha Funding Corp | $2M to $15M+ | 12% to 14% | 60% | 6 to 24 months | 2 weeks | AZ, FL, NV, UT, TX |
| Private Capital Investors | $3M to $50M | "As low as 7%" | 70% | 30 year amortization | 2 weeks | Nationwide, 680 minimum credit |
Two things jump out. Most of the list will not touch a loan under $100K. And most of the list does not publish a rate, which tells you the rate depends on how the call goes. If your deal is under $100K, your real list is two or three lenders long.
Need a land loan?
$30K to $1M, 20% down, no appraisal, close in 7 days. Written quote in 24 hours.
Get a Free QuoteApply for a Land LoanWhat does a private vacant land loan cost in 2026?
Expect 10% to 16% interest, 2 to 4 points, and a lender that stops at 50% to 65% of value on raw land.
Hard Money Scout's 2026 survey of 468 lenders puts the national average hard money rate at 10.35% with 2 points, and notes that raw land "typically caps at 65 to 75% LTV." Land trades above that average because it makes no income and takes longer to sell. In my experience, a lender quoting under 10% on raw land wants a big loan, strong credit, or both.
Source: Hard Money Scout, 2026 Hard Money Lending Rates by State.
What each cost line means:
- Rate. Interest only on most land loans. 14% on $100K is $1,167 a month.
- Points or exit fee. 2 to 4% of the loan, paid at closing or at payoff. Ask which. Ours is a 2% exit fee, no points at closing.
- Closing costs. Doc prep, title, recording. Ask for a flat number. Ours is $600.
- Minimum interest. Many lenders want 3 to 6 months of interest even if you pay off early. Ours is 5 months.
- Appraisal. $400 to $1,500 and 2 to 3 weeks when required. Some lenders, including us, skip it.
The cheapest rate is not the cheapest loan. A 12% loan with 4 points and a 6 month minimum costs more on a 90 day flip than a 16% loan with 2 points. Run the numbers on our loan cost calculator before you compare rates.
How do I pick a private land lender?
Match the lender to your loan size and state first, then compare speed, then compare price.
Most people compare rate first and waste a week. Do it in this order:
- Loan size. Under $100K cuts the list to two or three lenders. Over $2M cuts it to a different two or three.
- State. Several lenders above work in five states or fewer. Check before you call.
- Speed and paperwork. If you have a contract with a 10 day close, an appraisal requirement kills the deal.
- LTV and down payment. 50% LTV means you bring half. 65% means a third. Cross collateral can take that to zero.
- Price. Rate, points, minimum interest, closing costs. Get all four in writing.
In my experience a lender that answers a term sheet request in a day will close in a week. One that takes a week to quote will take a month to close.
Why do banks say no to vacant land?
Banks avoid raw land because it produces no income and is hard to resell, so their rules push them to require 30 to 50% down and a plan to build.
Ask a bank for a land loan and you get one of three answers: no, 50% down, or "do you have construction plans?" That is not the loan officer being difficult. Land does not fit their box. It does not cash flow, it does not have comps like houses do, and if you default they own a field.
Private lenders fill that gap because we underwrite the land itself. We look at what it would sell for, how fast, and how much room is in the deal. A 680 credit score matters less than a 40% discount to market. I wrote more on this in private land lender vs bank.
What should I have ready before I call a private lender?
A purchase contract, your exit plan, and three recent sales of similar land.
That is it. Every lender on this list will ask for some version of these. Have them in one email:
- Address, parcel number, acreage, and the contract price
- Your plan: flip, hold, subdivide, build, or seller finance it
- Three sold comps within 12 months, or a broker opinion
- Road access and utilities, yes or no
- Any wetlands, flood zone, or easement you know about
If you send that, a good lender can quote you the same day. If you send "I found some land, what can you do," you go to the bottom of the pile. Our full list is in land loan requirements.
Have a land deal under contract?
Get a Free Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum loan for a private vacant land loan?
It depends on the lender. Damen Capital and EquityMax publish minimums at or below $30K. First National Bank of America starts at $100K. Alpha Funding starts at $2M.
Can I get 100% financing on vacant land?
Only with extra collateral. Damen Capital will lend 100% of the purchase price when you pledge one other property you own free and clear. Otherwise plan on 20% to 50% down depending on the lender.
How fast can a private land loan close?
Lenders on this list publish 48 hours to 2 weeks. Damen Capital closes in 7 days with no appraisal. Anything under a week needs clean title and a responsive title company.
Do private land lenders check credit?
Most pull credit but few have a minimum score. Private Capital Investors publishes a 680 minimum. EquityMax and vFindLoans say no minimum. Damen Capital looks at the deal first.
Are private land loans available in every state?
No. Several lenders on this list serve five states or fewer. Damen Capital lends nationwide except CA, AZ, NV, NY, NJ, ND, SD, and VT.