Fort Lauderdale Hard Money Lenders & Private Money Loans
AFI Private Lenders provides business-purpose financing for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County real estate investors purchasing, renovating, building or refinancing investment property. Explore fix & flip, bridge, new construction, DSCR, multifamily, residential investment and commercial financing for qualifying properties throughout Fort Lauderdale and surrounding Broward County markets. AFI's Florida office is in Palm Beach Gardens, while the lending team serves qualifying South Florida investment transactions without implying a separate Fort Lauderdale office.
Hard money loans for time-sensitive Fort Lauderdale real estate deals
Fort Lauderdale and Broward County investors often use private money when the opportunity, property condition or closing timeline does not fit a conventional bank process. AFI evaluates the real estate, leverage, project plan, borrower profile and exit strategy together.
That can make private lending useful for an acquisition that needs to close quickly, a property requiring renovation before conventional financing is available, a ground-up construction project, a short-term bridge situation or a rental-property refinance.
Collateral, leverage and the investment plan can play a significant role in the credit decision.
Designed for qualifying non-owner-occupied and business-purpose real estate transactions.
Financing options for acquisition, rehab and value-add investment plans.
Short-term capital for purchases, refinances and transitional properties.
Ground-up financing structures can be built around the project budget and draw schedule.
DSCR options can focus on qualifying property cash flow for buy-and-hold investors.
Private money financing for Fort Lauderdale real estate investors
Choose the financing structure that matches the property, timeline and investment strategy. Final terms are deal-specific and subject to underwriting.
Fort Lauderdale Fix & Flip Loans
Short-term financing for investors acquiring and renovating residential investment property before resale or refinance.
- Single-family, condo, townhome and qualifying small multifamily projects
- Property value, rehab scope and exit plan considered
- AFI currently publishes loan sizes up to $5 million for fix & flip
Fort Lauderdale Bridge Loans
Private bridge financing for acquisitions, refinances and properties moving from one financing stage to another.
- Useful for time-sensitive purchases and transitional situations
- Can bridge toward sale, stabilization or permanent financing
- AFI's bridge page publishes leverage up to 70% ARV
Fort Lauderdale Construction Loans
Financing for qualifying investor-owned ground-up construction projects in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida.
- Underwriting can consider land, plans, budget, experience and exit
- Construction proceeds may be advanced through draws
- AFI currently publishes construction loan amounts up to $3 million
Fort Lauderdale DSCR Loans
Rental-property financing where qualifying property cash flow can be central to underwriting.
- Purchase or refinance of qualifying rental investments
- Useful for buy-and-hold investors and rental portfolios
- AFI currently publishes DSCR loan amounts up to $3 million
Fort Lauderdale Commercial Loans
Private financing for qualifying commercial property acquisitions, refinances and improvement strategies.
- Retail, office, warehouse, mixed-use and other qualifying assets
- Asset-focused underwriting for investor transactions
- AFI currently publishes commercial loan amounts up to $7 million
Fort Lauderdale Multifamily Loans
Private financing for investors acquiring, improving or refinancing multi-unit investment property.
- Duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and qualifying apartment properties
- Value-add acquisition and renovation strategies
- Bridge-to-sale or bridge-to-permanent strategies may be considered
When a Fort Lauderdale investor may use private money
These are examples of financing situations—not claims about specific funded AFI transactions. Replace this section with verified Fort Lauderdale funded deals as you build a stronger local case-study library.
An investor needs a shorter closing timeline than a conventional lender can provide.
An older or distressed property needs renovation before resale, stabilization or long-term refinancing.
An investor needs financing tied to a construction budget, project plan and draw schedule.
A buy-and-hold investor wants a DSCR or bridge structure based around the investment property.
Compare selected loan programs for a Fort Lauderdale investment
These figures reflect program information currently used across AFI's website and are not a commitment to lend. Pricing, leverage, fees, timelines and eligibility are subject to underwriting and change.
| Program | Published loan amount / leverage | Published pricing information | Typical investor use | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fix & Flip | Up to $5M; dedicated page states up to 65% ARV | Homepage publishes rates from 9.5% and 1–2% origination | Acquire + renovate + sell/refinance | Fix & Flip → |
| Bridge | Dedicated page states up to 70% ARV | Deal-specific | Short-term acquisition or transition | Bridge → |
| New Construction | Up to $3M | Broker page publishes approximately 10%–11.75% and 1.5–2.5% origination | Ground-up investment construction | Construction → |
| DSCR | Up to $3M | Homepage publishes rates from 6% and 0–2% origination | Rental property purchase/refinance | DSCR → |
| Commercial | Up to $7M | Homepage publishes rates from 10% and 1–3% origination | Commercial purchase, bridge, refinance or improvement | Commercial → |
| Cash-Out Refinance | Deal-specific | Deal-specific | Access equity / replace short-term debt | Cash-Out → |
Verify current terms with AFI before relying on any published figure. Final loan structure depends on property eligibility, borrower qualification, valuation, title, leverage and underwriting.
Private lending across the Fort Lauderdale real estate market
AFI serves qualifying investment properties throughout Fort Lauderdale, Broward County and surrounding South Florida communities, including nearby Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Plantation and Davie. Different submarkets can present very different property types, renovation needs, rents, insurance considerations and exit strategies, so underwriting should be tied to the specific collateral and business plan rather than the city name alone.
Investor scenarios can include condos, multifamily, mixed-use, redevelopment and transitional commercial properties near the urban core.
Established residential neighborhoods may present renovation, resale, rental and bridge-financing opportunities across single-family homes, townhomes and smaller multifamily properties.
Higher-value and waterfront properties can require added attention to valuation, flood exposure, insurance, property condition and a clearly supported exit strategy.
Investors may evaluate residential renovations, rentals, condos and other business-purpose financing scenarios in established east-side submarkets.
Nearby Broward County markets can include single-family renovations, rental properties, multifamily, mixed-use and infill investment opportunities.
AFI can evaluate qualifying transactions in Hollywood, Plantation, Davie, Deerfield Beach and other Broward County markets, subject to program and property eligibility.
What Fort Lauderdale investors should review before financing a rehab or construction project
Fort Lauderdale properties can require additional diligence around flood exposure, wind and insurance, permitting, code history, property condition and renovation scope. These issues can affect the project budget, valuation, closing conditions and exit strategy.
Review the property's current flood information and determine whether floodplain requirements or an Elevation Certificate are relevant to the transaction.
Check existing permit records and determine which proposed repairs, alterations or construction work require City of Fort Lauderdale review and approval.
Confirm that the property's condition, open items, lien position and required documentation support the proposed financing and project plan.
Insurance availability, wind exposure, flood risk, roof and building condition should be considered alongside resale, refinance or rental assumptions.
Fort Lauderdale's Development Services Department provides permitting, inspection and property-record resources for properties within the city. Properties outside Fort Lauderdale may be governed by another Broward County municipality or county jurisdiction, so investors should verify the correct authority for the specific property.
What matters when underwriting a Fort Lauderdale hard money loan?
Private lending is not simply about the city or the borrower's credit score. The strength of the collateral and the overall investment plan matter.
Current value, purchase price and projected value where relevant to the program.
Requested loan amount relative to purchase price, value, cost basis or ARV.
Renovation or construction scope, contractor information and project budget where applicable.
Relevant real estate, renovation, construction or investment background can be considered.
How the borrower plans to repay: sale, refinance, stabilization or another supported strategy.
Lien position, property condition, valuation and required documentation must support the transaction.
How to request a Fort Lauderdale private money loan
Sending a complete deal package helps AFI evaluate the property and financing request efficiently.
Send the Fort Lauderdale-area property address, requested loan amount, purchase or payoff information and intended use.
Provide the rehab scope, construction budget, rental strategy, experience and exit strategy where applicable.
AFI reviews collateral, leverage, borrower information, valuation, title and other required conditions.
Once final terms and conditions are satisfied, the qualifying transaction can proceed to closing.
Fort Lauderdale hard money loans vs. traditional bank financing
Private lending is generally selected for speed, flexibility and real-estate-focused underwriting—not because it is automatically the least expensive financing option.
Hard money / private lending
- Often short-term and secured by investment real estate
- Property value, leverage and exit strategy can carry significant weight
- Can fit rehab, bridge, construction and transitional situations
- May accommodate timelines that do not fit a conventional bank process
- Typically costs more than conventional long-term financing
Traditional bank financing
- Often suited to stabilized properties and longer-term ownership
- May require more extensive income, credit and financial documentation
- Can provide lower pricing for borrowers and properties meeting conventional guidelines
- Approval and closing timelines may not fit every investor transaction
Explore related AFI financing resources
These internal links help Fort Lauderdale and Broward County borrowers move from local-market information to the exact loan program that fits the deal.
Questions Fort Lauderdale real estate investors ask about private lending
General information for investors evaluating AFI and private-money financing.
Does AFI Private Lenders make hard money loans in Fort Lauderdale?
AFI serves qualifying business-purpose real estate investment transactions in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County and surrounding South Florida communities. Program availability and terms depend on the property and underwriting.
What types of Fort Lauderdale properties can AFI finance?
Depending on the loan program and underwriting, AFI can evaluate qualifying single-family investment homes, condos, townhomes, multifamily properties, commercial real estate, rental properties and ground-up construction projects.
Can I use a Fort Lauderdale hard money loan for a fix and flip?
Yes, qualifying fix-and-flip transactions are one of AFI's published loan programs. Underwriting can consider the acquisition, property value, renovation scope, leverage, borrower experience and exit strategy.
How much can AFI lend on a Fort Lauderdale investment property?
Maximum loan size depends on the program and deal. AFI currently publishes up to $5 million for fix-and-flip, up to $7 million for commercial, and up to $3 million for DSCR and new-construction programs on parts of its website.
Does AFI offer Fort Lauderdale bridge loans?
Yes. AFI publishes bridge financing for qualifying acquisitions, refinances and transitional investment-property situations. The appropriate structure depends on value, leverage, property type and the repayment strategy.
Can AFI finance a Fort Lauderdale rental property based on DSCR?
AFI publishes DSCR financing for qualifying rental-property purchases and refinances. Debt-service coverage and property cash flow can be central to qualification.
How quickly can a Fort Lauderdale hard money loan close?
Closing time depends on the transaction, appraisal or valuation needs, title, documentation and completion of underwriting conditions. AFI publishes qualifying closings in as little as 7–10 business days for certain programs, while other transactions may take longer.
What should I send AFI for a Fort Lauderdale loan quote?
Start with the property address, requested loan amount, purchase price or current payoff, property type, project or rehab budget where applicable, borrower experience and intended exit strategy.
Who do I contact about a Fort Lauderdale private money loan?
Email nate@actionfunding.net, call the Florida lending desk at 561-600-0433 or submit the deal through AFI's online loan application.
Have a Fort Lauderdale investment property to finance?
Send the property address, requested loan amount and investment plan so the AFI lending team can review the scenario.