Tampa Hard Money Lenders & Private Money Loans
AFI Private Lenders provides business-purpose financing for Tampa and Hillsborough 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 Tampa, Hillsborough County and the broader Tampa Bay real estate market.
Hard money loans for time-sensitive Tampa real estate deals
Tampa and Hillsborough 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 Tampa real estate investors
Choose the financing structure that matches the property, timeline and investment strategy. Final terms are deal-specific and subject to underwriting.
Tampa 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
Tampa 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
Tampa Construction Loans
Financing for qualifying investor-owned ground-up construction projects in Tampa and Tampa Bay.
- 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
Tampa 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
Tampa 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
Tampa 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 an Tampa investor may use private money
These are examples of financing situations—not claims about specific funded AFI transactions. Replace this section with verified Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 Tampa real estate market
AFI serves qualifying investment properties throughout Tampa, Hillsborough County and surrounding Tampa Bay communities, including Brandon, Riverview, Temple Terrace, Carrollwood and Westchase. Different submarkets can present different property types and investor strategies, so underwriting should be tied to the specific collateral and business plan rather than a city name alone.
Older housing stock and infill neighborhoods can create renovation, rental and value-add opportunities where project scope and after-repair value matter.
Investor scenarios may include historic-property rehab, mixed-use, small multifamily and transitional assets that require careful diligence.
Higher-value residential investment, redevelopment, renovation and bridge situations can require flexible financing tied to the specific property and exit strategy.
Investment opportunities may include residential rentals, commercial property, bridge financing and value-add projects across established Tampa submarkets.
Growing Hillsborough County communities can support rental, fix-and-flip and qualifying new-construction strategies for real estate investors.
AFI can evaluate qualifying transactions across Tampa, Temple Terrace, New Tampa, Brandon, Riverview and other nearby markets, subject to program and property eligibility.
What Tampa investors should review before financing a rehab or construction project
Tampa-area projects can require extra diligence around flood exposure, elevation, permitting, substantial-improvement rules, insurance and older-property renovation. These items can affect project cost, valuation, closing conditions and the investor's exit strategy.
Confirm whether the property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and whether an Elevation Certificate or additional floodplain documentation may be required.
For regulated flood-area properties, major repairs or improvements can trigger additional compliance requirements when project cost reaches applicable thresholds.
Renovation and construction budgets should account for permitting, code requirements, contractor scope and jurisdiction-specific review.
Flood, wind, property condition and insurability should be evaluated alongside projected resale value, rental income or refinance assumptions.
Requirements vary by property and jurisdiction. A property within the City of Tampa or another municipality may be subject to different permitting procedures than unincorporated Hillsborough County. Borrowers should verify current rules for the exact property before relying on a project budget or timeline.
What matters when underwriting an Tampa 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 an Tampa private money loan
Sending a complete deal package helps AFI evaluate the property and financing request efficiently.
Send the Tampa-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.
Tampa 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 Tampa and Tampa Bay borrowers move from local-market information to the exact loan program that fits the deal.
Questions Tampa 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 Tampa?
AFI serves qualifying business-purpose real estate investment transactions in Tampa, Hillsborough County and surrounding Tampa Bay communities. Program availability and terms depend on the property and underwriting.
What types of Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 an Tampa 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 an Tampa investment property to finance?
Send the property address, requested loan amount and investment plan so the AFI lending team can review the scenario.