Hard Money Loans in Arizona | Hilton Financial Corporation

Hilton Financial Corporation has been Arizona’s hard money lender of record since 1980. Across more than 35 years and over $1 billion funded, we have closed thousands of asset-based real estate loans for Arizona investors who need fast capital that traditional banks cannot deliver. If you are a fix-and-flip investor, a buy-and-hold landlord, a builder, or a wholesaler, our hard money program is built around how you actually buy property — quickly, on your own timeline, sometimes against distressed assets.

What Are Hard Money Loans in Arizona?

A hard money loan is a short-term, asset-based real estate loan secured by the property itself rather than by the borrower’s credit history or income documentation. The loan amount is determined primarily by the property’s value, the loan-to-value ratio, and the borrower’s exit strategy. Hard money loans are funded by private lenders like Hilton Financial Corporation, not commercial banks, which is why they close in days rather than weeks.

For Arizona real estate investors, hard money is the working capital that powers the actual deal flow in the Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Scottsdale markets. Bank financing typically takes 30 to 60 days, requires full income documentation, and rejects properties that are not move-in ready. A hard money loan from Hilton Financial closes in 3 to 7 business days, requires streamlined paperwork, and funds distressed assets, value-add deals, and unique properties that bank underwriters will not touch.

The 8 Hard Money Loan Types We Offer in Arizona

1. Fix-and-flip loans — Acquisition + rehab capital for investors renovating and reselling within 6-18 months. Detailed program here.
2. Buy-and-hold rental loans — Asset-based financing for investors building rental property portfolios in Arizona.
3. Construction loans — Ground-up development capital with draw schedules tied to construction milestones. Detailed program here.
4. Bridge loans — Short-term financing covering the gap between acquisition and permanent financing. Bridge program details.
5. Private money loans — Capital-only deals where speed and flexibility outweigh any traditional bank advantages. Private money program.
6. Cross-collateral loans — Higher leverage by securing the loan against multiple Arizona properties.
7. Auction acquisition financing — Proof-of-funds letters and rapid-close capital for trustee, sheriff, and REO auction purchases.
8. Commercial and mixed-use loans — Asset-based financing on small commercial, mixed-use, and unique property types that banks decline.

Hard Money Loan Terms in Arizona

Our standard Arizona hard money program offers the following terms. Specific deal terms vary based on property type, location, exit strategy, and borrower experience.

• Loan amounts: $50,000 to $5,000,000+
• Loan-to-value (LTV): Up to 70% of as-is value (higher leverage available with cross-collateral or strong ARV underwriting)
• Term length: 6 months to 3 years (interest-only with balloon payment at maturity)
• Closing time: 3 to 7 business days from completed application; 48-72 hours on time-sensitive deals
• Property condition: No restrictions — we lend on distressed, value-add, partially-built, and unique properties
• Documentation: Streamlined; no W-2s, no tax returns, no income verification required
• Credit minimum: None — equity and exit strategy drive approval, not FICO score
• Prepayment: Flexible; no long-term lock-in penalties
• Draws: Available for rehab and construction loans on milestone-based draw schedules

Qualification Criteria: How We Underwrite Arizona Hard Money Loans

Hilton Financial underwrites the asset, not the borrower. The three things that matter for approval:

1. Property value — the as-is value of the Arizona property securing the loan, plus the after-repair value (ARV) for rehab deals.
2. Loan-to-value ratio — how much we are lending against that value. Standard maximum is 70% of as-is value.
3. Exit strategy — how the loan will be repaid: sale, refinance, or paid-off rental income.

What we do not require:

• Minimum credit score
• W-2 income or tax returns
• Employment verification
• Debt-to-income ratio analysis
• Move-in-ready property condition
• Conventional appraisal (we use our own valuation network)

This is why investors with credit issues, prior foreclosures, self-employment income, or unconventional deal structures routinely qualify with us when they cannot qualify at a bank.

The 4-Step Application Process

1. Initial inquiry — Call (602) 375-8951 or request a quote online. We discuss the property, your investment plan, and your target funding date. Most inquiries are scoped within 24 hours.
2. Property review — We evaluate the property’s as-is value, after-repair value (for rehab deals), location, and exit strategy. For straightforward deals this completes within one business day.
3. Term sheet and documentation — You receive a written term sheet outlining loan amount, interest rate, points, term length, and closing conditions. We then collect streamlined paperwork on the property, your investing entity, and the exit plan. No tax returns, no W-2s.
4. Closing — We typically fund 3 to 7 business days from completed application. Time-sensitive deals (auction redemption windows, 1031 exchange deadlines, contract closing dates) can close in 48 to 72 hours when title work is in order.

Why Arizona Investors Choose Hilton Financial Corporation

• 40+ years of operational history — funded since 1980, currently the longest-tenured hard money lender in Phoenix
• Over $1 billion funded across more than 35 years of continuous operation through every market cycle since the early 1980s
• NMLS Licensed: Jack W. Hilton, NMLS #143636 · Arizona Banking Department BK #1001945
• Direct lender — we make our own credit decisions and fund from our own capital. Not a broker chain, not a marketplace.
• Repeat-investor focus — the majority of our annual loan volume goes to investors who have closed multiple deals with us over the years; references available on request
• Flexible structures — cross-collateral, multi-property packages, draws against rehab budgets, and bridge structures all available within a single program
• Phoenix-based decision-making — principal-to-principal communication; no committee delays or corporate gatekeeping
• Member: Arizona Real Estate Investors Association (AZREIA) — active in the Phoenix-area investor community

Beyond Arizona: Where Else We Lend

While Arizona is our primary market, Hilton Financial Corporation also actively lends in Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Hawaii, and Utah. Investors with multi-state portfolios benefit from our cross-collateral and portfolio loan structures across all seven markets.

Licensing & Compliance

Hilton Financial Corporation operates under full Arizona Department of Financial Institutions oversight:

• Arizona Banking Department License: BK #1001945
• NMLS Identifier: #143636 (Jack W. Hilton, Principal)
• Member: Arizona Real Estate Investors Association (AZREIA)
• Compliant with all federal and Arizona state lending regulations

Frequently Asked Questions About Hard Money Loans in Arizona

How fast can you fund a hard money loan in Arizona?

Most loans close in 3 to 7 business days from a completed application. Time-sensitive deals such as trustee auction acquisitions or 1031 exchange deadlines can close in 48 to 72 hours when title work and property documentation are ready.

What is the maximum loan-to-value you offer?

Standard LTV is up to 70% of the property’s as-is value. Higher leverage is available with cross-collateral against additional Arizona properties or with after-repair-value (ARV) underwriting on rehab deals where the renovation plan is well-documented.

What credit score do I need for a hard money loan?

There is no minimum credit score. Approval is driven by the property’s value, the loan-to-value ratio, and your exit strategy. Investors with credit issues, prior foreclosures, bankruptcies, or non-traditional self-employment income routinely qualify with us.

What property types do you finance in Arizona?

Single-family non-owner-occupied investment properties, multi-family up to four units, small commercial buildings, mixed-use properties, vacant land with development plans, ground-up construction projects, and distressed properties requiring renovation. We do not lend on owner-occupied primary residences.

Can I use a hard money loan to buy at auction in Arizona?

Yes. We regularly fund auction acquisitions including trustee sales, sheriff sales, and REO bank auctions. We can issue proof-of-funds letters in advance, and we close within standard auction redemption windows.

What is the difference between hard money and a conventional loan?

Conventional bank loans underwrite the borrower — they require strong credit, income verification, debt-to-income analysis, and a move-in-ready property. Hard money loans underwrite the asset — what matters is the property’s value, the LTV, and the exit strategy. The trade-off is that hard money carries higher rates and shorter terms in exchange for speed, flexibility, and broader property eligibility.

Do you finance investors from outside Arizona?

Yes. Out-of-state investors purchasing Arizona property regularly use our hard money program. We also lend on properties in our six other active markets: Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Hawaii, and Utah.

How do interest-only payments and balloon structures work?

Most of our hard money loans are interest-only with a balloon payment at the end of the term. Each month you pay only the interest accrued; the full principal balance is due at maturity, typically paid off via the sale of the property, a refinance into long-term financing, or rental cash flow.

Get Started With an Arizona Hard Money Loan

Call (602) 375-8951 or request a quote online. We respond within one business day with clear next steps. If your deal is time-sensitive, mention the closing date when you contact us and we will prioritize your application.