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Hard Money Loans — Lendia California

What Documentation Is Required for Hard Money?

One of the major advantages of hard money is its streamlined documentation requirements compared to conventional or even Non-QM financing. Here is what most California hard money lenders will ask for.

Standard Documentation

Government-issued ID: Driver’s license or passport
Entity documents (if applicable): LLC operating agreement, articles of organization, and certificate of good standing for entity borrowers
Property information: Purchase contract (for purchases), existing mortgage statement (for refinances), property tax records
Appraisal or BPO: The lender will typically order this; you provide access to the property
Insurance: Hazard insurance binder showing the lender as mortgagee

What Is Usually NOT Required

Tax returns
Pay stubs or W-2s
Bank statements (unless required by the specific lender)
Employment verification

Experience Documentation

Some hard money lenders, particularly for fix and flip loans, ask for documentation of prior real estate investment experience — a track record of completed projects can unlock better LTV or lower rates.

Entity Borrowers

Most hard money loans for investment properties are made to entities (LLCs) rather than individuals. If you plan to borrow in an LLC, have your entity documents ready and ensure the entity is in good standing in California.

Minimal Documentation RequiredNo tax returns, no pay stubs, no employment verification in most cases. The focus is on the property and the deal — not your income history.

Checklist by transaction type

Transaction	What to assemble
Purchase	Signed purchase contract, any addenda, earnest money receipt, proof of funds for the down payment and closing costs
Refinance	Current mortgage statement, property tax record, evidence of the property’s current condition and use
Renovation project	Scope of work, contractor bid, budget and a short summary of your plan
Entity borrower	Operating agreement, articles of organization, certificate of good standing and ID for each owner or guarantor

Documents that save time later

Title and ownership: a clear chain of title and, for an entity, a record of who has authority to sign
Insurance: a hazard insurance binder naming the lender as mortgagee, which for a vacant or damaged property may take extra time to arrange
Exit evidence: recent comparable sales if you plan to sell, or a target loan program if you plan to refinance
Experience summary: a one-page list of past projects with settlement statements, when the lender asks for track record

Organizing your file

Scan everything into clearly named files, such as Purchase Contract and LLC Good Standing, instead of one large combined document. Update the file whenever a document changes, such as a new insurance binder or a revised scope. Requirements differ from lender to lender, so confirm the list for your own transaction before you start collecting.

Common documentation mistakes

An entity certificate of good standing that has expired or is not from California
An insurance binder with the wrong mortgagee name or property address
A purchase contract missing signed addenda or counteroffers
Down payment funds sitting in an account that is not in the borrower’s name

Frequently asked questions

Will I need to show bank statements?

Usually not, unless the specific lender requires them. You should still be ready to show that the funds for your down payment and closing costs are available.

Do I need a business plan?

Not a formal one. A concise explanation of your purchase price, budget, timeline and exit is generally more useful than a long document.

What extra documents do foreign national borrowers provide?

Requirements differ by lender and may include passport and entity details. Tell us about your situation at the start so we can ask the right questions up front.