Distressed flip or fast close → hard money / fix-and-flip. Long-term rental → DSCR. Documented low-rate purchase → conventional. Spanning a gap → bridge (often hard money itself). Most investors sequence these across one deal.
The side-by-side
| Loan | Qualifies on | Term | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Money | The asset / ARV | 6–24 mo | 5–14 days | Flips, fast closes, rehab |
| Conventional | Income + DTI | 15–30 yr | 30–45 days | Documented long-term buy |
| DSCR | Property rent | 30/40 yr | 21–30 days | Rental holds |
| Fix-and-Flip | The asset / ARV | 6–18 mo | Days | Buy-renovate-sell |
| Bridge | The asset | 6–24 mo | Days | Spanning a gap |
Head-to-head matchups
Hard Money vs Conventional
Conventional is far cheaper (~6.5–7.5% vs ~10–15%) but slow and doc-heavy. Hard money buys speed and access to distressed property. The trade →
Hard Money vs DSCR
Different jobs. Hard money = short-term acquisition/rehab; DSCR = long-term rent-qualified hold. Buy with one, refi to the other.
Hard Money vs Fix-and-Flip
A fix-and-flip loan is hard money, tuned for buy-renovate-sell with bundled rehab and draws. Hard money is the broader category.
Hard Money vs Bridge
Heavy overlap — "bridge" is the purpose (span a gap), "hard money" the structure (asset-based). Often the same loan.
The decision framework
Answer top to bottom — first match is usually your loan:
Buying distressed to renovate & sell?
→ Fix-and-flip (hard money).
Need to close in days / span a gap?
→ Hard money / bridge.
Keeping it as a long-term rental?
→ DSCR (or refi into it after a hard money purchase).
Can document income, want the lowest rate, have time?
→ Conventional.
Hard money comparison FAQs
Hard money vs conventional?
Conventional is cheaper & slower; hard money buys speed and funds distressed property.
Hard money vs DSCR?
Hard money = short-term acquisition/rehab; DSCR = long-term rent-qualified hold. Buy with one, refi to the other.
Fix-and-flip = hard money?
A fix-and-flip loan is a type of hard money tuned for buy-renovate-sell with bundled rehab and draws.
Hard money vs bridge?
Bridge = purpose (span a gap); hard money = structure (asset-based). Often the same loan.
How do I decide?
Match the loan to the job and timeline — and sequence them across the deal. We'll confirm the cheapest fit.
Reviewed by the licensing team at Save Financial, a California-licensed mortgage brokerage (NMLS #377740, DRE #01875766) founded in 2009 and serving all 58 counties from offices in Newport Beach and Marina del Rey.