Private Capital & Direct Lending

Institutional private capital for experienced developers and investors who need speed, creativity, and flexibility that traditional banks cannot provide.

$5M+
Minimum Loan Amount
7-21 Days
Close Timeline
Up to 85%
Loan-to-Value
Nationwide
Coverage

What is Private Capital?

Private capital represents a sophisticated tier of commercial real estate financing that operates distinct from both traditional bank lending and what the industry historically called "hard money." At Commercial Lending Solutions, we work exclusively with institutional private lenders who provide a different caliber of capital and service.

Institutional Private Lenders

  • Balance sheet lenders with $500M+ in assets
  • Family offices and real estate focused funds
  • Professional underwriting and servicing teams
  • Competitive rates and sophisticated structures
  • Long-term lender relationships
  • Institutional loan documentation

Traditional "Hard Money"

  • Individual investors or small lending shops
  • Limited capital availability
  • Higher rates due to smaller scale
  • Less sophisticated underwriting
  • Inconsistent closing capabilities
  • Basic loan structures

Commercial Lending Solutions maintains relationships exclusively with the institutional tier of private lenders. These are sophisticated capital sources that serve experienced developers, investors, and real estate professionals who need execution certainty and competitive terms on transactions that fall outside traditional bank parameters.

When to Use Private Capital

Private capital serves as the optimal solution when traditional bank financing cannot meet the speed, complexity, or flexibility requirements of your transaction. Our borrowers are experienced professionals who understand when private capital provides strategic advantages:

Speed Requirements

When you need to close in 7-21 days rather than the 45-90 days typical for bank financing. Private lenders can move quickly on solid deals with experienced borrowers.

Transaction Complexity

Banks may decline deals involving multiple collateral properties, unusual asset types, or non-standard structures. Private lenders evaluate each deal individually and can provide creative solutions.

Bridge to Permanent

Short-term hold periods where you plan to refinance into permanent financing within 6-24 months. Private capital provides the bridge without unnecessary long-term commitments.

Rescue Capital

When existing financing is maturing and you need quick refinancing or workout solutions. Private lenders can move faster than banks on time-sensitive situations.

Foreign National Borrowers

Private lenders often have more flexible documentation requirements and can work with foreign nationals who face challenges with traditional bank lending.

Recent Credit Events

Private lenders focus primarily on the real estate collateral and can often work with borrowers who have experienced recent credit challenges that would disqualify them from bank financing.

Private Capital Programs

Our institutional private lenders offer sophisticated financing solutions across the commercial real estate spectrum. All programs feature minimum loan amounts of $5 million and are designed for experienced real estate professionals:

Fix and Flip

Acquisition and renovation financing for commercial properties. Includes both purchase price and renovation budget with draws against completed work. Ideal for value-add repositioning strategies.

Bridge/Transitional

Short-term financing to bridge between acquisition and permanent financing or to provide capital during lease-up, renovation, or stabilization periods. Flexible exit strategies.

Land & Predevelopment

Financing for land acquisition and predevelopment activities including entitlements, planning, and site preparation. Can include development financing for experienced developers.

Note Purchase/Discounted Payoff

Acquisition of existing notes at discount or financing to facilitate discounted payoff scenarios. Structured to maximize recovery in distressed situations.

Partnership Buyout

Financing for partnership disputes or planned buyout scenarios where one partner needs to acquire another's interest. Flexible structures to accommodate complex ownership arrangements.

Construction Completion

Take-out financing for stalled or distressed construction projects. Lenders evaluate completion costs and project viability to provide financing for experienced developers to complete projects.

Cash-Out/Equity Recap

Refinancing of stabilized properties to extract equity for other investments or business needs. Higher leverage than traditional banks with faster execution.

Portfolio Financing

Single loan secured by multiple properties for borrowers with diversified portfolios. Provides efficiency and potential cost savings compared to individual property financing.

Rates and Terms

Private capital pricing reflects the speed, flexibility, and specialized underwriting that institutional private lenders provide. Rates and terms are competitive within the private lending space and reflect current market conditions:

Interest Rates

9.00% - 13.00%

All-in rates including base rate plus any applicable margins. Rates vary based on loan-to-value, property type, borrower experience, and transaction complexity.

Origination

1.00 - 3.00 Points

Origination fees based on loan amount and complexity. Simple transactions on stabilized properties typically at the lower end of the range.

Loan Terms

6 - 24 Months

Short-term financing with extension options available. Terms matched to borrower's business plan and exit strategy timeline.

Loan-to-Value

Up to 75-85%

LTV based on property type and borrower strength. Land and development typically 65-70% LTV. Stabilized income properties up to 85% LTV.

Loan Structure Details

  • Payment Structure: Interest-only payments standard across most programs
  • Prepayment: Flexible prepayment terms, often with no penalty after initial period
  • Extension Options: Most loans include extension options for additional 6-12 months
  • Personal Guarantees: Typically limited guarantees focused on standard carve-outs
  • Reserves: Interest reserves and tax/insurance escrows when appropriate
  • Draw Structure: Construction and renovation loans with professional draw process

Private Capital vs. Other Financing Sources

Understanding how private capital compares to other financing options helps borrowers choose the optimal capital source for their specific transaction requirements:

Factor Private Capital Bank Financing CMBS/Conduit Life Company
Closing Timeline 7-21 days 45-90 days 60-120 days 60-90 days
Minimum Loan Size $5M+ $1M+ $10M+ $15M+
Maximum LTV 85% 75-80% 75-80% 70-75%
Loan Terms 6-24 months 5-25 years 5-10 years 10-30 years
Rate Range 9-13% 6-9% 6-8% 5.5-7.5%
Prepayment Flexibility High Moderate Limited Limited
Underwriting Flexibility High Moderate Low Low
Property Types All types Standard types Standard types Core properties

How Commercial Lending Solutions Sources Private Capital

As a leading commercial mortgage broker specializing in private capital, Commercial Lending Solutions maintains direct relationships with over 200 institutional private lenders nationwide. Our approach ensures clients receive optimal terms through a competitive process:

1

Lender Network

Direct relationships with balance sheet lenders, family offices, and real estate focused funds. We maintain ongoing communication to understand current lending parameters and appetite.

2

Deal Packaging

Professional underwriting and deal packaging that presents transactions in the format institutional lenders expect. This streamlines the approval process and improves execution probability.

3

Competitive Process

Multiple lender submission process to ensure competitive terms. We leverage lender competition to optimize rates, structure, and terms for borrowers.

4

Execution Management

Active transaction management from application through closing. We coordinate between borrowers, lenders, and closing teams to ensure on-time execution.

Types of Private Lenders in Our Network

Balance Sheet Lenders

Private companies and funds that lend their own capital. These lenders typically offer the most competitive rates and flexible terms within the private lending space.

Family Offices

High net worth families and their investment offices that allocate capital to commercial real estate debt. Often provide relationship-based lending with competitive terms.

Real Estate Focused Funds

Private equity and debt funds that specialize in commercial real estate financing. Sophisticated underwriting with ability to handle complex transactions.

Opportunity Zone Funds

Specialized lenders focused on Opportunity Zone investments and development. Unique structures to support OZ compliance and investment strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as "hard money" lending?

No. Institutional private capital represents a different tier entirely from traditional "hard money" lending. We work with sophisticated balance sheet lenders, family offices, and real estate focused funds that provide institutional-quality underwriting, competitive rates, and professional service. These are not individual investors or small lending shops, but rather established financial institutions that specialize in commercial real estate financing.

What makes a borrower qualified for private capital?

Private lenders focus on real estate experience and the strength of the collateral property. Typical borrowers are experienced developers, investors, or real estate professionals with a track record of successful transactions. While credit is considered, private lenders are generally more flexible than banks regarding credit events and focus primarily on the real estate and the borrower's experience.

How quickly can private capital close?

Most private capital transactions can close in 7-21 days with proper documentation and clear title. The speed advantage comes from streamlined underwriting, fewer committee approvals, and lenders who are accustomed to moving quickly on good deals. However, complex transactions or title issues can extend timelines.

What documentation is required?

Documentation requirements are typically lighter than bank financing but still institutional in quality. Standard requirements include personal financial statements, property financials, rent rolls (for income properties), purchase contracts, and basic borrower background information. Lenders may request additional documentation based on the specific transaction.

Can private capital be used for cash-out refinancing?

Yes, private lenders regularly provide cash-out refinancing on stabilized properties. This is common for borrowers who want to extract equity for other investments or business needs and need higher leverage or faster execution than traditional permanent financing provides.

What happens at loan maturity?

Most borrowers either refinance into permanent financing, sell the property, or request an extension from the private lender. Extensions are commonly available for additional fees. The exit strategy should be planned at origination and most private lenders want to understand the borrower's plans for loan repayment.

Are there geographic limitations?

Our private lender network provides nationwide coverage, though individual lenders may have geographic preferences or restrictions. Major metropolitan markets typically have the most lender options, while secondary and tertiary markets may have fewer but still viable options.

How does private capital pricing compare to banks?

Private capital rates are typically 3-6% higher than comparable bank financing, reflecting the speed, flexibility, and specialized underwriting provided. However, for transactions where banks cannot provide financing or cannot meet timing requirements, private capital offers access to deals that would otherwise be impossible to complete.

Ready to Explore Private Capital Solutions?

Contact Commercial Lending Solutions to discuss your private capital requirements. Our team specializes in matching experienced real estate professionals with institutional private lenders who can provide the speed, flexibility, and execution certainty your transaction demands.

Trevor Damyan
Commercial Mortgage Broker
Los Angeles, California
Specializing in Private Capital & Direct Lending