Between January and June 2026, our research team evaluated 22 hard money lenders with active fix and flip programs in New Jersey. We evaluated and rank-ordered each lender across seven factors:
The table below presents the top seven performers, with in-depth reviews following.
|
# |
Company |
NJ Experience (20%) |
Max LTC (20%) |
Execution Speed & Decision Access (15%) |
Accessibility (10%) |
Full Rehab Cost Coverage (15%) |
Documentation Flexibility (10%) |
Deal Range (10%) |
Overall Score |
|
1 |
9.4 |
9.0 |
9.5 |
9.2 |
9.8 |
9.5 |
9.1 |
9.4 |
|
|
2 |
8.8 |
9.2 |
7.0 |
7.5 |
9.5 |
8.0 |
9.6 |
8.6 |
|
|
3 |
8.6 |
8.8 |
8.5 |
7.8 |
8.5 |
8.8 |
7.5 |
8.4 |
|
|
4 |
7.2 |
9.0 |
8.2 |
7.5 |
8.0 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
8.0 |
|
|
5 |
7.8 |
8.5 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
9.0 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
7.9 |
|
|
6 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.0 |
9.0 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
|
|
7 |
7.5 |
7.8 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
6.8 |
7.6 |
Founded in 2018 by Ruben Izgelov, We Lend LLC brings firsthand deal experience to its underwriting. That background shows up in the structure of the product: fix and flip loans that cover up to 90% of the purchase price and 100% of verified rehab costs, with no bank statements, no tax returns, and no prepayment penalties on the flip loan. The typical timeline from signed term sheet to funded loan runs 5 to 7 days in New Jersey, which is one of the tighter windows in this comparison. Loan amounts range from $150,000 to $15,000,000, covering the full price band of active NJ markets from Newark and Trenton up through the higher-cost Hudson County corridor. Rates run 10.75% to 12%, with origination fees between 1.5% and 2%. A minimum FICO of 600 applies, with no prior bankruptcy or foreclosure history allowed (except for foreclosure bailout bridge loans). We Lend has funded over 1,400 loans (as of 2025) across 46 states and has been cited by Forbes, Business Insider, MarketWatch, and The Real Deal.
The full rehab coverage paired with a sub-7-day close addresses the two variables that most often cause NJ investors to lose a competitive contract: inability to verify funding of renovation scope, and slow execution on time-sensitive deals. We Lend also provides proof of funds letters and will lend on auction purchases, which expands the deal pipeline available to borrowers. The equity requirements are clear: the deal needs to pencil at a maximum 70% of ARV, but within that threshold, the program is built to fund fast and close clean.
|
Summary of Online Reviews |
|
Borrowers highlight "fast closings", "responsive communication", and "straightforward terms"; a small number note that the appraisal requirement can add time on complex or atypical properties. |
Asset Based Lending (ABL) is headquartered in Jersey City, NJ, and lends across 42+ states. The firm's fix and flip program reaches up to 92.5% LTC for experienced investors, combining 90% of purchase price with 100% of rehab costs, which places it among the highest-leverage programs available in this market. Loan sizes run from $[MIN] to $[MAX], giving it the widest range in this comparison. ABL is also one of the few hard money lenders offering a verified zero-point option, which lowers upfront costs for repeat borrowers or investors who are sensitive to origination fees. Closings are advertised at 20 days minimum, which is slower than the fastest options in this table, and some reviewer accounts cite communication delays during peak volume periods.
ABL underwrites on the property, scope of work, and exit strategy. Loan terms and the draw schedule are disclosed before closing. For investors running volume in NJ or looking to hold options on larger multifamily or mixed-use rehabs, ABL's upper loan limit and LTC structure are worth evaluating against its closing timeline.
|
Summary of Online Reviews |
|
Reviewers on Trustpilot point to "responsive loan officers", "transparent terms", and a "smooth draw process"; a recurring thread in independent forums flags occasional communication gaps near closing on complex deals. |
HardMoneyMan.com LLC has operated in the private lending space for over 28 years and markets itself as a direct lender serving New Jersey and 36 states. The fix and flip program goes up to 90% LTC with 100% rehab financing, and the firm uses asset-based underwriting: decisions are made on property value and deal equity rather than borrower income or credit history. The firm advertises initial underwriting responses in as little as 30 minutes, and most loans close in 7 to 10 days. A minimum 620 FICO applies to fix and flip transactions. The firm has deployed over $3.5 billion across more than 25,000 real estate transactions and holds AAPL membership. New Jersey-specific deal experience runs deep, with named coverage in Jersey City, Hoboken, Atlantic City, and surrounding markets.
That's the program's core advantage. When a deal has strong equity and a clear exit, income verification doesn't gate the deal. That said, the 7-to-10-day close puts HardMoneyMan slightly behind the fastest options in this table, and no published loan maximum makes it worth confirming upper limits for larger NJ deals before committing to timeline expectations.
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Summary of Online Reviews |
|
Investor forums and third-party profiles note "direct communication with the decision-maker", "no junk fees", and a "no-nonsense underwriting process"; some investors mention that rates are not published upfront and require a consultation to confirm. |
New Silver is headquartered in West Hartford, CT, and operates across New Jersey with fix and flip loan interest rates ranging from 8.5% to 11%, LTC up to 90% (reaching 95% for select programs), and a minimum 650 FICO requirement. The platform returns approval decisions in minutes, which sets it apart from lenders that rely on manual review at every stage. Upfront fees run 2% to 5% of the loan amount, but the rate floor of 8.5% partially offsets that cost differential for qualifying transactions. New Silver holds a 4.8/5.0 rating on Trustpilot based on 148 verified reviews as of 2026.
The technology-first approach means the approval process is fast and consistent, but it can also be rigid for deals that don't fit the standard scorecard. Borrowers with unusual scopes of work may find the platform less accommodating than a lender with human discretion in underwriting. For straightforward single-family NJ deals, New Silver's rate band and high-LTC program are a good fit.
|
Summary of Online Reviews |
|
Reviewers highlight "instant approval decisions", "competitive rates on qualifying deals", and "a transparent online process"; a portion of reviews note that non-standard deals or unusual property types require additional back-and-forth outside the automated system. |
Rehab Financial Group (RFG) was founded in 2009 by Susan Naftulin and Jeffrey Goldberg and is based in Rosemont, PA. It has funded more than $400 million in private real estate loans across its program history. RFG's distinguishing product is a 100% financing option. For borrowers who meet the credit, income, and liquidity thresholds (typically $15,000 or 25% of the rehab budget), the program can fund the full purchase and renovation cost up to 75% of ARV. Loan amounts run from $50,000 to $2,000,000, with terms of 6 to 12 months and closings achievable in 5 to 10 business days. Same-day approval is available on qualifying submissions.
The $2 million loan cap limits RFG's relevance for mid-to-large NJ deals in higher-cost markets like Hoboken, Summit, or Montclair, where purchase prices alone can approach or exceed that ceiling. The program is structured around its 100% financing offering and built for borrowers with strong credit and verifiable income. That means RFG's market fit is narrower than lenders offering standard 80% to 90% LTC programs with lighter qualification requirements.
|
Summary of Online Reviews |
|
Borrowers frequently reference "helpful team communication", "same-day approvals", and the "100% financing option" as the program's defining value; a consistent note in third-party forum discussions is that the deal must fit a specific borrower profile to qualify for the full-finance program. |
Stratton Equities is headquartered in Montville, NJ, making it one of the few lenders in this comparison with its home office in the Garden State. The firm offers an extensive product menu including hard money, NO-DOC loans, NON-QM mortgages, DSCR, fix and flip, bridge, multifamily, commercial, and stated income programs. Fix and flip rates start at 10.49%, and hard money rates start at 9.99%. The NO-DOC product is a meaningful differentiator: borrowers who cannot or prefer not to disclose income documentation have a viable path to approval. Stratton lends in all 50 states.
The tradeoff for that documentation flexibility is loan-to-value. Stratton's hard money program caps at 75% LTV, which is lower than the 90%+ LTC options offered by the top-ranked lenders in this table. For borrowers with significant equity in the subject property or a strong down payment, the lower leverage ceiling is manageable. Investors who need to maximize their capital efficiency on each deal will feel that ceiling. Their NJ home office is a real edge for borrowers who want a local team they can actually meet.
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Summary of Online Reviews |
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Reviewers note "no upfront fees", "a wide range of loan products", and "local NJ team availability" as key positives; some investors point out that navigating the large product menu can require additional consultation to identify the right program for a given deal type. |
West Forest Capital focuses its lending footprint on New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Florida. The NJ hard money program runs at 9% to 12% interest with loan terms of 6 to 36 months and a ceiling of 85% of the purchase price. The firm markets itself around speed of execution, citing same-day approvals and fast closings. It has built NJ-specific program pages for the Jersey Shore, Lakewood, and other active submarkets.
The 85% purchase price cap is the primary structural limitation relative to the higher-ranked options in this comparison. It does not reflect a full LTC structure, and rehab financing terms are not fully disclosed on the public-facing site, which requires a direct conversation before deal-level projections can be built accurately. West Forest is worth a call when you're shopping rates across regional lenders.
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Summary of Online Reviews |
|
Borrowers note "fast response times", "familiarity with NJ submarkets", and "straightforward terms"; some investors note that loan terms and full rehab coverage details require a direct consultation to confirm, as they are not published on the public site. |
We also broke down the top lenders into three subcategories based on specialty.
For investors carrying significant renovation scopes, which lender funds 100% of verified rehab costs matters more than any single rate variable.
Not every NJ deal fits a standard template. Foreclosure bailouts, time-sensitive contract rescues, condo conversions, and deals that fell through at another lender require a different kind of execution, one built on human judgment, not automated criteria.
Not every national lender understands NJ's county-by-county price stratification, its zoning patterns, or the specific comp dynamics across markets like Irvington versus Montclair or Toms River versus Asbury Park.
Whether the lender actually knows the market, whether the deal structure covers what you need it to cover, and whether the person approving the file has the authority and judgment to move when timing matters.
Apply for your fix and flip deal today. We fund the purchase and the full rehab.