What Credit Score Do You Need for Hard Money Financing?

Short answer: It depends on the program. Fix & Flip and Swifty50 consider credit scores as low as 500. Bridge requires a minimum of 620. Ground-Up Construction requires a minimum of 650.

Why the minimums differ by program

Credit score requirements roughly track how much execution risk a program carries. Fix & Flip and Swifty50 are secured by an existing, tangible asset from day one, which gives lenders more room on credit. Ground-Up Construction carries more execution risk — there’s no finished structure to fall back on until the build is complete — so it sets a higher credit floor.

Credit score affects more than eligibility

Above the minimum, a stronger credit score generally unlocks:

• Higher leverage (a larger percentage of cost, ARV, or completed value financed)
• Better pricing on your rate

This is true across all four programs — the minimum score gets you in the door, but the tiers above it are where the better terms live.

What if your score is marginal?

Business-purpose lenders generally look at the whole picture — credit, experience, reserves, and the deal itself — rather than a single cutoff. A marginal score paired with a strong track record and a well-documented project can still land favorable terms.

See where you stand

Run your numbers through the calculator with your estimated credit score to see what leverage and terms you’d likely qualify for.