Hard money lending refers to a type of short-term loan secured by real estate, typically used by borrowers who may not qualify for traditional bank financing. These loans are provided by private investors or companies, and they focus more on the value of the property being used as collateral rather than the borrower’s creditworthiness. Hard money loans usually come with higher interest rates and shorter terms, often used for real estate investments, fix-and-flip projects, or other urgent financing needs.