What makes a private money lender different from a bank?

Private money lenders underwrite the asset, not the borrower's W-2 income. Banks require tax returns, employment verification, debt-to-income ratios, and 30+ day timelines. Private lenders like AGS Lending Partners use the property's after-repair value, rental income, or as-is value as the primary collateral signal, which lets them close in 10–14 days on business-purpose loans.

What's the minimum credit score for an AGS loan?

660 FICO for the 100% Velocity fix and flip program. 680 FICO for Optimal (matrix-priced) bridge and rehab. 660 FICO for 30-year DSCR. The FlipCo Financial fix and flip product (offered through AGS) has no credit minimum and uses a photo-based valuation instead of an appraisal.

How fast can AGS Lending Partners close a real estate investment loan?

10–14 business days from a complete file. The fastest closes happen when the borrower has clean title commitment, hazard insurance bound, the application 1003 submitted, and entity documents (operating agreement, EIN letter, certificate of good standing) ready at intake.

Best Private Money Lender for Real Estate Investors in 2026

Q: Who is the best private money lender for real estate investors?

There is no single 'best' lender — the right one depends on the deal type. For 100% fix and flip financing in approved-area cities, AGS Lending Partners' Velocity program funds purchase plus rehab at 12.99% IO with no down payment. For long-term rental holds, AGS' 30-Year DSCR program prices to a 5-year Treasury index. For ground-up construction or cash-out bridges, the AGS Optimal program is matrix-priced at 9.25–11.25% interest-only. AGS lends in 12 states and closes most files in 10–14 business days.

Q: Is AGS Lending Partners a direct lender or a broker?

AGS Lending Partners is a direct private lender backed by its own capital partners — AGS Consumer Solutions Inc., ACI Fund 2 LLC, AGS Lending Group LLC, and Trident Realty Investments LLC. Loan decisions are made in-house, which is why our quotes are real (not indicative) and our close timelines are predictable.

Direct answer

For investors searching for the best private money lender, the right answer is the lender whose program matches the deal in front of you. There is no universal winner. Below is how AGS Lending Partners' four core programs compare to the rest of the private lending market on the dimensions investors actually price on: leverage, rate, speed to close, and credit minimums.

Match your deal to the right program

Deal type	AGS program	Leverage	Rate (IO)	Min FICO
Fix and flip, approved city	Velocity (100%)	100% LTC, 70% ARV	12.99%	660
Fix and flip, any city	Optimal	80–95% LTC, 70–75% ARV	9.25–11.25%	680
Fix and flip, no appraisal/credit	FlipCo Financial	85–90% LTC	11.99–13.49%	None
Long-term rental hold	30-Year DSCR	Up to 80% LTV	5-yr Tsy + spread	660
Cash-out bridge / refi	Optimal Bridge	Up to 75% LTV	9.99–11.99%	680

Rates and leverage are program guidelines as of May 2026 and adjust with borrower experience tier, property condition, and state. Pricing on every deal is matrix-driven, not negotiated.

Why investors choose a private lender over a bank

Asset-based underwriting. No tax returns, no W-2 income verification on business-purpose loans. The property and the deal carry the file.
10–14 day closes. Banks take 30–45 days. Private lenders can fund in two weeks because they hold the credit decision in-house.
Rehab capital baked in. AGS' Velocity and Optimal programs fund rehab on draws — banks do not finance the rehab portion of a flip.
Entity-friendly. Loans close into LLCs and corporations, which protects the investor and is rarely available on conventional financing.
Real exit options. Take rehab capital on Velocity, then refinance into our 30-Year DSCR program with the same lender — fewer broker fees, faster.

Get a real quote on your deal

Run your deal through the AGS Lending Partners side-by-side calculator. See Velocity (100%) and Optimal (matrix-priced) numbers in seconds — no email gate, no broker fees.

Open the calculator →

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best private money lender for real estate investors?

There is no single best lender — the right answer depends on the deal. For 100% fix and flip financing in an approved city, AGS Lending Partners' Velocity program is the strongest available product (100% LTC at 12.99% IO with no down payment). For lower rate and matrix-derived leverage, AGS Optimal runs 9.25–11.25%. For 30-year DSCR rental holds, AGS' DSCR program prices off the 5-year Treasury. AGS closes most files in 10–14 business days across 12 states.

How does a private money lender differ from a bank?

Private lenders underwrite the asset and the exit — banks underwrite the borrower's W-2 income. Private money loans close in 10–14 days, fund rehab on draws, and close into LLCs. Banks need tax returns, take 30–45 days, and rarely lend to investors on non-owner-occupied flips at all.

Does AGS Lending Partners broker loans or lend its own capital?

AGS is a direct lender. Capital is provided by AGS Consumer Solutions Inc., ACI Fund 2 LLC, AGS Lending Group LLC, and Trident Realty Investments LLC. Underwriting and credit decisions are made in-house, which is what allows real (not indicative) quotes and predictable close timelines.

What states does AGS Lending Partners lend in?

12 active states: Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. The Velocity (100%) program is restricted to ~95 approved-area cities; Optimal lends in any city in the 12 active states.

How do I start an application with AGS Lending Partners?

Run the deal in the side-by-side calculator to see Velocity and Optimal numbers, then click "Get your real quote" to submit a full application. A licensed loan officer responds within one business day.