Do I need a purchase contract before applying?

For an acquisition, a purchase contract is one of the most helpful documents, since it sets the price and terms. Requirements depend on the financing request, and Cedar Top may request it as part of the review.

Do I need a scope of work for a fix and flip project?

For a fix-and-flip project, a written scope of work and budget typically help the review, because the project plan is a significant factor. What is needed depends on the property and the project.

What documents are needed for a new construction project?

For a new construction project, Cedar Top may review plans, a budget, and the project plan, subject to underwriting. Exact items depend on the project and the financing request.

Does Cedar Top review credit documents?

Hard money is asset-focused, but Cedar Top may still review credit and other borrower information, subject to underwriting. Credit is one factor, not the only one, and it is not ignored.

Do I need entity documents?

Depending on the financing request, Cedar Top may request entity documents and signing authority. What is needed varies by the borrower and the transaction structure.

What property information should I prepare?

Property address, property type, current condition, photos, access information, occupancy status, current and intended use, and value support such as comparable sales where available.

What documents help support exit strategy?

A sale or refinance plan, comparable sales, payoff information if refinancing, or a development plan for land, depending on the financing request. A clear exit makes a request easier to review.

Can missing documents slow down review?

Yes. Missing, unclear, or inaccurate documents can slow a review or lead to more questions. They do not always stop a request, but a complete and accurate file helps.

Should I send sensitive personal information by email?

No. Share sensitive information only through Cedar Top's proper process when it is requested, not in casual messages or texts.

Where does Cedar Top review investment property requests?

Cedar Top focuses on Texas investment real estate, including the Metroplex and many smaller and rural markets. See the service areas page for where we lend.

Hard Money Loan Documents Checklist in Texas

Q: What documents do I need for a hard money loan in Texas?

It depends on the property, project, and financing request. Cedar Top may request property information, purchase documents, borrower and entity information, renovation or construction details, title and insurance items, and exit strategy support. Not every item is required on every request.

Getting ready to submit a Texas investment property for a hard money loan or private lending request? This checklist walks through the information Cedar Top may request when reviewing a financing request. It is a preparation guide, not an application form and not a list of fixed requirements. Exact documentation depends on the property, the project, and the financing request, and everything is subject to underwriting, collateral review, title review, documentation, and approval. New to private lending? Start with what hard money lending is and the hard money loan requirements in Texas.

Quick answer

A hard money loan document checklist may include property information, purchase documents, borrower and entity information, renovation or construction details, title and insurance items, and exit strategy support. Exact documentation depends on the property, project, and financing request.

Why Documents Matter

Good documentation helps Cedar Top review the property, project plan, borrower profile, and exit strategy. A complete, accurate file keeps the review moving, while gaps can slow it down or lead to more questions. Preparing documents does not guarantee approval or a faster closing, and every financing request is subject to underwriting, collateral review, title review, documentation, and approval. Cedar Top reviews the property, project plan, borrower profile, and exit strategy before determining whether a financing request fits.

Document Checklist by Category

Use this as an at-a-glance overview. The sections below go deeper. Not every item applies to every financing request.

Document category	Examples	Why Cedar Top may review it	When it may apply
Property information	Address, type, condition, photos, access, use	The property carries the loan	Every request
Purchase documents	Purchase contract, amendments, closing date	Sets the price and terms of an acquisition	Purchases
Borrower information	Identification, experience summary, liquidity if requested	The borrower is reviewed alongside the property	Most requests
Entity documents	Entity name, formation documents, signing authority	Loans are made to a business entity	Where an entity is the borrower
Renovation documents	Scope of work, budget, contractor info, photos	The project plan drives the review	Fix-and-flip and rehab projects
Construction documents	Plans, budget, permits if applicable	Ground-up projects are plan-driven	New construction projects
Bridge loan documents	Current property info, payoff, sale or refinance plan	Short-term financing is exit-driven	Bridge scenarios
Raw land documents	Survey, access, utilities, intended use	Land is reviewed differently	Raw land and rural property
Commercial property documents	Rent roll, leases, operating info, current use	Income and value-add affect the review	Commercial property
Title items	Title company contact, title condition	Title issues can slow or stop a transaction	Every request
Insurance items	Insurance contact, appropriate coverage	Collateral is protected during the loan	Every request
Exit strategy support	Sale or refinance plan, comparable sales	A clear exit makes a request easier to review	Every request
Optional supporting information	Lease or income info, payoff details if refinancing	Adds context to the financing request	As relevant

Property Information

Depending on the property, Cedar Top may request:

Property address
Property type
Current condition
Photos
Access information
Occupancy status (non-owner-occupied investment property only)
Current use
Intended use
Estimated value or comparable sales, if available

Purchase Documents

For an acquisition, Cedar Top may request:

The purchase contract
Amendments
Earnest money details, if relevant
A seller or transaction contact, if appropriate
A title company contact, if available
A closing date, if one is already set

Borrower and Entity Documents

Depending on the financing request, Cedar Top may review:

Borrower identification
Entity name
Entity documents
Signing authority
An experience summary, if relevant
Liquidity or capital position, if requested
Background information Cedar Top may review

Not every item is required on every request.

Renovation and Construction Documents

For renovation (fix-and-flip) and new construction projects, Cedar Top may request:

A scope of work
A budget
Contractor information, if available
Plans, if applicable
Permits, if applicable
Draw request expectations
Photos
Timeline assumptions, if provided by the borrower

Renovation and construction funds are typically released in draws as work is completed and inspected, subject to documentation and approval.

Bridge Loan Documents

For a bridge financing scenario, Cedar Top may request:

Current property information
Payoff information, if refinancing
A sale or refinance strategy
Lease or income information, if relevant
Title status
Insurance

Raw Land and Rural Property Documents

For a raw land acquisition, Cedar Top may request:

A survey, if available
Access information
Road frontage
Utilities, if known
Intended use
A development plan, if applicable
An exit strategy
Title or easement issues, if known

Commercial Property Documents

For commercial investment property, Cedar Top may request:

Property type
A rent roll, if applicable
Lease information, if applicable
Operating information, if available
Photos
Current use
An exit or refinance strategy

Exit Strategy

Cedar Top may review how you plan to repay or exit the financing request, because a clear exit makes a request easier to review. Common exit strategies include:

Sale after renovation
Refinance after stabilization
Construction completion and sale
Sale of another property
Commercial refinance
Land resale or a development plan

This is general education, not financial advice.

What Not to Send Too Early

Share documents through Cedar Top’s proper process, and only when they are requested. A few cautions:

Do not send unnecessary personal data in casual messages or texts.
Do not send incomplete or inaccurate documents.
Do not send unsupported value assumptions as facts.
Do not send expired or unsigned documents if better versions are available.

Common Mistakes

A few things tend to slow a review or require more documentation:

No purchase contract
No photos
An unclear scope of work
An unrealistic budget
An unsupported projected value
No clear exit strategy
Missing entity documents
An unclear title company contact
A property outside Texas
Owner-occupied use
Incomplete borrower information

Ready to submit a Texas investment property for review?

If you have a business-purpose, non-owner-occupied Texas investment property, Cedar Top can review the property and financing request. Review is subject to underwriting, collateral review, title review, documentation, and approval.

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