Find Owner-Occupied Home Lenders

Private Lender Link is a place where mortgage brokers and homeowners can easily find reputable lending companies that provide alternative non-conventional loans for owner-occupied residential properties throughout the United States. Enter a state or metro area in the Search box below to see a list of lenders.

Alternative Lending for Owner-Occupied Homes

Private / Hard Money Lending is NOT for Owner-Occupied Homes!

Due to strict government regulations and compliance requirements, private and hard money lenders do NOT offer loans for consumer purposes. Purchasing a home that you plan to live in or getting an equity cash-out loan for personal expenses are both considered to be consumer mortgages.

This also applies to properties with 2, 3 or 4 units. If you’re planning to live in one unit and rent out the others, it’s still considered owner-occupied.

Alternatives to Private & Hard Money

The first alternative is called non-QM, also known as non-prime. QM stands for qualified mortgage, so non-QM loans are those which fall just outside the traditional standards of a qualified mortgage. This includes low credit scores, self-employment, seasonal income, and other unique situations.

One of the main qualifications for non-QM loans is showing the ability to pay. So you qualify based on income and equity.

Also, if you are purchasing a home with a non-QM mortgage, you’ll need to have a cash down payment of at least 20% of the purchase price.

You can find a few non-QM lenders on our website. Scroll up to the top of this page and enter a state or major metro area.