Hard Money Loan Checklist for Arizona Borrowers
Before you apply for a hard money loan in Arizona, organize six things: the property, the loan purpose, purchase or payoff information, available cash, your deadline, and a repayment plan. Those details give a lender a useful starting point for evaluating the transaction.
This hard money loan checklist is designed for borrowers preparing a purchase, refinance, or property project. Use it to organize the first conversation with A & A Funding Corp. The documents needed for approval will depend on your property, loan purpose, occupancy, and the program being considered.
Your Arizona hard money loan checklist at a glance
Prepare | What to include |
Property details | Address, property type, current condition, and how the property will be used. |
Loan request | Amount requested, purpose of the funds, and purchase price or estimated value. |
Existing obligations | Mortgage and other lien balances, plus any known title issues. |
Available cash | Funds available for closing, project expenses, and ongoing payments. |
Timing | Contract deadlines, desired closing date, and any construction milestones. |
Repayment plan | Expected payoff source, target date, and a backup if the plan takes longer. |
1. Describe the property and its intended use
Start with the exact property address and a straightforward description. Is it a home, rental, commercial building, vacant lot, or unfinished project? Explain whether you will occupy it, rent it, improve it, or sell it.
Include known condition issues and the work you expect to complete. Existing photos, a listing, plans, or a recent valuation can help explain the request. Ask the lender which valuation materials it needs before ordering a new report.
Be accurate about both occupancy and the purpose of the loan. Financing for your own home can involve different requirements from financing an investment or business transaction. Do not assume that every private loan follows the same rules.
Our Arizona hard money loan overview describes the property types and financing scenarios A & A Funding considers.
2. Separate the amount you need from the cash you have
Write down the requested loan amount and what it needs to accomplish. For a purchase, identify the price, deposit already paid, and funds you expect to contribute. For a refinance, list existing secured debts and the amount you hope to have available after closing.
Keep property value, equity, and available cash separate. A property may have substantial equity while the owner still needs money for closing costs or project expenses. A requested loan amount is also different from the net funds available after payoffs, fees, or reserves.
If those distinctions are unclear, our guide to property equity versus available cash explains how to think about them. Bring your best estimates, identify which numbers are confirmed, and let the lender explain what further verification is needed.
3. Gather documents that match the transaction
A useful starting folder depends on what you are financing. Have available documents ready and ask which additional items the lender needs:
Purchase: The signed purchase contract, amendments, closing date, and title or escrow contact.
Refinance: Current loan statements, available payoff information, and details of other debts secured by the property.
Construction or rehabilitation: The scope of work, budget, bids, plans, permit status, and proposed schedule.
Entity borrower: The exact borrowing entity name and available ownership or signing-authority documents, if an LLC, corporation, or trust is involved.
For construction financing, A & A Funding's construction loan page identifies permitted and stamped plans, course-of-construction insurance, a detailed budget supported by bids, and a proposed draw schedule among the typical documents.
Credit, income, assets, and repayment information may also be requested. Property-focused underwriting does not mean that borrower information is irrelevant. Obtain the checklist for the specific program before treating your file as complete.
4. Make the actual deadline clear
Give the lender a specific date and explain what makes it important. A contractual closing deadline, a seller's requested date, and a preferred project start date are different constraints.
Identify unresolved title, insurance, valuation, or document issues early. If another lender has declined the loan, provide the reason and the time remaining. Our guide to a loan denial before closing in Arizona covers that situation in more detail.
Ask what must happen before the lender can confirm a realistic closing timeline. A prepared file helps the conversation move forward; it does not guarantee approval or a closing date.
5. Explain how the loan will be repaid
Describe the source of repayment and the steps needed to reach it. If the plan is a sale, explain when the property should be ready and what supports your expectations. If the plan is refinancing, discuss the financing you expect to qualify for and the conditions that still need to be met.
Then consider the delay scenario: What happens if construction takes longer, a sale is delayed, or the expected refinance is unavailable? Estimate the extra carrying costs and discuss the alternatives before committing.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that a balloon payment is a final payment much larger than the regular payments. If the proposed loan has one, know the amount and due date. Do not treat an extension or future refinance as guaranteed.
6. Ask for the full cost and funding picture
When a proposed structure is available, ask for the written terms and review these questions together:
What are the interest rate, payment structure, and upfront lender charges?
Which third-party and closing expenses apply?
How much cash must I contribute, and when?
How much will be available after payoffs, costs, reserves, or amounts held for later advances?
What conditions or charges apply if I repay early?
What is due at maturity, and what happens if repayment is delayed?
For a mortgage that uses a Loan Estimate, the CFPB's Loan Estimate explainer helps you review payments, closing costs, cash to close, and loan features. Ask which disclosures apply to your transaction.
For a construction request, also confirm how funds will be released. Approval of a total loan amount does not necessarily make the entire balance available on the first day.
Start with the facts you have
You do not need a polished presentation to begin. A short summary of the property, requested amount, purpose, deadline, and repayment plan is a useful first step. Mark missing information clearly so the next conversation can focus on what is needed.
A & A Funding Corp was founded in 1982 and handles underwriting in-house. Based in Scottsdale, we work with Arizona borrowers on real estate financing scenarios that require a close look at the property and the transaction.
Use our quote form to share the basic facts, or call 602-494-8980 to discuss your scenario and the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start a hard money loan inquiry in Arizona?
Start with the property address, loan purpose, requested amount, purchase price or estimated value, existing secured debt, deadline, and repayment plan. The lender can then identify the documents needed for your specific request.
Do I need every document before contacting A & A Funding?
You can use the quote form to describe your scenario before assembling a complete file. Be clear about what you have and what is still missing. An initial discussion is not a loan approval.
Does property equity guarantee a hard money loan?
No. The property, requested financing, borrower circumstances, purpose, and repayment plan still need review. Equity alone does not establish eligibility or the amount available to borrow.
Can this checklist be used for construction financing?
Yes, as a starting point. Construction requests also need project-specific information such as plans, permits, bids, insurance, a budget, and a draw schedule. Confirm the exact requirements with A & A Funding.
This article is general educational information, not a loan offer or commitment to lend. Approval and terms depend on underwriting, borrower and property qualifications, required documentation, and final written agreements.
Cover artwork is an AI-generated illustration and does not depict an A & A Funding-financed property.
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