Is hard money considered cash in real estate?

Is Hard Money Considered Cash?

In real estate, hard money is not considered the same as cash, although it's often treated similarly in terms of transaction speed. Hard money refers to a type of loan typically used for real estate transactions, provided by private investors or companies as opposed to traditional lenders like banks. These loans are usually short-term, have higher interest rates, and are secured by the property itself.

While hard money can facilitate a faster closing process, similar to cash transactions, due to fewer lending regulations and quicker approval processes, it's still a form of financing. In contrast, a cash transaction involves the buyer paying the full purchase price with their own funds, without any external financing.

In real estate listings and negotiations, a buyer offering hard money might be viewed more favorably than one needing traditional financing, but not quite as favorably as a buyer who is paying with actual cash.