Hard Money Lending: Our Family’s Story and Its Benefits

At Pacific Direct Mortgage, our journey from real estate agents and house flippers to leaders in hard money lending is the driving force behind our commitment to offering tailored solutions. Our story may resonate with you if you’re looking for alternatives to traditional financing, whether you're an investor seeking higher returns or a borrower in need of flexible funding options.

From Real Estate to Hard Money Lending: A Family Legacy

It all started over 36 years ago when my parents founded a mortgage and real estate company. After years of flipping houses, the 2008 market crash forced us to reassess our business model. With competition rising and margins shrinking, we pivoted to private money loans—a move that allowed us to provide more flexible solutions than traditional lenders.

The Shift to Hard Money Lending and the Need for Flexibility

Our experience as real estate agents, flippers, and landlords gave us firsthand insight into the struggles people face when securing financing. We quickly saw a gap in the market for owner-occupied business-purpose loans—a type of loan that lets borrowers use funds for both residential and business purposes, bypassing conventional lending restrictions. This shift has allowed us to offer more customized options for borrowers.

Offering Tailored Solutions with Owner-Occupied Business-Purpose Loans

Unlike traditional lenders, we embrace owner-occupied business-purpose loans, offering flexible terms to meet borrowers' unique needs. These loans can help:

Buyers transitioning to a new primary residence.
Those needing funds to improve their credit before moving to an amortized loan period.

Our loans comply with regulations (like Truth in Lending, RESPA, and Reg Z) while still providing flexibility for borrowers.

The Benefits of Hard Money Lending for Investors

For investors, hard money lending offers high returns with low risk. With Pacific Direct Mortgage, investors enjoy:

High returns on carefully vetted loans.
Transparency throughout the loan process.
A wide variety of private money loans in California and beyond.

By focusing on real estate-backed projects and bypassing traditional financing routes like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, our investors benefit from more lucrative opportunities.

Why Choose Pacific Direct Mortgage?

We combine decades of real estate and lending experience with a deep commitment to transparency and customer success. Here’s why we stand out:

36+ years of experience in real estate and lending.
Unique loan products like owner-occupied business-purpose loans.
California focus with full compliance to local regulations.
Investor-friendly with opportunities for both accredited and high-net-worth individuals.

Overcoming the Seesaw Effect in Hard Money Lending

The hard money lending industry faces a challenge known as the “seesaw effect”—sometimes having too much capital and other times not enough deals. Through strategic marketing and monthly new investor acquisitions, we’ve stabilized our portfolio, funding 20-25 loans per month and maintaining consistent investment opportunities.

Get In Touch

Whether you're an investor seeking higher returns or a borrower in need of a flexible lending solution, Pacific Direct Mortgage is here to help. Reach out to us today to learn more about hard money loans and discuss your owner-occupied business-purpose loan needs.

Let’s work together to achieve your real estate and financial goals!

Want to learn more after you finish reading? Take a listen to our interview with them on Spotify or watch it on YouTube for a more in-depth conversation.

Ken & Ari Walker

Husband & Wife Team
Phone: 707‑708‑0797 / Office: 1400 N. Dutton Ave #22 Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Ken: CA DRE Broker #01858042 / NMLS #1221130
Ari: CA DRE #01858152 / NMLS #2170867

Ken & Ari are a husband & wife team with combined 3+ decades in real estate and private money industries. They own Pacific Direct Mortgage & Real Estate, specializing in Private Money loans (also known as Hard Money home loans). Having helped thousands of Borrowers & working directly with Brokers, Agents and Lenders to help when needed with fast, flexible, alternative financing for real estate purchases and refinances throughout California. No issues with DTI ratios, credit issues, property condition, difficult to prove income ‑ we want to help!