Navigating the loan application process for real estate financing doesn’t have to be daunting.
By understanding the steps involved and knowing what to expect, securing financing can become one of the easiest parts of your real estate venture.
So where do you begin? Start with Cetan Funds, where we make the process simple and straightforward. Let us help you turn your real estate goals into reality.
Our Loan Application Process#
Our loan application process is tailored to fit each unique real estate scenario. It begins with a simple online application, which helps us understand your needs and the type of financing you’re seeking.
Once you’ve submitted the application we’ll discuss the best loan options for your situation. At that point, we’ll request a few documents to finalize the loan terms and determine your eligibility.
You’ll submit these documents through our secure file upload portal and sign the application electronically to keep the whole process smooth and efficient. Typically, we ask for documents like your personal financial statement, recent bank statements, tax returns, and proof of income to get a clear picture of your financial standing.
We also ask for details about your background, including past real estate projects (if applicable), to better understand your experience. This helps us guide you toward the right loan and future investments.
For your current project you’ll provide plans, budgets, and a project timeline. In most cases, an appraisal is not required and we do our own in-house valuations once your application is complete and we’re in the underwriting stage.
Underwriting usually takes 1-2 business days once all required documents are received. Occasionally, additional information may be needed, but we’ll let you know promptly if that’s the case.
This process generally applies to residential bridge, rehab, or construction loans, which can be completed in 3-5 days. Commercial and multifamily loans may require additional documentation and take 2-3 weeks to process due to their complexity. However, we prioritize efficiency to help you start your project as quickly as possible.
Tips for Applying for a Loan #
To ensure a smooth and fast loan application process, it’s important to have all your paperwork organized from the start. If you’re a regular real estate investor, keeping your financial information readily accessible is essential.
In addition to financial details, consider compiling a portfolio of past projects. This demonstrates your experience and helps build confidence in future investments. It’s also an excellent tool for presenting your achievements to loan officers and business partners.
Maintaining consistent financial stability is crucial. A solid relationship with your bank shows lenders that you manage your finances responsibly.
Be prepared to share a clear project plan with your lender. Include details like your timeline, contractors, materials, and other specifics to demonstrate your readiness and help us determine the appropriate loan amount.
Types of Loans We Offer#
At Cetan Funds, we specialize in residential bridge, rehab, and construction loans. We also offer commercial and multifamily real estate loans, which may have additional requirements and longer processing times due to their complexity.
We provide free consultations, project evaluations, and property assessments to help you calculate the potential return on your investment.
At Cetan Funds, we strive to make the borrowing process simple and straightforward. Once your loan is approved and your project is underway, you can rely on us to support you every step of the way.
Our personalized attention and tailored lending options are designed to build long-term, successful relationships with our borrowers. Helping you build wealth through real estate is our specialty.
You can get started by contacting us here or in the form below.
BORROWER FAQs#
What is a Private or Hard Money Loan?
Private and hard money loans come in many variations, but most are short-term loans provided by an investor or group of investors when conventional financing is unattainable or undesirable.
Most private lenders and hard money lenders, like Cetan Funds, finance projects like fix and flip rehabs, rental properties, commercial bridge loans, land development, and many other unusual or unconventional properties and projects. A private or hard money loan can help real estate investors, developers, builders, and small businesses grow their portfolios and businesses faster than they could on their own.
Here at Cetan Funds, we empower people to build wealth through real estate.
Why choose hard money vs. bank loans?
Hard money (or private) loans are built for speed and flexibility. Banks often require months of paperwork, strict borrower qualifications, and rigid underwriting standards. At Cetan Funds, we base our lending decisions primarily on the value and potential of the property, not just the borrower’s financial profile. This means we can finance properties and projects banks typically decline due to condition, complexity, or unusual circumstances.
Hard money loans are ideal for time-sensitive opportunities like fix-and-flip projects, new construction, or land development.
Where Does the Money You Lend Come From?
Cetan Funds offers two pooled private equity fund investments for Oregon residents who qualify and accredited investors. Our two funds, called Cetan Income Fund and Cetan Opportunity Fund, serve as the primary source of capital for the loans that Cetan Funds originates.
Rather than matching individual investors to individual loans, or borrowing capital from banks or Wall Street as many hard money lenders do, at Cetan Funds, we manage our own pool of funds. The investors own shares of their fund limited liability company and the principals of Cetan Funds manage the portfolio of loans owned by the fund. All loans are serviced by Cetan Funds. To learn more about the advantages of this structure, please contact us.
What Types of Loans Does Cetan Funds Finance?
We can lend on most commercial and residential property in Oregon and SW Washington if the loan is for business or investment purposes. We provide short-term financing for bare land, land development, new construction, rehabs, and residential and commercial bridge loans.
Do You Lend on Primary or Secondary Residences?
No. We can only lend for business or investment purposes and do not lend on owner-occupied residential properties. Check out our blog to learn more about what we do and what we don’t do.
Where Do You Lend?
We lend exclusively in Oregon and SW Washington because we know the market well and are committed to helping grow our local market. We lend primarily in Western, Southern and Central Oregon with an occasional loan in Southwestern Washington.
Do You Only Look at the Property/Collateral?
While we are primarily a “collateral-based lender,” we do not solely look at the property/collateral. In our experience, who you lend to is just as important as what you lend on.
We strive to build long-term relationships with our borrowers, and we cannot achieve that if we focus solely on their real estate. So, we also take into consideration character, capacity, capital, and other conditions.
Weighing these important factors, which are often overlooked by other private and hard money lenders, helps us accurately measure risks for both our borrowers and our investors while allowing us to offer better all-around results for our clients.
Do You Have Minimum or Maximum Loan Sizes?
How Long Are Your Loans?
We offer loans as short as 3 months and as long as 60 months; however, most of our loans are for 6 to 12 months. Plus, we build in automatic extensions to every loan to ensure borrowers have time to deal with unexpected events and circumstances.
What Are Your Application and Underwriting Requirements?
Cetan Funds loans are customized to fit each specific scenario. Therefore, application and underwriting requirements can often vary depending on the situation. Typically, we require the following:
For Applications:
- Cetan Funds Business Loan Application (online form, link provided by your loan officer)
- Personal financial statements for all loan guarantors (form provided)
- Property/project description
- Summary of construction or investment experience (if applicable)
For Underwriting:
- 2 years of tax returns for all loan guarantors
- 3-6 months of bank statements
- Project/property-specific documentation (such as purchase/sale agreements, lease agreements, business financials, etc.)
- Detailed rehab or construction plans and budgets (if applicable)
Please contact us for more information on the application and underwriting requirements for your specific scenario.
How Fast Can I Get a Loan Decision?
How fast is funding?
We pride ourselves on moving quickly. Loan decisions are typically made within 1–2 business days, and pre-approval can often be issued just as fast. Once approved, we can close and fund in as little as 3–5 business days, depending on the project and documentation. That speed lets you secure capital and act on opportunities without the delays common with traditional lenders.
Can I Get Pre-Approved?
How Fast Can You Fund and Close a Loan?
As quickly as 3-5 days.
What is Your Minimum Down Payment?
What Are Your Interest Rates?
Rates vary depending on the project. Typically, annual interest rates are 10-12%. Interest is only charged on the outstanding balance. Therefore, interest is not charged on construction or rehab funds until they are drawn. So, for most of our short-term construction and rehab loans, borrowers actually incur far less than 10-12% in interest expense. For more information, please contact us.
What Are Your Loan Fees?
Origination fees vary depending on the project. Typically, origination fees are 2-4% of the loan amount. We also charge a $995-$1,495 administrative fee at closing.
Can I Live in the Property While I Have This Loan?
Unfortunately, no. Our borrowers cannot live in the residential properties we finance for them.
The only exception is in very specific commercial loan scenarios. If you wish to get a loan on a property you would like to live in now, or in the future, please contact us so we can help you find a lender for that. We are happy to help.
Can I Pay Off My Loan Early?
Do You Fund Rehab and Construction Loans?
On Rehab or Construction Loans, Do You Charge Interest on the Full Loan Commitment?
No. Interest is only charged on the outstanding balance.
How Do Construction Draws Work With Your Loans?
Construction draws are typically disbursed for work completed, materials purchased, or subcontractor invoices ready to be paid. Borrowers work directly with their loan officer, their main point of contact from start to finish on the project, to submit draw requests up to twice per month.
We do not charge fees for construction draws. Draw requests include a breakdown of the items awaiting reimbursement or payment, evidence showing the completed work or materials on site, and copies of subcontractor invoices or receipts over $2,500-5,000. Draws are typically processed in 24-48 hours.
Do You Fund Loans on Bare Land?
Yes, we provide bare land loans. Each situation is different. Please contact us for details.
Do You Finance Mobile or Manufactured Homes?
What is “Cetan”?
Cetan comes from the Lakota language and means “hawk spirit.” We chose it to represent the values we bring to lending: vision to see opportunities, loyalty in building long-term relationships, and speed in delivering funding when it’s needed most.
Supporting local organizations like the Cascades Raptor Center also helps us honor that connection to hawks and our beautiful raptors in the Pacific Northwest while giving back to the community.