Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We've compiled answers to the most common questions about our financing solutions, loan process, and requirements to help you get started with confidence. If you need additional assistance, don't hesitate to contact our team.
- 01
EQS Capital Partners LLC is a Connecticut-based private real estate lending firm, organized as a limited liability company owned by three member entities.
- 02
EQS is owned equally by its three member entities — Laurmar Holdings LLC, TSims Holdings LLC, and Eisen Capital Partners LLC.
- 03
EQS's active loan portfolio varies. Since 2021, EQS has funded 65 loans, 48 of which have been repaid in full, totaling $24.7 million in principal.
- 04EQS has a total of 65 investors, largely qualified, high-net-worth individuals, along with a number of investing entities.
- 05
EQS uses the Mortgage Automator platform for underwriting, loan servicing, and investor communication.
- 06
Original loan documents are maintained at EQS's offices, with cloud-based redundancy maintained both by EQS and by its attorneys.
- 07Not currently. EQS's accounting is handled by Trivium Point Advisory in White Plains, NY.
- 08
EQS works with a small group of attorneys across the states in which it lends.
- 01
EQS Capital lends directly to real estate investors, builders, and dealers. We specialize in short-term loans secured by real estate.
- 02
EQS targets an LTV of 65–70% or lower at closing, though higher LTV may be considered in certain circumstances. While it fluctuates with our portfolio, EQS’s weighted average LTV has historically been around 50%.
- 03
EQS conducts in-person, on-site inspections whenever geographically possible, and obtains broker opinions of value, broker price opinions (BPOs), comparative market analyses (CMAs), and/or appraisals from licensed or MAI-certified appraisers.
- 04Every loan requires proof of property and liability insurance — plus flood and wind coverage where applicable — with EQS named as mortgagee, additional insured, and loss payee. No loan closes without satisfactory proof of insurance.
- 05EQS often performs in-person, on-site inspections when geographically feasible as part of its valuation process.
- 06EQS has successfully funded deals in a growing number of states including Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Colorado, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida, working with local counsel in each.
- 01
A bridge loan is short-term, first-lien financing that lets a borrower move on a property — or carry it through a transition like a renovation, lease-up, or sale — without waiting on permanent financing. Most run 12 to 24 months and carry interest-only payments for the full term. EQS structures its bridge loans in first-lien position, with no subordinate debt behind them.
- 02
“Hard money” and “bridge loan” get used loosely and often describe the same thing. Hard money tends to emphasize the asset-based, fast-close nature of the financing — useful for value-add or distressed deals. Bridge loan emphasizes the purpose: short-term capital that carries a borrower to the next stage, whether that's a refinance or a sale. EQS blends both — moving at hard-money speed while underwriting with institutional discipline.
- 03Fix-and-flip financing is a specific application of the bridge loan, built for investors acquiring and rehabbing residential property to resell. EQS puts capital toward both the purchase and the renovation, releasing the rehab portion in stages as the work gets done. Borrowers typically pay the loan off within a year, once the property sells.
- 04
A cash-out refinance lets investors tap the equity in a property they already own, whether to refinance existing debt, fund a rehab or improvements, or simply take cash out.
- 05
New construction financing covers the cost of the building process for ground-up investment projects, with funds released in stages as construction progresses.
- 06
EQS charges borrowers origination and/or commitment fees. The number of points charged varies deal by deal, depending in part on whether an outside broker referred the loan.
- 07Most EQS loans run for a 12-month term, with some extending to 18 months and, occasionally, 24 months.
- 08Interest is paid out monthly, in arrears, rather than accruing to be paid at maturity.
- 09
EQS has many loan programs:
Fix & Flip loans are our most popular and provide financing for the purchase and rehab of non-owner-occupied residential and multi-family investment properties.
Alternative Fix & Flip loans are also available to provide financing for the rehab of other assets such as vintage automobiles, RVs, and boats.
Our Bridge Loan program provides investors funding for the acquisition and refinance of residential, multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial investment properties.
Refinance or Cash-Out programs allow investors to use the equity in a property they already own to refinance, rehab, or improve the property, or simply to take cash out.
New Construction loans can get you the financing you need to cover the cost of the building process.
- 01
There's no set minimum. Credit is evaluated case by case and is one of several factors we consider when underwriting a loan opportunity.
- 02
No. We work with both seasoned and first-time real estate investors. Experience is one of several factors we consider, along with credit, financial strength, and the property itself, and we’ll guide newer investors through every step.
- 03
Yes. In fact, we prefer that you do.
- 04
No. EQS lends only on non-owner-occupied investment properties.
- 05
EQS Capital Partners will take into consideration things like experience, credit, financial strength and, of course, the asset/property type in question.
- 01EQS handles all collection activities and advances any expenses necessary to protect the lender and its investors. EQS makes every effort to avoid foreclosure by working directly with the borrower first.
- 02EQS advances the funds necessary to carry the loan through foreclosure on behalf of its investors.
- 03In order: collection costs and fees, return of principal, interest owed, and any default interest — the last of which is split equally between EQS and its investors.
- 04
To date, EQS has had no defaults requiring legal proceedings. Four borrowers have occasionally paid beyond the standard 10-day grace period, but none has ever exceeded 15 days late, and all loans are currently in good standing.
- 05Yes — EQS has granted 4 loan extensions to date.
- 06EQS services loans in-house using the Mortgage Automator platform, handling payments, borrower communication, and collections directly rather than outsourcing to a third-party servicer.
- 01
Yes — EQS welcomes broker-referred deals, and greatly values broker relationships as a key origination channel. Brokers can register with our Broker Portal to gain access to the full loan product suite, direct communication with the origination team, and more.
- 02
Simply create an account in our Broker Portal, or log in to your existing account.
- 03
Yes. EQS values its broker relationships, and broker compensation is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the transaction. Terms are agreed upon up front, before closing. Contact us to discuss a specific deal.
- 04
EQS prides itself on fast responses to all stakeholders: borrowers, brokers, and investors. You can expect responses within 24 hours.
- 05Deals broadly consistent with EQS's lending parameters — non-owner-occupied investment properties, target LTV of 65–70% or lower, 12-month (occasionally 18- or 24-month) terms, etc.
- 06
EQS keeps you in the loop through closing and servicing. You can also follow along in real time through our Broker Portal.
- 01
If you're interested in investing with EQS Capital Partners, contact us and we will send you a link to our Investor Portal.
- 02Investors typically earn a 10% per annum return, paid monthly, in arrears, for each loan as long as the loan is performing.
- 03Yes — EQS investments are secured by first-position mortgages on real property, with insurance required on every deal (property, liability, and flood/wind where applicable) naming EQS as mortgagee and loss payee.
- 04EQS operates on a syndication model rather than a fund model. That means your capital goes into a specific loan you've chosen, not a blind pool — you see the deal, the property, and the terms before committing, and you decide which loans you want to participate in. It gives investors more direct control over what they're backing, though it also means diversification is something you build yourself across multiple deals rather than something the fund does for you automatically.
- 05Currently there is no minimum for qualified investors.
- 06Most EQS investments have no specified lockup period; it depends on the specific transaction.
- 07
Investor communication happens directly through our mortgage platform. Automated statements are sent monthly, quarterly, and annually. Additionally, investors are encouraged to create an account in our Investor Portal where they can view all their details at any time.
- 08No. EQS does not share origination points with investors; investors' return is the stated 10% per annum interest rate.
- 09
Yes. Our investor qualification involves completing a questionnaire to determine whether you are permitted, under applicable federal and state securities laws, to invest with us. All responses are kept confidential and used only to determine your eligibility to invest.
- 01
A bridge loan is short-term, first-lien financing that lets a borrower move on a property — or carry it through a transition like a renovation, lease-up, or sale — without waiting on permanent financing. Most run 12 to 24 months and carry interest-only payments for the full term. EQS structures its bridge loans in first-lien position, with no subordinate debt behind them.
- 02
“Hard money” and “bridge loan” get used loosely and often describe the same thing. Hard money tends to emphasize the asset-based, fast-close nature of the financing — useful for value-add or distressed deals. Bridge loan emphasizes the purpose: short-term capital that carries a borrower to the next stage, whether that's a refinance or a sale. EQS blends both — moving at hard-money speed while underwriting with institutional discipline.
- 03Fix-and-flip financing is a specific application of the bridge loan, built for investors acquiring and rehabbing residential property to resell. EQS puts capital toward both the purchase and the renovation, releasing the rehab portion in stages as the work gets done. Borrowers typically pay the loan off within a year, once the property sells.
- 04
A cash-out refinance lets investors tap the equity in a property they already own, whether to refinance existing debt, fund a rehab or improvements, or simply take cash out.
- 05
New construction financing covers the cost of the building process for ground-up investment projects, with funds released in stages as construction progresses.
- 06
EQS charges borrowers origination and/or commitment fees. The number of points charged varies deal by deal, depending in part on whether an outside broker referred the loan.
- 07Most EQS loans run for a 12-month term, with some extending to 18 months and, occasionally, 24 months.
- 08Interest is paid out monthly, in arrears, rather than accruing to be paid at maturity.
- 09
EQS has many loan programs:
Fix & Flip loans are our most popular and provide financing for the purchase and rehab of non-owner-occupied residential and multi-family investment properties.
Alternative Fix & Flip loans are also available to provide financing for the rehab of other assets such as vintage automobiles, RVs, and boats.
Our Bridge Loan program provides investors funding for the acquisition and refinance of residential, multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial investment properties.
Refinance or Cash-Out programs allow investors to use the equity in a property they already own to refinance, rehab, or improve the property, or simply to take cash out.
New Construction loans can get you the financing you need to cover the cost of the building process.
- 01
Our rates and points are generally fixed but can vary slightly depending on the borrower and the specific project.
• Interest Rate: Interest rates are higher than for traditional loans, but the loan term is much shorter. So it is always wise to consider the actual dollars that will be paid during the term of the loan, rather than the APR.
• Points: Points are calculated as a percentage of the loan amount. This is the charge for originating the loan. These are typically between 2% and 4% of the total loan amount. The actual points charged on your loan will depend on the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of your deal, the interest rate charged and the risk associated with the loan.
• Processing and Underwriting Fees: There will be a fee to process the loan application and documentation in order to underwrite the loan.
• Appraisal Fee: Typically, the borrower pays a fee for an appraisal by a licensed appraiser.
- 02
Apply online through our secure borrower portal: start your application here. Once you submit, an EQS principal will review your request and follow up with you directly.
Questions before you apply? Call (203) 787-8771 or email info@eqscapitalpartners.com.
- 03EQS targets 65–70% LTV or lower at closing, though higher LTV may be considered depending on the deal.
- 04Through an in-person, on-site inspection where possible, plus a broker opinion of value, BPO, CMA, and/or a licensed/MAI-certified appraisal.
- 05Most loans run 12 months, with 18-month terms available and 24-month terms offered rarely. Extension options can also be included.
- 06
Typically no. A prepayment penalty can sometimes apply if the property is sold or refinanced within a few months of closing. Terms are set loan by loan, and any prepayment terms will be spelled out in your loan documents.
- 07Proof of property and liability insurance (and flood/wind coverage where applicable) naming EQS as mortgagee, additional insured, and loss payee. No closing occurs without it.
- 08EQS has granted loan extensions before and works directly with borrowers rather than moving straight to default proceedings. Clear, honest, frequent communication is always essential.