Walk through St. Louis on any given day, and you’ll see the story playing out in real time. Brick bungalows with boarded windows. Duplexes that haven’t seen paint in 30 years. Empty corner lots waiting for someone with vision. For investors, this city is a goldmine — but only if you can move fast.
Banks? Forget it. They’ll bury you in paperwork, demand months of pay stubs, and still tell you no because the roof leaks or the wiring looks ancient. By the time the loan officer calls back, the deal’s already gone.
That’s why Fitz Monkey Hard Money Lending exists. They aren’t about marble lobbies and waiting lists. They’re about one thing: putting money in your hands fast enough to close the deal before someone else does.
What Fitz Monkey Actually Brings to the Table
Fitz Monkey isn’t trying to be your neighborhood bank. They’re built for investors who live in the fast lane — people flipping houses, landlords stacking rentals, builders chasing the next lot.
Here’s what they do differently:
- Fix-and-Flip Loans – Spot a tired bungalow in North City? Fitz Monkey gives you the cash to buy it, gut it, and sell it shiny and new.
- Bridge Loans – Waiting on permanent financing, but the seller wants to close tomorrow? This keeps you from losing the deal.
- New Construction Loans – From dirt to drywall, they’ll back builders who want to add something fresh to STL’s skyline.
- Rental Loans – For landlords who see opportunity in a duplex or four-family unit and don’t want to wait on banks.
- Commercial Funding – Bigger buildings, mixed-use, multi-family — they’ll go there if the numbers make sense.
This is money designed for momentum.
How the Process Feels in Real Life
Talk to any investor who’s worked with Fitz Monkey, and the story sounds familiar. You find a property, run your numbers, and then it happens:
- Application – Instead of a mountain of paperwork, it’s a quick call or online form. They care more about the deal than whether you bought a couch on credit last year.
- Property Check – They size up the After Repair Value (ARV). What’s it worth once the dust settles? That’s the number that drives everything.
- Approval – Forget weeks of silence. You can expect a response within 24–48 hours. For an investor, that speed is oxygen.
- Rates & Terms – No sugarcoating: you’re paying more than a bank. Think 10–14% interest, with a repayment period of six to twelve months.
- Fees – Points, origination costs — the usual hard money tradeoff. But ask yourself: would you rather pay a few points, or miss the deal entirely?
It’s not cheap money. It’s fast money. And in this business, fast often wins.
Real Stories: When Speed Made the Difference
- The North St. Louis Bungalow Flip – An investor saw a two-bedroom with a sagging porch listed for $55K. Banks wouldn’t touch it — too rough. Fitz Monkey stepped in, funded the buy and rehab. Six months later, the same property sold for $140K. That margin? Gone if they’d waited.
- The South Side Duplex – A landlord spotted a tired duplex near Tower Grove. Rents in the area were strong, but the place needed serious work. Fitz Monkey financed the purchase and rehab. Within a year, both units were leased, and the landlord refinanced into a cheaper bank loan. Fitz Monkey was the bridge that made it possible.
These aren’t glossy brochure stories. They’re the bread-and-butter moves happening all over St. Louis.
The Competition: Who Else Is in the Game?
Fitz Monkey isn’t the only name in town. Here’s how they stack up:
| Lender | What They’re Known For | Where They Fall Short | Best Fit For |
| Fitz Monkey | Local roots, flexible, lightning approvals | Higher costs, short-term | Local flippers & landlords |
| FasterFunds | Tech-driven process, strong rehab focus | Can feel more like a machine than a partner | Investors who value speed + online tools |
| Longhorn | National presence, bigger commercial deals | Less connected to the STL market | Bigger, out-of-state, commercial projects |
The difference? Fitz Monkey plays like a local insider. They know the zip codes, the neighborhoods, the streets where rentals fly off the market, and the ones where you’ll struggle. That matters.
Why St. Louis Needs Hard Money
Look, this isn’t Phoenix or Miami. St. Louis is its own beast:
- Affordable Entry Points – You can still find homes under $100K. Try that in Chicago.
- Strong Rental Demand – From students at SLU to workers at Boeing, renters are everywhere.
- Old Housing Stock – Brick homes built a century ago. Solid bones, but many need full rehabs.
If you’re an investor, that mix screams opportunity. But only if you have the liquidity to move. That’s why hard money thrives here.
The Honest Pros and Cons
Pros
- Close in days, not months.
- Flexible on property conditions that banks reject.
- Local knowledge that outsiders can’t fake.
Cons
- You’ll pay more in interest and fees.
- Loans are short-term — you need an exit plan.
- Not for the faint of heart; this is investor capital, not homeowner financing.
FAQs
Q1. Is Fitz Monkey Money Lender St. Louis legit or just another lender popping up?
Yes, Fitz Monkey is a legitimate hard money lender in St. Louis. They’re steadily growing their presence in the STL real estate market, and local real estate investors consistently vouch for their fast approvals, flexible terms, and private money lending expertise.
Q2. What’s the credit score requirement for a Fitz Monkey loan?
With Fitz Monkey, credit score is not the primary focus. Unlike traditional banks, they evaluate the investment property, loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, and after-repair value (ARV). If your deal makes financial sense, they’re likely to fund it—even if your credit isn’t perfect.
Q3. How fast can St. Louis investors get cash from Fitz Monkey?
Funding is often completed within 48 hours of approval, making Fitz Monkey one of the fastest hard money lenders in St. Louis. This speed allows investors to close on fix-and-flip properties, rental investments, or bridge loans before competitors can react.
Q4. Do they fund only in St. Louis?
Fitz Monkey primarily operates in St. Louis and the surrounding Missouri areas, but depending on the type and size of the real estate investment, their reach can extend further. They specialize in hard money loans for residential, rental, and commercial properties throughout the region.
Q5. What are the risks of using Fitz Monkey for investors?
Hard money loans come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms compared to conventional mortgages. If your St. Louis real estate deal isn’t carefully calculated—considering purchase price, renovation costs, and ARV—the short-term nature and fees can become costly. Proper planning ensures hard money lending works as a profitable investment tool.
Bottom Line
Fitz Monkey isn’t trying to be Wells Fargo. They’re not here for your forever home mortgage. They’re here for investors who play fast, think sharp, and can’t wait around for bankers to shuffle papers.
If you’re flipping, holding, or building in St. Louis, they’re a serious option. Just know the rules of the game: higher costs, shorter timelines, more risk.
But in a city where opportunity doesn’t sit on the market long, Fitz Monkey gives you the edge most investors wish they had — the ability to move now.
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