Alternative lending

Alternative lending is the spectrum that opens up when a bank says no: B lenders (rate premium, common-sense underwriting), specialized monolines, and private lenders (equity-based, fast, short-term). It exists precisely for self-employed, credit-bruised, newcomer, and unusual-property files.

It's priced for the added flexibility — higher rates and usually a lender/broker fee — and almost always framed as temporary. The point is to solve the immediate problem and follow a clear plan back to prime A-lender pricing within a term or two.

Choosing the right rung (B vs private) and lining up the exit is exactly where broker experience pays for itself, because a wrong placement gets expensive fast.