Hard Money Lenders - Who are They and What Do They Offer?

What is a hard money lender? I have heard the term in internet advertisements and by word of mouth, but was not really sure what they were or how they work. I looked into it a little bit and found that they are actually just private individuals with a little extra money that they make available for investment. They will lend the money they have to real estate investors. The loan is usually short term and is generally used by the real estate investors to buy and repair certain properties.

So where does the name