A facile strategy has been explored for loading noble metals onto the surface of ferrite nanoparticles with the assistance of phosphine-functionalized linkers. Palladium loading is shown to occur with participation of both the phosphine function and the surface hydroxyl groups. Hybrid nanoparticles containing simultaneously Pd and Au (or Rh) are obtained by successive loading of metals. Similarly, ferrite nanoparticles decorated with Pd, Au, and Rh have also been formed by using the same strategy. The catalytic properties of the new nanoparticles are evidenced in processes such as reduction of 4-nitrophenol or hydrogenation of styrene. Besides, the sequential process involving a cross-coupling reaction followed by reduction of 1-nitrobiphenyl has been successfully achieved by employing Pd/Au decorated nanoferrite particles. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.