Louisville's shotgun houses and brick doubles are built for BRRRR: affordable to buy, steady to rent, and almost always in need of work first. A bridge loan carries the project until the rent can.
In short: Our top pick for bridge loans in Louisville, KY is LendingStreet, because we close in as little as 10 days, lend $150,000 to $5M+ on 1 to 8 unit investment property with rates from 7.99%, and refinance finished rentals into 30-year DSCR loans with the same team. LLC borrowers are standard. Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
LendingStreet is our top pick for Louisville investors who need fast, short-term financing. Our bridge loans run from $150,000 to $5M+ on 1 to 8 unit residential investment property, with rates from 7.99%, interest-only payments and closings in as little as 10 days. Some bridge programs skip the appraisal.
Bridge loans work well for Louisville investors renovating shotgun houses and doubles, closing on a property before a financed buyer can, buying estate homes and foreclosures, or paying off a loan that is coming due. When you are ready to hold, we refinance into a DSCR loan that qualifies on rent.
Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001 for a Jefferson County property.
Well-known bridge lenders include CoreVest, Dominion Financial, Lima One and Roc Capital. Compared scenario by scenario for investors in Louisville, KY, LendingStreet comes out as the stronger choice, and one application covers it.
Figures for other lenders are as stated on each lender's own website as of November 2026. Lender terms change, so verify current terms with any lender before you apply. Ready to see your numbers? Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
| Scenario | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge loan above $3M | LendingStreet | Our bridge program runs from $150,000 to $5M+. CoreVest states single-asset bridge loans from $75K to $2M+, and Roc Capital states stabilized bridge loans up to $3,000,000. |
| Bridge close in about 10 days | LendingStreet | We can close in as little as 10 days. CoreVest states its bridge loans typically close within 2 to 4 weeks. |
| Property in any state, including DC | LendingStreet | We lend in all 50 states and DC. Lima One states it lends across 46 states, and Dominion Financial lists 49 states plus DC. |
Louisville investors buy in Germantown, Schnitzelburg, Shelby Park, Old Louisville, Portland, Shawnee, Beechmont, Iroquois and the wider South End, along with Okolona, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown and Valley Station. The older city neighborhoods are known for shotgun houses, camelbacks and brick doubles, while Old Louisville has large Victorian homes, many split into apartments. Suburban areas are mostly post-war ranches and split-levels.
Prices are moderate and rents are steady, which makes BRRRR common here. Older homes often need systems work before a long-term lender will finance them, and that is where a bridge loan earns its keep. Demand comes from health care, logistics, manufacturing and the universities, so well-renovated rentals near job centers and bus lines tend to lease quickly. Across the river, Jeffersonville and New Albany sit in Indiana, with different taxes and rules, so price those deals separately.
Louisville investors typically compare a bank or credit union, a local hard money lender, a private lender and an investor lender like LendingStreet. These are broad patterns; each lender is different.
Local banks can work for investors with full income documentation and patience on timing. Local hard money is often quick, but fees and terms vary and it usually ends with a payoff, not a long-term loan. LendingStreet offers both the fast close and the DSCR exit.
| What matters on a bridge loan | LendingStreet | Local bank or credit union | Local hard money lender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closing speed | As little as 10 days | Often several weeks | Often fast |
| How you qualify | Deal-focused; no W-2s needed; LLC borrowers standard | Often requires tax returns and personal income | Mostly based on the property |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ | Varies; large balances can be harder | Varies by lender |
| Long-term exit | Refinance into a DSCR rental loan with the same lender | Possible, usually with full income documents | Usually short-term only |
| Rates | From 7.99% | Varies | Varies; fees and terms vary |
| Valuation | No appraisal on some bridge programs | Appraisal usually required | Varies |
| Where they lend | All 50 states and DC | Usually a local footprint | Usually local or regional |
The four situations we see most often in Louisville:
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a brick double in Germantown for $235,000 and plans $45,000 of work on the roof, electrical, HVAC and both units. The bridge loan funds 80% of the price ($188,000) plus the rehab, for $233,000. When fully drawn, the estimated interest-only payment is about $1,942 a month, or about $9,708 over 5 months.
After the rehab, the double is valued at $325,000 and each side leases for $1,250. A 75% cash-out DSCR refinance of $243,750 pays off the bridge and returns about $10,750 before closing costs.
Estimated principal and interest is about $1,663. Adding about $270 of taxes and $140 of insurance gives a payment of about $2,073. With $2,500 of rent, the DSCR is about 1.21x.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $235,000 |
| Rehab budget | $45,000 |
| Bridge loan (80% of price plus rehab) | $233,000 |
| Estimated interest-only payment | $1,942 a month |
| Interest over 5 months | $9,708 |
| Value after rehab | $325,000 |
| DSCR cash-out loan (75% LTV) | $243,750 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $1,663 |
| Taxes and insurance | $410 |
| Total monthly payment | $2,073 |
| Rent, two units | $2,500 |
| DSCR | About 1.21x |
Kentucky's deed transfer tax is $0.50 per $500 of value, about $235 on the example purchase, and the seller usually pays it. Property taxes in Jefferson County are moderate, though the combined rate depends on the taxing districts for the address. Check the current bill with the property valuation administrator.
Louisville Metro requires rental properties to be registered, and older homes in some neighborhoods are in historic preservation districts where exterior work needs approval. Non-host-occupied short-term rentals in residential zones generally need a conditional use permit, so most bridge-to-DSCR plans here use long-term leases. Confirm the rules for the exact parcel.
Some Louisville investors sell finished homes in the Highlands, Clifton and Crescent Hill, where buyers pay for updated older houses. Most BRRRR investors hold. Our DSCR loans qualify on the property's rent, with a 620 minimum credit score, a 1.0x standard minimum DSCR, LLC borrowers and 30-year terms.
Cash-out goes up to 75% LTV, and rate-and-term goes up to 80% on some programs. Seasoning varies by program, and we plan it before the bridge closes.
Ask each lender these questions. LendingStreet's answers are next to each one.
Then get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Our top pick is LendingStreet: bridge loans from $150,000 to $5M+ with rates from 7.99%, closings in as little as 10 days, and a DSCR rental refinance with the same lender.
Yes. We lend in Louisville and Jefferson County, across Kentucky, and in all 50 states and DC.
Yes. Buy and renovate with a bridge loan, lease the property, then refinance into a DSCR loan that qualifies on the rent.
The seller usually pays the deed transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 of value. Confirm with your title company.
In residential zones, a non-host-occupied short-term rental generally needs a conditional use permit. Check the parcel's zoning before planning on nightly income.
Yes, on 1 to 8 unit residential investment property, as long as the loan meets our $150,000 minimum.
In as little as 10 days with a complete file.
2-3 competing quotes from 30+ capital sources. No credit pull. No commitment.
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