Columbus flips tend to live or die on two things: what is hiding behind the plaster in a hundred-year-old double, and how fast you can close before another investor does. The right lender helps with both.
In short: Our top pick for fix and flip loans in Columbus, OH is LendingStreet, for leverage up to 90% of cost with up to 100% of rehab on some programs, closings in as little as 10 days, and a built-in path from a finished Columbus flip into a long-term DSCR rental loan if the numbers say hold instead of sell. We lend on 1 to 8 unit residential investment property from $150,000 to $5M+, LLC borrowers are standard, and you can get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
LendingStreet is an investor lender built for flippers. Our fix and flip loans run from $150,000 to $5M+ on 1 to 8 unit residential investment property, with up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs. Loans are short-term and interest-only, and we can close in as little as 10 days.
We fit Columbus investors who buy, renovate and resell, and investors who want the option to keep a finished home as a rental. Because we also make DSCR rental loans, you can refinance a finished property with the same team instead of starting over with a new lender.
The next step is simple: get a quote with the form below, or call (877) 298-1001 to talk through a Columbus deal.
If you are weighing Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One and RCN Capital for a fix and flip loan for investors in Columbus, OH, this is the short version: LendingStreet wins the scenarios below, and you can get a quote with the form below.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fix and flip above $3M | LendingStreet | Our fix and flip program runs from $150,000 to $5M+. LendingOne states fix and flip loans up to $3,000,000, and RCN Capital states up to $2M. |
| Flip of a 5-8 unit building | LendingStreet | We finance 1-8 unit investor properties. RCN Capital states its fix and flip loans cover 1-4 family homes, condos and townhomes. |
| 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. |
Much of the flip activity in Columbus sits in the older neighborhoods around downtown: Linden, the Hilltop, Franklinton, Olde Towne East, Merion Village and the South Side. Clintonville, German Village and Victorian Village draw higher-end projects where buyers expect finished basements, updated kitchens and careful exterior work.
In the suburbs, Whitehall, Reynoldsburg, Grove City, Groveport and Westerville see steady demand for updated ranches and split-levels near job centers. Campus-area homes near Ohio State tend to be rental plays rather than flips, which is one reason a lender with both flip and DSCR loans is useful here.
Flippers in Columbus usually choose between a local bank or credit union, a local hard money lender, a private individual lender and an investor lender like LendingStreet. Each has a place. Here is how they tend to compare on what matters for a flip.
Banks can be a fit for borrowers with strong tax returns and time to wait. Private lenders can be flexible, but terms depend on the person. LendingStreet aims to combine hard money style speed with higher leverage and a long-term rental option.
| What flippers need | LendingStreet | Typical bank or credit union | Typical local hard money lender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage | Up to 90% of cost, up to 100% of rehab on some programs | Often lower; more cash down is common | Varies by 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 |
| Rehab funding | Draws after inspections | Varies; some do not fund rehab | Varies; fees and terms vary |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ | Varies | Varies |
| Long-term option | Refinance into a DSCR rental loan with the same lender | Possible, usually with full income documents | Usually short-term only |
| Where they lend | All 50 states and DC | Usually a local footprint | Usually local or regional |
Columbus is known for its doubles: side-by-side two-family homes built in the early 1900s. They can make good flips or good rentals, but they often carry original wiring, aging boilers, slate or worn roofs and damp basements. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint, so contractors need lead-safe work practices.
Permits in the city run through the Building and Zoning Services department. German Village, Victorian Village, Italian Village and other historic districts have commissions that review exterior changes such as windows, siding and porches, so build that review time into the schedule. Suburbs have their own building departments, and some Ohio cities require an inspection before a home can be sold.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a Linden double for $185,000 with a $75,000 rehab budget, for a total project cost of $260,000. Buying closing costs are about $4,500, and holding costs for taxes, insurance and utilities are about $650 a month.
The loan covers 80% of the purchase price plus 100% of the rehab: $223,000, or about 85.8% of total cost. Once fully drawn, the estimated interest-only payment is about $1,998 a month. To stay conservative, the example assumes the full balance is outstanding for all 6 months, for about $11,986 of interest and $3,900 of holding costs.
The home sells for $345,000. Selling costs, budgeted at 7% of the price for commissions, closing costs and any transfer tax, are about $24,150. That leaves an estimated profit of about $40,464 before income taxes, on about $57,386 of the investor's own cash.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $185,000 |
| Rehab budget | $75,000 |
| Total project cost | $260,000 |
| Loan (80% of price + 100% of rehab) | $223,000 |
| Loan-to-cost | About 85.8% |
| Estimated interest-only payment | $1,998 a month |
| Interest over 6 months | $11,986 |
| Holding costs over 6 months | $3,900 |
| Buying closing costs | $4,500 |
| Sale price (after-repair value) | $345,000 |
| Selling costs (7%) | $24,150 |
| Estimated profit before income taxes | $40,464 |
| Investor cash in the deal | $57,386 |
Ohio charges a real property conveyance fee on each sale, set by the county per $1,000 of price. The Franklin County Auditor publishes a calculator, so check the current figure for both your purchase and your resale. Title insurance and recording fees are added on top.
Ohio reappraises property on a regular cycle, and recent Franklin County values rose for many homes. Budget your monthly holding costs on the current tax bill and a builder's risk or vacant-property insurance policy, since a standard landlord policy may not cover a home under renovation.
Updated homes in Columbus neighborhoods and suburbs usually draw owner-occupant buyers, and many use FHA or conventional financing. FHA rules generally restrict financing on a resale within 90 days of your purchase, so plan the listing date around that rule if your likely buyer uses FHA.
Every flip loan needs an exit. With LendingStreet there are two: sell the home, or refinance it into a 30-year DSCR rental loan that qualifies on the property's rent. DSCR loans start at a 1.0x standard minimum DSCR with a 620 minimum credit score, and rate-and-term refinances go up to 80% LTV on some programs. Seasoning before a refinance varies by program.
Ask every lender the same questions so you can compare offers fairly. Here is how LendingStreet answers each one.
Ready to compare? Send your Columbus deal through the quote form below, or call (877) 298-1001.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. We offer up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, closings in as little as 10 days and a path into a DSCR rental loan, all with one lender.
Yes. We make fix and flip loans in Columbus and across Ohio, and we lend in all 50 states and DC.
Yes. If the numbers favor holding, a finished double can be refinanced into a DSCR loan that qualifies on the combined rent of both units, with no W-2s or tax returns.
They can. Exterior work in districts like German Village and Victorian Village needs commission review, so submit early and keep the scope realistic.
Fix and flip loans run from $150,000 to $5M+, up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs. We also review the after-repair value.
Yes. LLC borrowers are standard, and you sign for the loan personally.
No. Our loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied investment property.
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