Louisville's older neighborhoods are full of shotgun houses, Victorians and brick cottages that come alive with the right rehab. Prices still leave room for a real budget, and buyers keep looking for updated homes close to the city's core.
In short: Our top pick for fix and flip financing in Louisville, KY is LendingStreet, because it funds up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, closes in as little as 10 days so you can win Jefferson County deals, and gives you a direct refinance into a 30-year DSCR rental loan if a house works better as a hold. Loans run from $150,000 to $5M+ on 1-8 unit investment properties, and they are short-term and interest-only. To see your numbers, get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Investors choose LendingStreet because the loans are designed around how flips actually work. They are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied 1-8 unit homes, and we lend nationwide in all 50 states and DC.
It fits Louisville flippers working Germantown, Schnitzelburg and the Highlands, investors buying ranches in the South End, and out-of-state investors who want one lender for flip and refinance.
To start, send the property, price, rehab budget and expected resale value with the form below, or call (877) 298-1001.
Well-known fix and flip lenders include Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One and RCN 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Germantown, Schnitzelburg, Shelby Park, Clifton, Crescent Hill and the Highlands have older homes in high demand once updated. Old Louisville has large Victorians that can work but often need big budgets. Portland, Shawnee and other West End neighborhoods have lower entry prices and more variable resale demand.
The South End, including Beechmont, Okolona and Pleasure Ridge Park, and suburbs such as Jeffersontown and Fern Creek offer mid-century ranches with simpler rehabs. Build ARV from nearby sales of the same housing type.
Louisville's shotgun and camelback houses are narrow and deep, which limits layout changes and affects kitchen and bath placement. Older homes often need foundation work, new wiring, plumbing, roofs, HVAC and lead-safe practices on pre-1978 paint.
Exterior work in local preservation districts such as Old Louisville, Butchertown, Clifton and the Cherokee Triangle can need approval from the Landmarks Commission. Permits run through Louisville Metro. If you keep the property as a rental, Louisville Metro's rental registry applies, so confirm current rules.
Here is a general look at how lender types stack up for a Louisville flip. Every bank, hard money shop and private lender sets its own terms, so treat the other columns as typical, not universal.
| What flippers need | LendingStreet | Typical local bank | Typical local hard money lender | Private individual lender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage on purchase and rehab | Up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs | Often lower; rehab funding varies | Varies; rehab coverage differs | Varies by person |
| Closing speed | As little as 10 days | Often several weeks or more | Often fast | Can be fast; depends on the person |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ | Varies; may limit investor loans | Often smaller balances | Limited by one person's capital |
| Property types | 1-8 unit investment property | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Long-term option | Refinance into a 30-year DSCR rental loan | Varies; may want tax returns | Usually short-term only | Usually short-term only |
| Where they lend | All 50 states and DC | Usually a local footprint | Usually local or regional | Usually local |
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a Germantown shotgun house for $155,000 with a $60,000 rehab budget, for a total project cost of $215,000. The loan covers 85% of the purchase ($131,750) plus 100% of the rehab, for a total loan of $191,750, about 89.2% of total cost.
The investor brings $23,250 toward the purchase plus about $3,100 in buy-side closing costs. The estimated monthly interest-only payment is about $1,678, which assumes the full loan is out for the whole 5-month hold (rehab funds are usually drawn over time, so actual interest is often lower). Taxes, insurance and utilities add about $550 a month.
The house sells for $285,000. Assuming selling costs of about 6% of the price ($17,100) plus $285 in transfer tax (Kentucky transfer tax at $1 per $1,000, paid by the seller), the estimated profit before income taxes is about $38,376 on about $37,489 of cash invested.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $155,000 |
| Rehab budget | $60,000 |
| Total project cost | $215,000 |
| Loan on purchase (85%) | $131,750 |
| Rehab financed (100%) | $60,000 |
| Total loan | $191,750 |
| Loan as share of total cost | 89.2% |
| Estimated monthly interest-only payment | $1,678 |
| Estimated interest over 5 months | $8,389 |
| Taxes, insurance and utilities over 5 months | $2,750 |
| Buy-side closing costs (estimate) | $3,100 |
| Sale price (ARV) | $285,000 |
| Selling costs (about 6%) | $17,100 |
| Transfer tax on sale | $285 |
| Estimated profit before income taxes | $38,376 |
| Cash invested (estimate) | $37,489 |
Kentucky's real estate transfer tax is $0.50 per $500 of value, or $1 per $1,000, and sellers customarily pay it. That keeps sale-side taxes light. Budget for title, recording, lender and escrow costs on both the purchase and the sale.
Check the Jefferson County property valuation record, since your tax bill may change after a sale. Resale timing depends on neighborhood and season, with updated homes in popular areas often selling faster than heavy rehabs.
Use this list with every lender you are considering, so the comparison is apples to apples.
For LendingStreet, the answers are up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, as little as 10 days to close, LLC borrowing as standard, a $150,000 to $5M+ range with case-by-case review on large balances, and a DSCR refinance path at a 1.0x standard minimum, with seasoning that varies by program.
Decide on day one whether this house is a sale or a possible hold. If you hold, LendingStreet can refinance it into a 30-year DSCR loan that qualifies on rent, with no W-2s or tax returns, a 620 minimum credit score and a 1.0x standard minimum. Read /bridge-to-dscr-loan-guide.html for details.
Knowing both exits up front protects your capital. Use the form below to get numbers for each.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. We fund up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, close in as little as 10 days, and offer a DSCR refinance if you keep the house. Get a quote with the form below.
Yes. LendingStreet lends throughout the Louisville area and all of Kentucky, along with all 50 states and DC, on 1-8 unit investment properties.
They can be. Shotguns in Germantown and Schnitzelburg have strong buyer demand when updated, but narrow floor plans limit layout changes. Plan the kitchen and bath layout carefully.
It is $1 per $1,000 of value, customarily paid by the seller. Confirm with your title company.
Often, yes. Old Louisville and other preservation districts can require review before exterior changes. Check with Louisville Metro first.
Fix and flip loans run from $150,000 to $5M+, up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs. Larger balances get more review and usually a full valuation.
In as little as 10 days with a complete file. Have the contract, scope, budget and entity documents ready, then call (877) 298-1001.
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