Columbus is one of the Midwest's fastest-growing metros, and its older neighborhoods are full of century-old homes and doubles that need a full renovation.
In short: Our top pick for hard money style financing in Columbus is LendingStreet. We close in as little as 10 days, fund up to 90% of cost with up to 100% of rehab on some programs, and refinance homes you keep into long-term DSCR loans. With affordable prices and solid rents, Columbus deals often work as both a flip and a hold.
LendingStreet is an investor lender with fix and flip, bridge and DSCR rental loans in one place. Every loan is a business-purpose loan on non-owner-occupied property. In Columbus that means short-term, interest-only financing on 1-8 unit properties from $150,000 to $5M+, with up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs.
It fits investors renovating older doubles and single-family homes in Linden, the Hilltop, Franklinton and the South Side, brick homes near Ohio State, and suburban homes in Whitehall, Reynoldsburg and Grove City. Columbus combines affordable entry prices with strong job growth, which supports both flips and long-term rentals.
The next step is simple: get a quote with the form below, or call (877) 298-1001 and talk through the deal.
If you are weighing CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One and RCN Capital for a hard money 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Columbus investors usually compare LendingStreet with local hard money lenders, private money and banks. This is a general comparison; check terms with each lender.
| What investors need | LendingStreet | Typical local hard money lender | Private individual lender | Local bank or credit union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close quickly | As little as 10 days | Often fast; varies by lender | Can be fast; depends on the person | Usually slower; full underwriting |
| Leverage | Up to 90% of cost | Varies; often lower | Negotiated deal by deal | Often a larger down payment |
| Rehab money | Up to 100% of rehab on some programs, in draws | Varies | Varies | Often limited on distressed property |
| Long-term rental loan | DSCR refinance in-house | Usually short-term only | Rarely | Possible; often needs tax returns |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ | Varies | Limited by one person's capital | Varies by bank |
| Doubles and small multi-family | Financed as residential, 1-8 units | Varies | Varies | May prefer stabilized rentals |
North Linden and South Linden, the Hilltop, Franklinton, Milo-Grogan and the Near East Side have older single-family homes and side-by-side doubles at lower prices. Merion Village, Schumacher Place and the South Side draw renovations sold to buyers priced out of German Village. Near Ohio State, the University District and Old North Columbus have student-oriented rentals.
In the suburbs, Whitehall, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Grove City and Groveport offer mid-century and newer homes. Growth around New Albany and Licking County, driven by large industrial projects, has added demand on the northeast side.
Housing stock varies block by block. Frame homes and doubles dominate the older east and west side neighborhoods, while brick homes are more common near Clintonville and the University District. Buyers of renovated homes here expect updated kitchens, central air and a dry basement, so price those into the budget and use fully renovated sales, not dated ones, to set your after-repair value.
Ohio assesses property at 35% of appraised value, then applies local millage. Franklin County also charges a conveyance fee on sales, which is modest compared with transfer taxes in many states. Budget your tax bill on the current value, since reappraisals can raise it.
Ohio is a judicial foreclosure state, and sheriff sales are a source of deals for some investors. Ohio law also lets counties require rental property registration with the county auditor, and Franklin County does. Confirm current rules with a local attorney or title company.
The City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services issues permits for structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, and suburbs run their own offices. German Village, Victorian Village, Italian Village and other historic districts need commission approval for exterior changes.
Many Columbus homes are 100 years old or more. Expect knob-and-tube wiring, old plumbing, basement water and lead paint in pre-1978 homes. Winter weather slows exterior work, so schedule roofs and siding for warmer months.
A complete file helps us move quickly. All of our loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property, and LLC borrowers are standard.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a 1920s Linden single-family for $155,000 and budgets $65,000 for systems and finishes, a total cost of $220,000. At 90% of cost, the loan is $198,000. The investor brings $22,000 plus about $5,500 in closing costs, or $27,500 in all.
The estimated interest-only payment is about $1,732 a month on the full balance. Over 5 months that is about $8,662, plus about $1,500 in taxes and insurance, for an all-in cost of about $235,662. At a $285,000 resale with about $19,950 in selling costs, the estimated profit is about $29,388 before income taxes.
To hold, a DSCR refinance at 75% of $285,000 is $213,750, which pays off the flip loan with about $15,750 left before closing costs. Estimated principal and interest is about $1,458; with $330 in taxes and $110 in insurance, the payment is about $1,898. At $1,975 rent, DSCR is about 1.04x.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase plus rehab | $220,000 |
| Loan at 90% of cost | $198,000 |
| Cash to close incl. closing costs | $27,500 |
| Estimated interest-only payment | $1,732 a month |
| All-in cost | $235,662 |
| Selling costs | $19,950 |
| Estimated profit before income taxes | $29,388 |
Lenders that look similar on a website can be very different at the closing table. These questions separate them quickly.
LendingStreet's answers: leverage up to 90% LTC with up to 100% of rehab on some programs; a 1.0x standard DSCR minimum when you refinance to hold (sub-1.0 programs exist); seasoning that varies by program; entity borrowing as the norm; as little as 10 days to close; and a range of $150,000 to $5M+.
Lower prices and steady rents mean many Columbus homes work both as flips and as long-term rentals. A 30-year DSCR loan qualifies on rent, with no W-2s or tax returns, so you can refinance out of the short-term loan and keep building a portfolio. Seasoning varies by program.
Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001 to price a Columbus deal.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. We pair hard money style speed, closings in as little as 10 days, with up to 90% of cost, up to 100% of rehab on some programs and an in-house DSCR loan when you hold.
Yes. We lend across Columbus, Franklin County and Ohio, and in all 50 states and DC.
Franklin County requires rental property owners to register with the county auditor. Confirm current requirements before you lease.
Yes. Two- to four-unit buildings, including doubles, are financed as residential investment property.
Our fix and flip loans start at $150,000, which covers many Columbus purchase-plus-rehab projects.
Yes. LLC borrowers are standard.
Rates start from 7.99%. Pricing depends on the deal, leverage and experience.
2-3 competing quotes from 30+ capital sources. No credit pull. No commitment.
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