Louisville rehabs range from shotgun houses in Germantown to brick ranches in Okolona and Victorians in Old Louisville. What they share is an older housing stock, a steady rental market and investors who need money fast.
In short: Our top pick for hard money in Louisville is LendingStreet. We close investor rehab loans in as little as 10 days and lend up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, from $150,000 to $5M+ on 1-8 units. Since Louisville investors often keep what they renovate, our long-term DSCR loans let you refinance a finished house into a 30-year rental loan without switching lenders.
LendingStreet is an investor lender, and every loan is a business-purpose loan on non-owner-occupied property. Fix and flip and bridge loans are short-term and interest-only, with rates from 7.99%, and rehab funds are released in draws after work is verified.
Our minimum loan is $150,000, which fits most mid-priced flips, duplexes and larger renovations in Louisville Metro and the surrounding counties. Purchase price and rehab budget together count toward the total.
Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Investors searching for hard money lenders often compare national names like CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One and RCN Capital. Here is how LendingStreet stacks up on the scenarios that matter most for investors in Louisville, KY. In every scenario below, LendingStreet is the best fit.
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. |
A general comparison of the lender types used by Louisville investors. Terms differ from lender to lender, so confirm them.
| What matters on a flip | LendingStreet | Local hard money lender | Private individual lender | Local bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed to close | As little as 10 days | Often fast; varies | Can be fast; depends on the person | Usually slower; full underwriting |
| Rehab funding | Up to 100% of rehab in draws on some programs | Varies by lender | Sometimes funded as one lump sum | Often limited for heavy rehab |
| Leverage | Up to 90% of cost (LTC) on some programs | Varies; often lower on newer investors | Negotiated deal by deal | Often lower on distressed property |
| Long-term rental loan after the rehab | Yes: DSCR loans with 30-year terms | Short-term notes are the norm | Usually short-term only | Possible, often with tax returns |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ | Varies; some cap smaller | Limited by one person's capital | Varies by bank |
| How you qualify | The deal, your experience and credit; DSCR exit on rent | Mostly the deal | Relationship and the deal | Often tax returns and income |
| LLC borrowers | Standard | Common | Varies | Varies |
In the urban core, Germantown, Schnitzelburg, Shelby Park, Clifton and the Highlands have shotgun and camelback homes that resell well after renovation. Old Louisville has large Victorians, some converted to multiple units, with bigger and slower projects.
To the south and west, Beechmont, Iroquois, Okolona, Fern Creek, Pleasure Ridge Park, Valley Station and Shively have brick ranches and Cape Cods with steady rental demand. Suburban buyers look at Jeffersontown, St. Matthews and Middletown, and investors also work in Bullitt and Oldham counties.
Some investors cross the river into Southern Indiana. Those properties fall under Indiana law, taxes and permits, so treat them as a separate market.
Louisville has locally designated preservation districts, including Old Louisville, Butchertown, Clifton, Cherokee Triangle and others. Exterior changes there, such as windows, siding and porches, generally need approval before work starts. Build that review into your timeline.
Building permits run through Louisville Metro, and smaller cities inside Jefferson County may have their own requirements. Louisville Metro also has rental registration rules, so confirm current requirements before you lease a finished property.
Kentucky charges a modest transfer tax on deeds, and county clerks set recording fees. Property taxes combine state, county and local rates. Ask your title company for the exact figures on your deal. Foreclosure in Kentucky goes through the courts, which tends to make properties take longer to reach sale.
Older Louisville homes often need sewer line work, basement waterproofing, electrical updates and lead-safe practices for pre-1978 paint. Low-lying areas near creeks can be in mapped flood zones, so check the FEMA map.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a brick ranch in Okolona for $175,000 and budgets $55,000 for a kitchen, bath, HVAC, roof and flooring. Total cost is $230,000. At 90% of cost the loan is $207,000, so the investor brings $23,000 plus about $4,500 in closing costs. If the loan is fully drawn, the estimated interest-only payment is about $1,639 a month, or $8,194 over 5 months, plus $2,250 in taxes, insurance and utilities. A sale at $300,000, less about 7% in selling costs, leaves an estimated profit of about $34,056.
To keep it, the investor chooses a 70% DSCR cash-out instead of the 75% maximum, so the rent covers the payment comfortably. The new loan is $210,000, which pays off the $207,000 rehab loan with about $3,000 left before closing costs. Estimated principal and interest is about $1,433, and with $380 in taxes and insurance the payment is $1,813. At $1,900 rent, DSCR is about 1.05x.
| Keep it: DSCR refinance | Amount |
|---|---|
| After-repair value | $300,000 |
| DSCR cash-out loan at 70% LTV | $210,000 |
| Pays off the rehab loan | $207,000 |
| Left over before closing costs | $3,000 |
| Estimated principal and interest (30-year) | $1,433 |
| Property taxes and insurance | $380 |
| Total monthly payment | $1,813 |
| Monthly rent | $1,900 |
| DSCR | About 1.05x |
Our DSCR loans qualify on the property's rent, not your personal income, so there are no W-2s or tax returns. They start at $150,000, require a 620 minimum credit score, allow LLC borrowers and offer 30-year terms. Cash-out goes up to 75% LTV and rate-and-term up to 80% on some programs, and cash-out seasoning varies by program.
The standard minimum DSCR is 1.0x, and sub-1.0 programs exist. On a duplex or fourplex, the combined rent of all units counts. If you build up five or more Louisville rentals, a blanket portfolio loan can put them under one closing and one payment.
Ask every lender these questions, and compare the answers on equal terms. LendingStreet's answers are below.
| Ask every lender | LendingStreet |
|---|---|
| How long does closing take? | As little as 10 days |
| What is your maximum leverage, as a share of cost (LTC) and of rehab? | Up to 90% LTC and up to 100% of rehab on some programs |
| If I keep the property, what DSCR minimum applies on the refinance? | 1.0x standard minimum, with sub-1.0 programs available |
| What seasoning do you require before a cash-out refinance? | Varies by program; we explain the options up front |
| Can I borrow in my LLC? | Yes. LLC borrowers are standard |
| Do you limit large balances? | Loans run from $150,000 to $5M+; larger balances get more review |
| Do you offer the long-term loan too? | Yes. DSCR rental loans with 30-year terms, qualified on rent |
Send the address, price, rehab budget, after-repair value, expected rent and your experience. We will review it and outline options for both the rehab loan and the long-term refinance. Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. You get closings in as little as 10 days, up to 90% LTC and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, and a DSCR rental loan when you want to hold.
Yes. We lend throughout Louisville Metro and nearby Bullitt and Oldham counties, and in all 50 states and DC.
Rates start from 7.99%. Your rate depends on experience, leverage, the property and the loan size.
Yes, if the project total meets our $150,000 minimum. Purchase price and rehab budget together count toward it.
They can. Exterior changes in designated districts generally need approval first, which can add time to your schedule.
Yes. Our DSCR loans qualify on the rent, with 30-year terms and LLC borrowers standard. Seasoning varies by program.
Yes. We lend on 1-8 unit investment properties, including duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.
No. Our loans are business-purpose loans for investment property the borrower does not occupy.
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