In Nashville, a dated brick ranch in Madison or Antioch often sits a few streets from brand-new infill, and that new construction sets the price your finished rehab has to beat. Fast money and a tight budget are what make the spread work.
In short: For Nashville flips and bridge deals, our top pick is LendingStreet. We offer hard money style speed, closing in as little as 10 days, with up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs on 1-8 unit investment property from $150,000 to $5M+. When the house is finished, you can sell it or refinance into a long-term DSCR loan with the same lender, qualified on the rent instead of your tax returns.
LendingStreet is built for investors. Our fix and flip and bridge loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property: short-term, interest-only and priced with rates from 7.99%. Rehab funds are released in draws after work is verified, which keeps your cash in the deal lower.
Middle Tennessee investors like having the long-term loan in the same place. If a finished house rents well in Donelson or Smyrna, you can keep it on a 30-year DSCR loan instead of listing it.
Our bridge loans also help when timing is the problem rather than the house: winning a property against cash offers, closing before a seller's deadline or paying off a short-term loan that is coming due before a project is finished. The exit is the same, a sale or a refinance into a DSCR loan. Call (877) 298-1001 or use the form below to start.
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 Nashville, TN. 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. |
This is a general comparison of the lender types Middle Tennessee investors use. Every lender sets its own terms, so confirm them before you sign.
| Deal need | LendingStreet | Typical hard money shop in Nashville | Private money from an individual | Bank or credit union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage | Up to 90% of cost (LTC) on some programs | Varies; often lower on newer investors | Negotiated deal by deal | Conservative on unfinished homes |
| Speed to close | As little as 10 days | Fast in many cases; confirm | 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 | Varies; often a lump sum or none | Often limited for heavy rehab |
| 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 |
| Long-term rental loan after the rehab | Yes: DSCR loans with 30-year terms | Usually short-term only | Usually short-term only | Possible, often with tax returns |
| LLC borrowers | Standard | Common | Varies | Varies |
In Davidson County, rehab inventory runs through Madison, Inglewood, Antioch, Bordeaux, Donelson, Hermitage and Old Hickory, where 1950s to 1970s brick and frame ranches still trade below the price of new homes. East Nashville and The Nations have older cottages, but competition from infill builders is intense there.
Outside the county, investors buy in Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne in Rutherford County, Gallatin and Hendersonville in Sumner County, Mt. Juliet and Lebanon in Wilson County, and Columbia to the south. Population growth has kept buyer demand broad across these suburbs.
Expect crawlspaces, older HVAC, aging roofs and original electrical on many of these homes. Where a lot is large enough, check whether the zoning allows a second unit or a split, since that can change your exit.
Tennessee charges a state transfer tax on deeds and a separate tax on recorded mortgages, and who pays which is set in the contract. Ask your title company for the exact figures on your deal. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which is one reason people keep moving to the area.
Building permits in Davidson County come from Metro Nashville's codes department, while suburban cities and counties have their own. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are usually separate, so line them up with your contractor's schedule.
Parts of Nashville flooded badly in 2010, and properties along the Cumberland River and creeks such as Mill Creek and Whites Creek can sit in mapped flood zones. Check the FEMA map and get a flood quote before you commit, because a buyer's insurance cost affects your resale price.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a 1960s brick ranch in Madison for $390,000 and budgets $85,000 for a kitchen, two baths, HVAC, roof and flooring. Total project cost is $475,000. At 90% of cost the loan is $427,500, so the investor brings $47,500 plus an estimated $6,500 in closing costs.
Assuming the loan is fully drawn from the start, a conservative approach, the estimated interest-only payment is about $3,384 a month and about $20,306 over 6 months. Taxes, insurance and utilities add roughly $3,900. Selling at $590,000 with about 7% in selling costs leaves an estimated profit of about $42,994 on about $78,206 of cash invested.
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $390,000 |
| Rehab budget | $85,000 |
| Total project cost | $475,000 |
| Loan at 90% of cost | $427,500 |
| Investor cash at purchase (before closing costs) | $47,500 |
| Estimated closing costs | $6,500 |
| Estimated interest-only payment, fully drawn | $3,384 a month |
| Interest over 6 months | $20,306 |
| Taxes, insurance and utilities over 6 months | $3,900 |
| Sale price (after-repair value) | $590,000 |
| Selling costs at about 7% | $41,300 |
| Estimated profit before income taxes | $42,994 |
Nashville limits permits for non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in most residential zones, so do not plan a flip around nightly income without confirming the zoning and permit status with Metro first. Some suburbs and counties have different rules.
Long-term rentals are the more common hold. Our DSCR loans qualify on the lease, with no W-2s or tax returns, a 620 minimum credit score, 30-year terms and up to 75% LTV on cash-out. Rate-and-term goes up to 80% on some programs, the standard minimum is 1.0x DSCR and seasoning varies by program.
Ask each lender these questions so you are comparing the same things. Our answers follow.
| Question | Our answer |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| How long does closing take? | As little as 10 days |
| Do you offer the long-term loan too? | Yes. DSCR rental loans with 30-year terms, qualified on rent |
| 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 |
Send the property address, purchase price, rehab budget, expected after-repair value and how many projects you have finished. A loan officer will size the deal and walk you through the options. Use the form below, or call (877) 298-1001.
Our top pick is LendingStreet, because you get closings in as little as 10 days, up to 90% LTC and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, plus a DSCR rental loan when you want to keep the house.
Yes. We lend throughout Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Sumner and Wilson counties, and in all 50 states and DC.
Rates start from 7.99%. The final rate depends on your experience, leverage, the property and the loan amount.
Only if the property can get the right short-term rental permit. Metro limits non-owner-occupied permits in most residential zones, so confirm before you buy.
In as little as 10 days with a clean title and a complete file.
Yes, on 1-8 units, through our ground-up construction program, which is sized on loan-to-cost and funded in draws after inspections.
Yes. LLC borrowers are standard on our investor loans.
No. Our loans are only for investment property the borrower will not live in.
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