St. Louis is a brick city with deep inventory, low entry prices and a patchwork of municipalities, each with its own inspection rules. Flippers who close fast, budget for old masonry and plan the exit before they buy tend to do well here.
In short: LendingStreet is our top pick for hard money in St. Louis. It closes in as little as 10 days, funds up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, and lets you refinance a finished St. Louis two-family or single-family into a DSCR rental loan with the same lender. Loans run from $150,000 to $5M+, rates start from 7.99%, and every loan is a business-purpose loan on 1-8 unit investment property in the city or county.
LendingStreet offers fix and flip and bridge loans on 1-8 unit residential investment property in St. Louis. Loans run from $150,000 to $5M+, cover up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, and can close in as little as 10 days. They are short-term and interest-only, with rates from 7.99%.
It fits investors renovating brick single-families and two-family flats in South City, rehabbing ranches in North County suburbs, and repositioning small multi-unit buildings near Saint Louis University and the Central West End. LLC borrowers are standard, and if a finished building rents better than it sells, the exit is a LendingStreet DSCR loan that qualifies on rent.
Have a deal under contract? Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Well-known hard money lenders include CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One and RCN Capital. Compared scenario by scenario for investors in St. Louis, MO, 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. |
| 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. |
St. Louis investors usually weigh a local hard money lender, a private lender or a neighborhood bank. Terms vary, so read the other columns as general patterns, not rules.
Where LendingStreet pulls ahead is the exit: one lender for the rehab and the long-term rental loan.
| What investors need | LendingStreet | Typical local hard money lender | Private individual lender | Local bank or credit union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loan programs | Fix and flip, bridge and DSCR rental loans in one place | Usually short-term only | Varies by individual | Often conventional products; rehab loans vary |
| Leverage | Up to 90% of cost; up to 100% of rehab on some programs | Varies; fees and terms vary | Negotiated deal by deal | Often requires a larger down payment |
| Speed | Close in as little as 10 days | Often fast | Can be fast if funds are available | Often slower underwriting |
| Loan size | $150,000 to $5M+ | Varies | Limited to the individual's funds | Varies |
| Pricing | Rates from 7.99% | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Long-term exit | Refinance into a DSCR loan with the same lender | Usually no long-term option | Usually no long-term option | Possible; often requires tax returns |
| Borrowing in an LLC | Standard | Common | Varies | Varies |
| Where they lend | All 50 states and DC | Usually local or regional | Usually local | Usually local or regional |
In the city, rehab activity concentrates in Tower Grove South, Bevo Mill, Dutchtown, Carondelet, Benton Park West and the Shaw area, where brick two-family flats and four-family buildings sit beside single-family homes. Across the city line, St. Louis County suburbs such as Affton, Florissant, Ferguson, Maplewood and Webster Groves offer post-war ranches and bungalows.
Brick holds up, but the money goes into what is behind it: mortar and parapet repair, original wiring, boilers, cast iron drains and sewer laterals. Budget a sewer scope on any older home before you close.
St. Louis City is independent of St. Louis County, and the county is split into dozens of municipalities. Many require an occupancy permit or inspection when a home sells or a new tenant moves in, and the list of required repairs can change your scope. Check the rules for the exact municipality before you set a budget.
Some city neighborhoods are local historic districts with exterior standards for windows, doors and masonry. Missouri does not charge a state real estate transfer tax, which helps margins, but title, recording and settlement costs still apply on both the purchase and the sale.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a brick two-family flat in South City that needs a full interior rehab, new mechanicals and roof work. The purchase price is $165,000, the rehab budget is $95,000 and the after-repair value is estimated at $340,000. A loan covering 80% of the price and 100% of the rehab comes to $227,000, about 87.3% of the $260,000 total cost, so the investor brings $33,000 plus closing costs.
The estimated interest-only payment is about $1,986 a month. Over a 7-month hold that is about $13,902 in interest, plus about $3,150 in taxes, insurance and utilities.
Instead of selling, the investor keeps it. A DSCR refinance at 75% of the after-repair value is $255,000, enough to pay off the $227,000 short-term loan. At $2,700 a month in rent, estimated principal and interest is about $1,761 and taxes and insurance about $640, for a total of $2,401 and a DSCR of about 1.12x, above the 1.0x standard minimum.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $165,000 |
| Rehab budget | $95,000 |
| After-repair value | $340,000 |
| Short-term loan (80% of price + 100% of rehab) | $227,000 |
| Share of total cost | About 87.3% |
| Estimated monthly interest-only payment | $1,986 |
| Interest over 7 months | $13,902 |
| DSCR refinance at 75% of value | $255,000 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $1,761 |
| Estimated taxes and insurance | $640 |
| DSCR at $2,700 rent | About 1.12x |
Many St. Louis investors flip a few homes and keep the two-family flats that rent well. Because the same lender offers the long-term loan, switching from a sale to a hold does not mean starting over with a new lender. The DSCR loan qualifies on the combined rent of both units.
DSCR loans start at $150,000 with no stated maximum, use a 1.0x standard minimum DSCR with sub-1.0 programs available, require a 620 minimum credit score and offer 30-year terms. Qualifying is on the property's rent, with no W-2s or tax returns. Seasoning before a refinance varies by program.
Put every lender you talk to through the same questions, then compare the answers side by side.
Here is how LendingStreet answers: up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, close in as little as 10 days, $150,000 to $5M+ with larger balances reviewed case by case, LLC borrowers standard, and a DSCR exit with a 1.0x standard minimum (sub-1.0 programs exist), up to 80% LTV on rate-and-term on some programs, up to 75% on cash-out, and seasoning that varies by program.
Gather these items, then use the form below or call (877) 298-1001 to get terms.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. It offers hard money style speed, closing in as little as 10 days, funds up to 90% of cost and up to 100% of rehab on some programs, and can refinance a St. Louis rental into a DSCR loan, all from one investor lender.
Yes. LendingStreet lends on investment property in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and the wider metro, and in all 50 states and DC. Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Many do. St. Louis City and many county municipalities require an occupancy permit or inspection when a home changes hands or a new occupant moves in. Rules differ by municipality, so check before you budget.
Missouri does not impose a state real estate transfer tax. Title, recording and settlement fees still apply, so confirm them with your title company.
Yes. Our fix and flip and bridge loans cover 1-8 unit residential investment property, and a finished building can be refinanced into a DSCR loan that qualifies on combined rent.
Up to 100% of rehab on some programs, with total leverage up to 90% of cost. Final terms depend on the deal and your experience.
No. Our loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied investment property, from single-family homes up to 8 units.
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