Tampa Bay has no shortage of fixers, from 1920s bungalows to storm-damaged block homes. The hard part is closing fast, funding the right scope and knowing the flood rules before you start.
In short: Our top pick for hard money in Tampa is LendingStreet. We close in as little as 10 days, finance up to 90% of purchase plus rehab with up to 100% of the rehab on some programs, and offer rates from 7.99% on loans from $150,000 to $5M+. When you want to hold the finished house, we can refinance it into a DSCR loan qualified on its rent.
Tampa Bay investors need two things from a short-term lender: the speed to win a contract and the leverage to fund a real rehab. LendingStreet offers both. We finance up to 90% of total cost (LTC) and up to 100% of the rehab on some programs, close in as little as 10 days, and lend from $150,000 to $5M+ on 1-8 unit non-owner-occupied property. Rates start from 7.99%.
Because we also make DSCR rental loans, a finished house can move straight into a 30-year rental loan with us. LLC borrowers are standard.
It fits flippers buying bungalows and block homes, BRRRR investors building a rental portfolio around the bay, and investors who need to pay off a maturing short-term loan from another lender when a storm repair or permit delay pushed a project past its term. Short-term loans are interest-only, which keeps the monthly carry lower while crews work.
To get numbers on a Tampa deal, use the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
If you are weighing CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One and RCN Capital for a hard money loan for investors in Tampa, FL, 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. |
In the city, Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights are known for 1920s frame bungalows on raised foundations, while East Tampa, West Tampa, Sulphur Springs and Town 'n' Country have more mid-century concrete block homes. Temple Terrace, Brandon, Riverview and Plant City add suburban stock in Hillsborough County.
Across the bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Pinellas Park have older block homes and small multi-unit buildings, and Pasco County markets like New Port Richey, Holiday and Wesley Chapel range from affordable older homes to newer subdivisions.
General patterns for each type of lender, not any one company. Terms vary, so ask each lender.
| What matters on a fast deal | LendingStreet | Typical hard money lender | Private lender | Typical bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closing speed | As little as 10 days on a complete file | Often quick | Depends on the individual | Usually slower, with full underwriting |
| How much of the deal is financed | Up to 90% of purchase plus rehab | Varies | Negotiated | Often less on a fixer |
| Renovation budget | Up to 100% of rehab on some programs | Varies | Varies | Often not offered on distressed homes |
| Funding storm repairs and full rehabs | Rehab budget released in inspected draws | Varies | Often informal | Often avoids storm-damaged homes |
| Pricing | Rates from 7.99% | Fees and terms vary | Varies | Varies |
| A path to hold | Refinance into a 30-year DSCR loan | Short-term loans only, in most cases | Rarely | May require W-2s and tax returns |
| LLC borrowing | Standard | Common | Varies | Varies |
The 2024 hurricane season left flood and wind damage across parts of Tampa Bay, and many damaged homes have come to market as-is. They can be good projects, but they need care. In a mapped flood zone, local floodplain rules, often called the 50% rule, can require a home to meet current elevation standards if the cost of improvements or repairs reaches about half of the structure's value. That can change a rehab into a rebuild.
Before you offer, ask the City of Tampa, Hillsborough, Pinellas or Pasco floodplain office how the rule applies to that address, and get a flood and wind insurance quote. Older roofs can make insurance hard to place, so price the roof early.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a 1920s Seminole Heights bungalow outside the mapped flood zone for $345,000 and budgets $82,000 for foundation work, a roof, electrical, plumbing and a new kitchen. Total cost is $427,000. At 90% LTC the loan is $384,300; the investor brings $42,700 plus about $7,900 in closing costs.
The estimated interest-only payment is about $3,523 a month, figured on the full balance. Over 6 months, interest is about $21,138, and taxes, insurance and utilities add about $4,920, for an all-in cost of about $460,958.
The home sells for $535,000. Selling costs of about $33,170 include about $3,745 in Florida deed stamp tax. The estimated profit is about $40,872 before income taxes.
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $345,000 |
| Rehab budget | $82,000 |
| Loan at 90% LTC | $384,300 |
| Cash at purchase | $50,600 |
| Interest-only payment | $3,523 a month |
| All-in cost | $460,958 |
| Sale price | $535,000 |
| Selling costs | $33,170 |
| Estimated profit | $40,872 |
Outside Miami-Dade, Florida's deed stamp tax is $0.70 per $100 of price, usually paid by the seller. A new mortgage carries its own documentary stamp tax and intangible tax, which show up in the borrower's closing costs. Florida foreclosures are judicial.
Investor-owned homes do not get the homestead exemption, and a sale resets the assessed value, so budget taxes on your price rather than the seller's bill. Your title agent can confirm current figures.
Tampa Bay rents are supported by healthcare, the port, the airport and a steady flow of new residents, so a finished house is often worth holding. Our DSCR loans qualify on rent, with no W-2s or tax returns, a 620 minimum credit score, 30-year terms and a 1.0x standard minimum DSCR. Seasoning varies by program; our bridge-to-DSCR guide covers timing.
Insurance is the line that moves DSCR most in Florida, so use a real quote when you run the refinance numbers.
Ask each lender the same things:
Send the address, price, flood zone status, scope of work and target resale or rent through the form below, or call (877) 298-1001. We will size the loan, the draws and the exit with you.
Our top pick is LendingStreet, for fast closings (as little as 10 days), up to 90% LTC with up to 100% of rehab on some programs, and a DSCR refinance with the same lender.
Yes. We lend in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and across Florida, and in all 50 states and DC, on 1-8 unit investment property.
Often, yes, if the scope, budget and value support the deal. Flood zone rules can turn a repair into a rebuild, so check with the local floodplain office first.
Rates start from 7.99%. Your rate depends on leverage, the property and your experience.
In mapped flood zones, if repair or improvement costs reach about half of the structure value, the home may have to meet current flood standards. The local floodplain office decides how it applies.
In as little as 10 days on a complete file.
Yes. A DSCR loan qualified on rent can pay off the short-term loan. Seasoning varies by program.
2-3 competing quotes from 30+ capital sources. No credit pull. No commitment.
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