Raleigh's growth has pushed more residential investor deals past $1M: small apartment buildings near NC State, blocks of new townhomes built for rent in the eastern and southern suburbs, and high-value homes in Hayes Barton, North Hills and Cary. When a deal needs to close fast or the property is not ready for long-term financing, a large bridge loan covers the gap.
In short: LendingStreet provides residential investor bridge loans from $1M to $5M+ in Raleigh and across the Triangle, with rates from 7.99% and closings in as little as 10 days. Loans are short-term and interest-only on 1 to 8 unit investment properties. Larger balances usually need a full valuation, and the exit is a sale or a refinance into a DSCR, blanket or jumbo DSCR loan.
Older 5 to 8 unit buildings near NC State and along the Hillsborough Street and Wade Avenue corridors trade above $1M, often with dated units and below-market rents. Build-to-rent communities in Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, Fuquay-Varina and Clayton sometimes sell blocks of finished townhomes to one investor. Inside the Beltline, high-value homes in Hayes Barton, Budleigh and Country Club Hills, and newer homes in North Hills, can exceed $1.5M on their own.
Buildings with 9 or more units are commercial and handled separately.
| Deal type | Typical location | Usual exit |
|---|---|---|
| 5-8 unit building | Near NC State, Wade Ave corridor | DSCR refinance after renovation |
| Build-to-rent townhome block | Knightdale, Wendell, Fuquay-Varina | Blanket DSCR loan or partial sales |
| High-value single-family | Hayes Barton, North Hills, Cary | Jumbo DSCR refinance or sale |
| Maturing loan payoff | Wake County | Refinance or sale |
Competition for well-located Raleigh properties is real, and a seller may choose the buyer who can close in two weeks. A bridge loan can close in as little as 10 days when title and valuation are ready. It also fits properties that need work or lease-up before they can support long-term financing, and investors with maturing short-term loans who need time to finish a renovation or stabilize rents.
Large bridge loans are also common on renovation-heavy purchases inside the Beltline, where an investor buys an older high-value home, updates it and leases it to an executive or relocating family before refinancing into a jumbo DSCR loan. In those cases the bridge term needs to cover permitting, construction and leasing.
Build-to-rent packages are another fit. A builder may want to sell a finished block of townhomes before they are leased. A bridge loan lets the investor buy the block, lease it up and then refinance into a blanket or individual DSCR loans based on actual rents.
Larger balances usually need a full valuation. For small apartment buildings, the appraiser will look at rents, condition and recent sales of similar buildings. For build-to-rent packages, the reviewer will compare the bulk price to the builder's retail sales. High-value Raleigh homes inside the Beltline can be hard to compare because of lot size, teardown value and renovation quality.
Experience with similar properties, reserves and a written plan make the review smoother.
For a 5 to 8 unit building, have the current rent roll, leases, a list of planned unit upgrades and a realistic post-renovation rent for each unit. Comparable rents near NC State vary a lot by condition and parking, so support your estimate with nearby listings.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a dated six-unit building near NC State for $1,350,000. A bridge loan at 70% of the price is $945,000, with estimated interest-only payments of about $8,269 a month while the units are renovated one at a time.
After renovation, the two-bedroom units lease for about $1,550 each, or $9,300 a month, and the building is worth about $1,600,000. A DSCR refinance at the same $945,000 balance, about 59% of the new value, would carry estimated principal and interest of about $6,770, plus taxes of about $1,270 and insurance of about $350, for a total of about $8,390. DSCR would be about 1.11x.
| Stage | Figure |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $1,350,000 |
| Bridge loan (70%) | $945,000 |
| Estimated monthly interest-only payment | $8,269 |
| Stabilized monthly rent | $9,300 |
| Exit payment with taxes and insurance | $8,390 |
| Exit DSCR | About 1.11x |
A stabilized 5 to 8 unit building usually refinances into a DSCR loan, with max LTV that can be lower for 5 to 8 units and varies by program. A block of townhomes can move to a blanket portfolio loan or individual DSCR loans, sometimes after selling a few units. A high-value home leased long-term can refinance into a jumbo DSCR loan covering about $1.5M to $5M+.
Raleigh prices are high relative to rents, so plan the exit at a moderate leverage and test the ratio before you buy. Our bridge to DSCR guide covers timing.
On a block of townhomes, check HOA leasing rules before you plan to keep every unit as a rental.
North Carolina closings are handled by attorneys, and the deed excise tax is usually paid by the seller. There is no separate mortgage recording tax beyond recording fees. Wake County's 2024 reappraisal raised values across the county, and the next reappraisal will reflect recent sales, so build a realistic tax figure into your exit.
Because closing attorneys handle title and funding in North Carolina, bring your attorney into a package deal early, especially if the properties are in several towns or held by different seller entities.
Renovating occupied small apartment buildings takes time, especially when units turn over one by one, and City of Raleigh permits and inspections add steps. Build-to-rent packages depend on lease-up pace in submarkets with a lot of new supply. Keep reserves for several months of interest and leave a cushion in the bridge term.
Leasing near campus follows the academic calendar, with many leases starting in late summer. Time renovations so that units are ready before the August move-in rush, or plan for slower leasing in the middle of the school year.
Send the addresses, price, rent roll, scope of work and exit plan. The team will size the loan, confirm valuation needs and come back with terms. Call (877) 298-1001 or use the form below.
Our residential bridge program runs from $150,000 to $5M+, with $1M+ balances reviewed case by case.
Rates start from 7.99%, depending on leverage, property, experience and exit.
Yes. Buildings with 5 to 8 units are residential for our programs.
Larger balances usually need a full valuation.
Yes, if each property is a 1 to 8 unit residential property and the plan supports the exit.
Often a jumbo DSCR refinance once the home is leased, or a sale.
In as little as 10 days when title and valuation are ready.
Those are commercial and handled separately.
2-3 competing quotes from 30+ capital sources. No credit pull. No commitment.
By clicking, you provide express written consent to be contacted by LendingStreet (NMLS #1734316) via SMS, phone, or email, possibly using automated technology, regarding your loan inquiry. Reply STOP to opt out. Consent is not required to obtain services. See our Privacy Policy and Terms.