No Income Docs or Tax Returns
Approval isn't tied to your W-2s, pay stubs, or personal tax returns. The deal's numbers do the qualifying.
Fix & flip financing
Fix and Flip Loans 2026: Fund the Purchase and the Rehab on Your Next Project
Fix and flip loans finance both the acquisition and renovation of an investment property. Approval is based on the deal, the rehab budget, and the after-repair value (ARV), not your personal income or tax returns.
- No tax returns
- Close in an LLC
- Purchase + rehab funding
Licensed mortgage broker · Answer Home Loans, Inc. NMLS #1729528
How the deal is sized
ExamplePurchase price$250,000
Rehab budget$60,000
Total project cost$310,000
Total cost$310K
After-repair value (ARV)$425K
Illustrative example. Each lender sets loan amounts from the total cost and the ARV.
- Nationwide Lender Network
- Deal-Based Underwriting
- Purchase + Rehab Funding
- Licensed Broker · NMLS #1729528
Why fix & flip financing
Financing Built Around Your Deal, Not Your Desk Job
Conventional mortgages weren't designed for investors who renovate to create value. Fix and flip loans are.
Sized on Cost, Rehab Budget & ARV
Loan sizing is driven by the project's total cost and its after-repair value, the numbers that actually determine whether a deal works.
Built for Competitive Offers
Underwriting focuses on the property and the project, with less personal paperwork, which helps when you're bidding against other buyers.
Side by side
Not All Financing Is Built for Investors
Traditional route
Conventional Financing
- Requires full personal income verification, tax returns, and employment history.
- Longer underwriting timelines that can be hard to match with auctions or competitive bidding.
- No built-in renovation funding, so rehab costs come out of pocket.
- Designed for long-term ownership, not a short-term sell-or-refinance exit.
Investor preferred
Investor route
Fix and Flip Loans
- Qualification based on the deal: purchase price, rehab budget, and after-repair value (ARV).
- Rehab budget funded through a draw schedule as renovation milestones are completed.
- Asset-based underwriting focused on the property and the project.
- Short-term, often interest-only structure aligned with a sell-or-refinance exit.
Trade-off: Fix and flip loans carry higher rates than conventional mortgages in exchange for flexibility and income-light documentation. An accurate ARV and a realistic rehab budget are essential, since underwriting depends on them.
Eligibility
Built for Real Estate Investors and Flippers
Whether you're closing your first deal or scaling a pipeline, fix and flip financing meets you where you are.
First-Time Flippers
Loans are sized around your deal, and terms reflect your experience level, giving first-timers a real path to funding.
Experienced Investors Scaling a Pipeline
Track record matters. More completed flips can mean better leverage and terms on your next deal.
Contractors and Builders
Renovation professionals taking on projects directly, including heavy-rehab and ground-up builds.
Investors in Competitive Markets
When multiple offers hit or a property goes to auction, deal-based underwriting with fewer documents helps you move.
Investors Closing in an LLC
Fix and flip loans commonly close in an LLC or other entity, keeping personal assets separate from the project.
Investors Who Want Income-Light Underwriting
Self-employed or with multiple income streams? The deal qualifies, not your paycheck.
How it works
The Deal Qualifies, Not Your Paycheck
A streamlined process built around the structure real estate investors actually need.
- 1
We Review the Price, Rehab Budget, and ARV
We look at what you're paying, what you'll spend on the renovation, and what the property should be worth after repairs.
- 2
Purchase Funds and Draw Schedule
Purchase funds close at settlement. The rehab budget is released in draws as milestones are completed and inspected.
- 3
Approval and Closing
Close in your name or your LLC, with interest-only payments common while you renovate and prepare your exit.
Use cases
What You Can Finance
Fix and flip loans work across property types, deal structures, and renovation scopes.
Single-Family Flips
The core use case: acquire, renovate, and sell or refinance a single-family investment property.
Multi-Unit Renovations
Duplexes, triplexes, and small multifamily properties that need work before a sale or long-term hold.
Ground-Up or Heavy Rehab
Major structural renovations or ground-up builds for contractors and developers.
Bridge Financing Between Flips
Keep your pipeline moving when the timing between a sale and your next acquisition doesn't line up.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Fix and Flip Loans
Financing your next renovation project, from purchase to resale.
What is a fix and flip loan, and how does it work?
A fix and flip loan is short-term financing for investors who buy a property, renovate it, and resell or refinance it. Unlike a conventional mortgage, funding is based mainly on the deal and the property's after-repair value (ARV) rather than your income, since the loan is designed to be paid off through the sale or a refinance. Many lenders release renovation funds in stages tied to completed work, known as a draw schedule, rather than all at once.
How much can I borrow for a fix and flip project?
Lenders typically size the loan from two numbers: the total project cost (purchase price plus renovation budget) and the property's after-repair value. Many programs finance part of the purchase and much of the rehab budget, with an overall cap tied to the ARV. Exact leverage depends on the lender, the property, and your experience, so the best way to know is to share your numbers for a quote.
Do I need good credit or tax returns to qualify?
Fix and flip loans place less weight on personal income documentation than conventional mortgages, since approval is based primarily on the deal: the purchase price, renovation budget, and projected value. Most lenders still review credit, and a stronger profile and track record can mean better terms. Tax returns and employment verification are typically not required.
How long does it take to close a fix and flip loan?
Timelines vary by lender and deal. Because underwriting focuses on the property and project rather than a full personal income review, these loans often move faster than conventional financing. The biggest factors are the valuation, title work, and how quickly your purchase contract, scope of work, and entity documents are ready.
What's the difference between a fix and flip loan and a hard money loan?
Fix and flip loans are a type of hard money loan. “Hard money” describes the broader category of asset-based, short-term financing, while a fix and flip loan is structured around the buy-renovate-sell timeline, usually with staged draws for renovation costs. If your project involves a renovation and a planned resale, a fix-and-flip-specific loan is generally a better fit than a general hard money product.
How is the rehab budget funded?
Purchase funds are disbursed at settlement. The rehab budget is then released in draws as renovation milestones are completed and inspected, rather than all at once at closing. This keeps funding aligned with the work and makes capital available during each phase of the project.
Fix and flip loans offer project-based financing for real estate investors, with terms that vary by lender, property, and renovation scope. Talk with a licensed mortgage broker to confirm the right structure for your project.
Get My Fix and Flip QuoteWhat you'll need
A Short, Deal-Focused Document Checklist
Fix and flip loans are income-light by design. The documentation focuses on the project.
Purchase Contract & Scope of Work
Signed purchase agreement and a detailed scope of work with your rehab budget.
Comparable Sales / ARV Support
Comparable sales or an appraisal supporting the after-repair value, the main driver of loan size.
ID + LLC / Entity Documents
Government-issued ID and, if closing in an entity, LLC or corporate formation documents.
No tax returns or income verification
Exact requirements vary by deal and lender. We'll confirm the full list for your project.
Example scenarios
Fix and Flip Scenarios Investors Can Identify With
Investor Bidding Against Multiple Offers
Illustrative example, not an actual client.
An investor found a property with several competing offers. Deal-based underwriting could let them submit a strong offer, with the rehab budget funded through draws as the work progressed.
Timelines, rates, and terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Self-Employed Flipper With Low Taxable Income
Illustrative example, not an actual client.
A self-employed investor's write-offs made tax-return income look low, and conventional lenders declined. A fix and flip loan could qualify the project on its purchase price, rehab budget, and ARV instead.
Timelines, rates, and terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Contractor Buying a First Flip in an LLC
Illustrative example, not an actual client.
A contractor started buying properties to renovate and sell. A fix and flip loan could match draws to the project's phases and allow the purchase to close in the contractor's LLC.
Timelines, rates, and terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Get started
Get Your Fix and Flip Quote
Tell us about your deal. We'll review the purchase price, your rehab budget, and the ARV, then come back with options structured around your numbers, not your tax returns.
- No personal income verification required
- Purchase and rehab budget funded together
- Close in your LLC or entity name
- Options from multiple lenders
Honest about trade-offs
Fix and flip loans carry higher rates than conventional mortgages in exchange for flexibility and income-light documentation. An accurate ARV and a realistic rehab budget are essential.
Answer Home Loans, Inc. · NMLS #1729528 · DRE #02058505