How do I know which loan to use for an investment property?

It comes down to your deal and your profile: what you’re buying, the condition, your exit strategy, how fast you need to close, your credit, how you document income, and how many properties you already finance. Turnkey buy-and-hold with strong W-2 income points to a conventional loan; self-employed or scaling past 10 properties points to DSCR; a flip or heavy rehab points to hard money or a fix-and-flip loan; 5+ units points to commercial. The matcher weighs all of these at once.

What is the best loan for a BRRRR deal?

BRRRR is a two-step financing chain. You acquire and rehab with short-term money — hard money or a fix-and-flip loan — then refinance into a long-term DSCR loan once the property is rented and stabilized. A fix-and-rent (bridge-to-permanent) loan combines both steps into one closing, which is why it’s often the single best fit for a BRRRR.

Can I get an investment property loan if I’m self-employed?

Yes. DSCR loans qualify on the property’s rental income rather than your personal income, and bank statement loans use 12–24 months of deposits instead of tax returns. Both are built for self-employed investors whose write-offs understate their income on paper.

What financing can I use with little or no money down?

Low-cash options include tapping equity in another property with a HELOC or cash-out refinance, owner-occupied house-hacking with FHA or VA financing, seller financing, subject-to, and bringing on a capital partner. Each has trade-offs, so the matcher surfaces them as options to weigh against conventional debt.

Financing Matcher

Not sure how to fund your next deal? Answer a few questions and we’ll match you to the financing types that fit — with the reasoning, the trade-offs, and lenders to start with. No single lender can tell you this, because each one only sells what they offer.

Question 1 of 10

What kind of deal is this?

Start here — it shapes everything else.

How to Choose Financing for Your Deal

There’s no single “best” investment property loan — only the best loan for this deal and your situation. The matcher weighs the same factors an experienced investor runs through instinctively:

The deal & exit. A turnkey hold, a BRRRR, a flip, a ground-up build, and a 5+ unit acquisition each call for a different product — and your exit (hold, refinance, or sell) decides whether you need short-term or long-term money.
Property condition. Agency and DSCR lenders want a rent-ready property; heavy rehab and tear-downs need hard money, fix-and-flip, or construction financing for the work, then a refinance afterward.
Speed. Competing with cash or buying at auction means hard or private money that closes in days — conventional and agency loans take 30–45+.
Credit & income docs. Strong W-2 income gets the lowest conventional rates; self-employed borrowers lean on DSCR (qualifies on rent) or bank-statement loans.
Portfolio size & entity. Conventional caps out at 10 financed properties and usually wants title in your name; DSCR and portfolio loans scale past that and close in an LLC.

Once you know the type, compare specific lenders in the lender directory, or let the Lender Finder rank them against your full profile.

Financing by scenario

Prefer to start from your situation? Each guide breaks down the options and drops you into the matcher pre-set for that deal.

a Rental Property a Fix-and-Flip a BRRRR Deal an Airbnb or Short-Term Rental Real Estate With Little or No Money Down an Investment Property in an LLC an Investment Property When You’re Self-Employed a Multifamily (5+ Unit) Property