Kiavi Review
Founded 2013 · San Francisco, CA · Nationwide
4.5
Editor Rating
Kiavi (formerly LendingHome) is one of the largest tech-enabled lenders for real estate investors, offering fix-and-flip and DSCR rental loans with a fully digital platform. Known for fast closings and competitive pricing for experienced investors.
Editor's Take
Kiavi is the best all-around platform for investors who want to do both flips and rentals with one lender. Their tech stack is best-in-class — the online portal makes draw requests, document uploads, and closings genuinely easy. Volume borrowers get meaningfully better pricing. If you're doing 3+ deals per year across flips and DSCR holds, Kiavi should be your primary lending relationship.
— Bill Rice, 30+ year mortgage lending veteran
Kiavi Review: The Full Breakdown
Kiavi is one of the largest private lenders to residential real estate investors in the country, and it has been at this longer than the name suggests. It launched in 2013 as LendingHome, co-founded by entrepreneurs Matt Humphrey and James Herbert with the idea of using technology to make investor lending faster than the bank process they'd found painfully slow. In November 2021 it rebranded to Kiavi — a play on "chiave," the Italian word for key — and Arvind Mohan, a long-time operator who'd been COO since 2020, took over as CEO in early 2023.
The scale is the headline: Kiavi reports having funded more than $22 billion in loans, and its bread and butter is exactly what active investors need — fix-and-flip and bridge financing for the buy-rehab phase, plus DSCR loans for the long-term hold. If you run the BRRRR playbook, you can stay under one roof from acquisition through refinance, which is rare on this list.
What you're buying with Kiavi is technology and repeatability: a slick online platform, fast pre-approvals, and a lender that does enough volume to be predictable deal after deal. The trade-off is that it's a high-volume operation rather than a boutique — great for a standardized flip or rental, less so if your deal needs a lot of hand-holding. Confirm current rates and terms for your scenario before you commit.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fully digital platform — apply to close online
- Competitive rates for experienced borrowers (volume discounts)
- Bridge-to-DSCR conversion available (one-loan BRRRR)
- Fast closings for repeat borrowers (10–14 days on flips)
- No experience required for DSCR loans
Cons
- Limited to 1-4 unit residential (no multifamily or commercial)
- No foreign national programs
- Minimum loan $100K (excludes low-cost markets)
- DSCR prepayment penalty (3-2-1)
Loan Products Offered
Eligible Property Types
Best For
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Kiavi Review: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kiavi a legitimate lender?
Kiavi is an established lender founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA. It lends nationwide and specializes in DSCR loans, fix-and-flip loans, bridge loans and fix-and-rent loans. To verify it for yourself, confirm Kiavi's current NMLS registration and state licensing, check its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile and reviews, and compare written quotes before you apply.
What are the pros and cons of Kiavi?
Pros: Fully digital platform — apply to close online; Competitive rates for experienced borrowers (volume discounts); Bridge-to-DSCR conversion available (one-loan BRRRR). Cons: Limited to 1-4 unit residential (no multifamily or commercial); No foreign national programs; Minimum loan $100K (excludes low-cost markets).
What credit score do you need for Kiavi?
Kiavi's published minimum credit score is 640. A higher score generally unlocks better rates and higher leverage. Requirements vary by loan program and are subject to change.
What rates and fees does Kiavi charge?
Kiavi's rates run approximately 6.5%–12% with origination fees of 1–2 points, on loans from $100K to $3M (up to 80% LTV). All figures are approximate and subject to change — request a written quote for your scenario.
Can you close with Kiavi in an LLC?
Yes. Kiavi allows investors to take title in an LLC, which many use for liability protection and cleaner portfolio organization.
How fast can Kiavi close a loan?
Kiavi typically closes in 10–21 days, depending on the loan program, the property, and how quickly you provide documentation.
Disclaimer: Rates, terms, and requirements shown are approximate and based on publicly available information as of March 2026. Actual terms may vary based on your credit profile, property details, and market conditions. Always verify current terms directly with the lender before making financing decisions. ProInvestorHub provides editorial reviews for educational purposes and does not guarantee loan approval or specific terms.