Kiavi FAQs
Straight answers, kept current. Each question also has its own page you can link to.
Is Kiavi legit?
Yes. Kiavi (NMLS ID #1125207) is one of the largest private lenders to residential real estate investors in the United States. The company was founded in 2013 as LendingHome, rebranded to Kiavi in 2021, and has funded over $30 billion in investor loans. In 2024 it originated $5.5 billion in fix-and-flip loans — more than three times its nearest competitor — making it the largest US fix-and-flip lender by volume. Kiavi is headquartered in San Francisco, licensed as a California Finance Lender by the DFPI, and lends in 49 states plus Washington, DC. Like any hard money lender, its rates are higher than conventional mortgages — that's the product, not a red flag.
What is Kiavi's minimum loan amount?
Kiavi's minimum loan amount is generally around $100,000 for both bridge (fix-and-flip) and DSCR rental loans, with maximums up to roughly $3 million. If your deal is below $100K — common in some Midwest and Southern markets — you'll need a lender with a lower floor, such as RCN Capital (~$50K minimum) or Groundfloor (~$75K). For anything at or above the minimum, Kiavi's pricing and speed are hard to beat, and new customers get $350 cash after closing their first loan through our referral link.
What credit score do you need for a Kiavi loan?
Kiavi generally requires a minimum FICO score of about 660 for its bridge and DSCR rental loans. Unlike conventional lenders, that score is mostly a gate, not the main pricing driver — your real estate experience (number of exits in the last 24 months), the deal's leverage, and the property itself matter more. Kiavi does not require W-2s, tax returns, or income verification on bridge loans, which is why investors with strong deals but complicated personal income choose hard money in the first place.
What is Kiavi's phone number and how do I reach customer service?
Kiavi's main customer line is (844) 415-4663, available during Pacific business hours. Existing borrowers can also message their assigned loan team directly from the Kiavi dashboard after signing in at app.kiavi.com — that's usually the fastest path once a loan is in process, since the team already has your file. For payoff requests, servicing questions, or draw requests on a rehab budget, use the dashboard first; general sales questions go through the main line or the contact form on kiavi.com.
How do I submit a Kiavi payoff request?
Sign in to your Kiavi dashboard at app.kiavi.com and request the payoff statement from your loan's servicing section, or contact your loan team directly. Payoff demands are typically generated within a few business days, so request yours as soon as you have a target closing or refinance date — title companies need the written demand, not a verbal balance. If you're paying off a bridge loan by refinancing into a rental loan, ask Kiavi about its DSCR product first: keeping both sides with one lender usually makes the payoff timing easier to coordinate.
What states does Kiavi lend in?
Kiavi lends in 49 states plus Washington, DC. The notable exception is Utah, where Kiavi does not currently lend. Coverage applies to non-owner-occupied residential investment property only — 1–4 unit homes, condos, and townhomes. Kiavi does not finance primary residences anywhere, and rural properties or unusual property types may be excluded even in covered states. If you're in Utah or have a 5+ unit building, look at Lima One Capital or RCN Capital instead.
Who owns Kiavi, and is it the same company as LendingHome?
Yes — Kiavi is the company formerly known as LendingHome, which was founded in San Francisco in 2013 and rebranded to Kiavi in late 2021. It is a privately held, venture- and institutionally-backed company, and it funds loans at scale by securitizing them: Kiavi regularly issues rated securitizations of its residential transition loans, which is how a non-bank lender can originate billions per year. The name changed; the NMLS license (#1125207) and the business carried over.
How does the $350 Kiavi new-customer bonus work?
Kiavi's partner program pays new customers $350 in cash after they close their first qualified loan. There is no code to type in: start your application through our referral link, and the bonus attaches to your account automatically. You must be brand new to Kiavi, and the bonus is paid out after your first loan closes (via direct deposit, typically within about ten business days of closing). It works on bridge/fix-and-flip loans and DSCR rental loans alike. That's the entire 'promo code' — a tracked link, not a coupon.
Does Kiavi verify income or require tax returns?
Not on bridge (fix-and-flip) loans — Kiavi requires no W-2s, pay stubs, or tax returns, and there's no debt-to-income calculation. Qualification rests on your credit score, real estate experience, and the deal's numbers. On DSCR rental loans, the property's own rent qualifies the loan: Kiavi checks that rental income covers the mortgage payment (the debt-service-coverage ratio) instead of checking your personal income. This is the core reason self-employed investors and full-time flippers use lenders like Kiavi rather than conventional banks.
How fast does Kiavi close a loan?
Kiavi can close bridge loans in as little as 7–10 business days, and experienced repeat borrowers sometimes close faster. The practical drivers are how quickly you return documents, how fast the appraisal or interior valuation comes back, and title. DSCR rental loans take somewhat longer — typically 2–4 weeks — because of the appraisal and rent analysis. If you're trying to win a deal with a short close, get pre-qualified first: the soft quote takes minutes online and doesn't hit your credit.
What is Kiavi's ARV estimator?
Kiavi's ARV (after-repair value) estimator is a free tool that predicts what a property will be worth after renovation, using the same valuation models Kiavi uses in underwriting. You enter the address and basic rehab plans and get an instant estimate — useful for screening deals before you write offers. Treat any automated ARV as a starting point, not gospel: comps chosen by a local agent and your own walkthrough still decide whether a flip pencils. We built a simple deal calculator on this site that pairs with it — plug your purchase price, rehab budget, and ARV into our Kiavi deal calculator to see max-offer and profit math instantly.
Does Kiavi work with brokers?
Yes. Kiavi has a dedicated broker program with its own portal (broker login at app.kiavi.com), and brokers can earn compensation on both bridge and DSCR loans. There's also a separate affiliate program for anyone who refers investors — affiliates earn cash per closed referral, and the referred borrower still gets the $350 new-customer bonus. If you're an investor reading this, the practical takeaway is that going direct through a referral link costs you nothing extra and adds the $350 bonus.
Do Kiavi loans have prepayment penalties?
Bridge (fix-and-flip) loans generally have no prepayment penalty — flips are meant to be paid off early, and Kiavi prices for it. DSCR rental loans are different: like most 30-year investor loans, they typically carry a step-down prepayment penalty (for example 5-4-3-2-1% over the first five years), and you can often buy the penalty down or off in exchange for a higher rate. If you plan to refinance or sell a rental within a few years, ask for the penalty structure in writing before you lock.