Hard money lenders for South Carolina vacation rental flips

Jul 8 – Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 26, 2026Reviewed by

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Widest split: BridgeWell Capital, 13% on ChatGPT and 76% on Google AI Mode.

Questions and answers

  • Google AI ModeOct 26, 2026

    1. 1BridgeWell Capital
    2. 2Ridge Street Capital
    3. 3Sherman Bridge Lending
    4. 4Asset Based Lending (ABL)
    5. 5Rehab80 Loans

    BridgeWell CapitalBridgeWell Capital and Asset Based LendingAsset Based Lending (ABL) are among the most active and top-rated hard money lenders servicing fix-and-flip and short-term/vacation rental projects in Myrtle Beach and across South Carolina.

    Top Hard Money Lenders in South Carolina

    • BridgeWell Capital
      • Focus: Fix-to-flip purchase and rehab, commercial loans, and cash-out refinances ($150K to $2MM+).
      • Turnaround: Closes in roughly 10 days; does not charge interest on undrawn rehab funds.
      • Underwriting: Based primarily on the project's profit margin and exit strategy rather than heavy personal income verification.
    • Asset Based LendingAsset Based Lending (ABL)
      • Focus: Fix-and-flips, new construction, rental properties, and cash-out refinances in Myrtle Beach.
      • Turnaround: Fast pre-approvals and rapid closing timelines tailored to local market dynamics.
    • Ridge Street Capital
      • Focus: Fix-and-flip loans, ground-up construction, and DSCR/rental portfolio financing in South Carolina.
      • Typical Terms: Rates generally range from 10.5% to 11.5% with 1.5% to 2.99% origination points.
    • Sherman Bridge Lending
      • Focus: Asset-based residential investment loans ($75K to $4M) with multiple specialized programs like Rehab80 and Easy90.
      • Turnaround: Fast closings (3 to 7 business days) for non-owner-occupied 1-to-4-unit properties.

    Key Factors for Myrtle Beach Vacation Rental Flips

    • Short-Term Rental Regulations: Check specific zoning ordinances, HOA restrictions, and accommodations taxes within Myrtle Beach city limits or Horry County (such as North Myrtle Beach or Surfside Beach) before locking in purchase financing, as rules on nightly rentals vary.
    • Exit Strategy (Flip vs. DSCR Refi): Decide early whether you are selling immediately upon completion (traditional fix-and-flip) or transitioning the property into a long-term or short-term vacation rental using a Debt-Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan. Many lenders offer bridge-to-rental options.
    • Draw Schedules: For coastal properties, insurance, wind-and-hail requirements, and contractor availability can impact rehab timelines. Ensure your lender's draw-inspection process is fast enough to keep your contractors paid and working.

    To help narrow down the best fit, could you share:

    • What is the purchase price and estimated rehab budget?
    • Is your end goal to sell it fast (flip) or keep it as a short-term rental (BRRRR/DSCR)?
    • Do you have prior fix-and-flip experience?

    ChatGPTOct 26, 2026

    1. 1Asset Based Lending (ABL)
    2. 2Lima One Capital
    3. 3FlipCo Financial
    4. 4Capital Kings

    For a vacation-rental flip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I’d look for a hard money lender that understands both investment-property renovations and short-term rental economics—not just a lender that finances traditional house flips.

    The key is finding financing that covers the purchase and renovation, closes quickly, and leaves you enough room to refinance or sell without the loan costs wiping out your profit.

    There isn't one universally recognized “best” hard money lender in South Carolina. The right choice depends on whether you're buying a condo, a single-family beach house, or a property that needs substantial renovation.

    My shortlist for a Myrtle Beach vacation-rental flip

    • Cash Out Refinance Hard Money Loans

    1. Asset Based Lending (ABL)

    (First lender I'd contact)

    A direct lender advertising financing for Myrtle Beach fix-and-flips, rentals and refinancing. Its published program offers up to 90% of purchase price and 100% of renovation costs, subject to underwriting. It advertises approvals in as little as 24 hours and closings in as few as 20 days.

    Website:


    • Contact Database - Greenville Chamber of Commerce

    2. Lima One Capital

    A Greenville-based investor lender with fix-and-flip and rental financing options. Worth comparing if you want short-term acquisition financing followed by a potential long-term rental loan.

    Website:


    • Real Estate Hard Money Lenders - FlipCo Financial

    3. FlipCo Financial

    Specifically advertises Myrtle Beach lending, rehab funding, and refinancing support. It says it can lend up to 75% of after-repair value (ARV), with interest charged on funds drawn. Important limitation: it excludes condos and townhouses, so it is a candidate for a qualifying single-family property, not an oceanfront condo.

    Website:


    • Capital Kings LLC | Non-QM Hard Money & DSCR Lending for Investors

    4. Capital Kings

    A broker rather than a direct lender. It advertises access to a network of 400-plus lenders, including fix-and-flip and rental financing options in Myrtle Beach. This could be useful for comparing multiple term sheets, particularly if the deal is unusual. Its advertised terms are not guaranteed offers.

    Website:

    What I would compare before choosing

    Loan featureWhat to ask
    Purchase financingWhat percentage of the purchase price will you fund?
    Rehab moneyIs 100% of the renovation budget available through draws?
    Interest rateWhat is the actual quoted rate, not the advertised starting rate?
    FeesHow many origination points, broker fees and closing charges?
    Loan termIs 6–12 months enough, and what do extensions cost?
    Rental exitCan you refinance into a DSCR loan based on vacation-rental income?
    Property eligibilityWill you finance condos, HOA-controlled properties and short-term rentals?

    One Myrtle Beach-specific warning: Before buying, verify that the HOA and local rules permit your intended short-term rental use. Also obtain insurance quotes early; coastal wind coverage, flood exposure and condo assessments can materially change the deal's economics.

    Let me narrow this down to the best fit for your deal

    The most important question is: What type of vacation rental are you flipping?

    1. Property type

    Single-family beach house

    Oceanfront or resort condo

    Duplex or multifamily


    2. Purchase price

    Under $200,000

    $200,000–$400,000

    $400,000–$700,000

    $700,000+


    3. Your exit strategy

    Sell after renovation

    Keep it as a vacation rental

    Renovate, rent, then refinance


    4. Your experience

    First flip

    1–3 completed flips

    4+ completed flips

    [Find my best-fit lenders]

    With those details, I can narrow the list to lenders worth contacting and help you compare the likely financing structure and total borrowing costs.

  • Google AI ModeOct 16, 2026

    1. 1Lima One Capital
    2. 2FixNFlip
    3. 3Kiavi
    4. 4Easy Street Capital
    5. 5Builders Capital
    6. 6Easy Rent

    When financing a vacation rental flip in South Carolina (whether in coastal hotspots like Charleston, Myrtle Beach, or Hilton Head, or inland destination markets like the Upstate/Greenville), you want a hard money or private lender that specializes in Fix-and-Flip and has a clear path or bridge to Long-Term Rental / DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) financing if you plan to keep it as a short-term rental (STR).

    The top-rated and most active hard money lenders serving real estate investors in South Carolina include:

    • Lima One Capital
      • Overview: Headquartered in the Southeast, Lima One is widely considered one of the premier national-scale private lenders with a major footprint in South Carolina. They are known for transparent pricing with no hidden junk fees and strong localized market support.
      • Programs for Vacation Rentals: They offer a dedicated FixNFlip program for the acquisition and renovation, alongside a robust Rental portfolio program specifically covering Short-Term Rentals (STR) , making them an ideal choice if you intend to transition the property from a flip to a cash-flowing vacation asset.
    • Kiavi
      • Overview: A tech-enabled, highly rated national private lender heavily active in South Carolina. They are favored by investors for their streamlined, fast digital application process and reliable closing timelines.
      • Programs for Vacation Rentals: Their Fix-and-Flip loans feature high leverage (up to 100% of the purchase price and 100% of rehab costs depending on experience), coupled with competitive transition options into long-term DSCR rental loans once the renovation is complete.
    • Easy Street Capital
      • Overview: Widely recognized as a leading national lender specializing heavily in the short-term rental (STR) and vacation asset space. They actively lend statewide across South Carolina's major metro and leisure markets.
      • Programs for Vacation Rentals: Their EasyFix (Fix & Flip / Bridge) and EasyRent (STR long-term financing) programs are built explicitly for investors targeting vacation markets, meaning they underwrite based on the future potential short-term rental income rather than just traditional long-term metrics.
    • Builders Capital
      • Overview: Highly active in the South Carolina private lending market, particularly for larger-scale residential rehabs, heavy construction, and transitional fix-and-flips.
      • Programs for Vacation Rentals: Excellent if your vacation rental flip involves heavy structural renovation, additions, or ground-up/rebuild elements rather than just cosmetic updates.

    What to Keep in Mind for SC Vacation Flips:

    • Market Data: Hard money interest rates in South Carolina average roughly 9.4% to 10.0% with average loan-to-value (LTV) limits hovering around 65% to 75% for short-term project financing, depending on your liquidity and experience tier.
    • The Exit Strategy: Because short-term/vacation rentals have unique zoning and seasonal income swings in coastal or mountain regions of SC, ensure your chosen lender doesn't penalize early payoffs if you plan to refinance out of the hard money bridge loan into a permanent DSCR product quickly.

    If you'd like to narrow this down, please let me know:

    • The specific city or region in South Carolina (e.g., Charleston, Myrtle Beach, mountains)
    • Whether you plan to resell (flip) immediately or refinance and keep as an Airbnb/VRBO
    • Your approximate experience level (number of previous flips)

    I can help match you with the lender offering the highest leverage or lowest rates for your exact scenario.

    ChatGPTOct 16, 2026

    1. 1Lima One Capital
    2. 2Kiavi
    3. 3Coastal Equity Group
    4. 4Rehab Wallet
    5. 5Consistent Capital

    For a vacation-rental flip in South Carolina, I’d prioritize lenders that finance both the purchase and renovation, understand coastal investment properties, and can support a refinance into a long-term short-term-rental (STR) loan after the renovation.

    Based on current lender comparisons, published loan programs, and local business ratings, these are the lenders I would put on your shortlist. This is a practical shortlist rather than a definitive ranking of every lender in the state.

    Top hard money lenders to consider

    • Contact Database - Greenville Chamber of Commerce

    1. Lima One Capital

    (Best overall starting point)

    Based in Greenville, Lima One offers fix-and-flip, bridge, rental and DSCR financing, making it a strong candidate if you want to renovate a property and then keep it as a vacation rental. Its Fix2Rent and Build2Rent programs are particularly worth asking about for a renovation-to-rental strategy.

    Ask about: Purchase-plus-rehab financing, coastal property eligibility, and whether the completed property can qualify for a DSCR refinance.

    Official website


    • Kiavi Logo & Brand Assets (SVG, PNG and vector) - Brandfetch

    2. Kiavi

    A national investor lender worth comparing for a straightforward acquisition-and-renovation project. It offers fix-and-flip financing, with published South Carolina comparisons showing competitive leverage and short closing timelines. Confirm whether your specific vacation-rental property qualifies.

    Ask about: Rehab draws, minimum borrower experience, coastal insurance requirements, and the permitted exit strategy.

    Official website


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    3. Coastal Equity Group

    4.9/5

    75 reviews

    A Charleston-based private real estate lender with local investor financing for fix-and-flip, bridge and rental projects. Its local presence makes it worth contacting for a Lowcountry property, especially if local valuation and closing coordination are important.

    Ask about: Whether it will finance a property intended for nightly vacation rentals, including properties requiring substantial repairs.


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Every month, real estate investors from all over North Carolina gather at NCREIA to talk deals, strategy, and what’s working in today’s market.
Our Sales… | Rehab Wallet

    4. Rehab Wallet

    5.0/5

    94 reviews

    A highly rated North Charleston investment-property lender offering short-term financing for non-owner-occupied projects, including bridge and new-construction loans. Its investor-focused approach makes it a good local option to investigate for a rehab-heavy deal.

    Ask about: Financing the renovation budget through draws and the requirements for an eventual STR rental loan.


    • Die Trommler | Erklärt historische Ereignisse jenseits der offiziellen Geschichtsschreibung

    5. Consistent Capital

    4.9/5

    66 reviews

    A South Carolina-based business-purpose lender offering fix-and-flip, bridge, construction and rental financing. It's another useful local contact if you want to discuss both the rehab and the long-term rental financing path.

    Ask about: Whether it can structure the flip loan and subsequent rental financing as a coordinated plan.

    What should you expect to pay?

    South Carolina hard money loan pricing varies substantially by borrower experience, property condition, and leverage. Recent lender comparisons suggest the following ballpark figures. These are market estimates, not guaranteed offers.

    Loan termTypical range to investigate
    Interest rate9%–14%
    Origination fees1.5–3.5 points
    Loan term6–18 months
    Rehab fundingOften available through staged draws
    LeverageDepends on purchase price, rehab cost and after-repair value

    One important detail: a loan advertised at 9% can cost more overall than a 10% loan if it has substantial points, underwriting fees or extension charges. Compare the total dollar cost for your expected holding period.

    Special considerations for a vacation-rental flip

    Before choosing a lender, confirm these four things:

    • Short-term rental eligibility: The lender permits your intended Airbnb or vacation-rental use, rather than requiring a conventional resale exit.
    • Rehab funding: The loan covers enough of the renovation budget, and draw payments arrive quickly enough to keep contractors working.
    • Coastal risk: If you're buying near Charleston, Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head, check flood-zone restrictions, windstorm insurance costs and insurability.
    • Exit financing: You have a realistic path to a DSCR loan based on projected or documented rental income once the property is ready. Verify seasoning rules and whether short-term rental income is accepted.

    Also check local zoning, HOA rules and vacation-rental permits before closing. A lender's approval does not guarantee the property can legally operate as a short-term rental.

    Let’s narrow this to the best fit for your deal

    The most useful next step is to identify the market and approximate budget, because a beach property in Myrtle Beach can have very different financing constraints from a historic home in Charleston.

    Your vacation-rental flip

    1. Where is the property?

    Charleston / Lowcountry

    Myrtle Beach / Grand Strand

    Hilton Head / Bluffton

    Greenville / Columbia / inland SC


    2. Total project budget (purchase plus rehab)

    Under $200,000

    $200,000–$400,000

    $400,000–$750,000

    $750,000+


    3. Your investment experience

    First flip

    Some flips completed

    Experienced investor with multiple properties


    4. Your intended exit

    Renovate and sell

    Renovate, then keep as a vacation rental

    Undecided

    [Find my best lender matches]

    You can also compare lender rates and fees or find lenders specializing in beach rentals.

Also asked as

  • I need a hard money loan for a vacation rental flip project in South Carolina. Who are the best lenders to work with for this type of deal?