Insights · Investor questions
Can a first-time investor get a fix and flip loan?
By Danté M. Shackelford, Founder and Managing Principal of EMx Lending
Updated November 5, 2026
Short answer
Yes. First-time investors can get fix and flip loans, usually on lighter renovations with strong numbers. If you don't have experience yet, an experienced contractor or partner with a three-year track record can help the deal get approved.
Why experience matters on flip loans
On rental loans, credit score drives your terms. On fix and flip loans, experience does. A borrower with a strong track record can get top leverage even with a 660 score, while a new investor with great credit starts with less.
How first-time investors get approved
- Keep the rehab light. Cosmetic projects with a clear scope are the easiest to approve for a first deal.
- Bring an experienced contractor. A general contractor who will share their last three years of projects can carry the experience. In some cases an experienced agent acting as project manager has done the same.
- Partner with an experienced investor whose track record counts toward the loan.
With an experienced project manager on a moderate flip, a new investor might see 80% to 85% of cost. We'd also suggest a property you can finish and sell within about six months.
How to prove the experience you have
We send a simple spreadsheet: address, purchase price, sale price, dates and how each property was titled. Our team matches it to public records, which is almost always enough.
If a property was bought in a different company's name, we'll also ask for that company's operating agreement to confirm you own it. Experience older than three years can still count, at a reduced weight.
Be honest about the risk
A new investor working with a new crew is the riskiest flip there is. Keep the scope small, keep a contingency and don't stretch on price. The first deal is about finishing well, not maximizing profit.
This is general education, not investment, legal or tax advice. Loan terms are general guidelines, depend on credit, experience and the property, are subject to change and are not a commitment to lend. EMx Lending makes business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied investment property in all states except Vermont, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, California, Arizona and Nevada.
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Book a strategy session and we'll look at the deal, your team and the right loan before you commit.