Vacation rental flip in Myrtle Beach. Who's considered the best hard money lender in SC?

If you're talking about a Myrtle Beach vacation-rental flip—buy, renovate, then either sell or refinance into an STR—I'd put Kiavi and Lima One Capital at the top of the national-lender list, with a few SC-focused options worth getting quotes from.

My shortlist

1. Kiavi — probably my first quote.

• Current advertised fix-and-flip rates starting around 7.75%
• Up to 100% of purchase and 80% ARV on some programs
• Up to $5M
• 12–24 month terms
• No income verification advertised.

2. Lima One Capital — excellent choice if you're an established investor.

• Strong fix-and-flip/bridge platform
• Particularly worth comparing against Kiavi on leverage, points and draw structure.
• One SC lender comparison currently puts Lima One around 8.99% starting for flips.

3. ABL Funding — interesting if maximizing leverage is important.

• Advertises SC fix-and-flip rates from 8.99%
• Says approvals can happen within 24 hours and closings within 10 days
• Offers both flip and rental financing.

4. Carolina Capital Management — I'd definitely get a quote if you want a local/regional lender.

• Lends in SC and NC
• Advertises up to 90% purchase + 100% rehab, capped at 70% ARV
• More expensive headline pricing—starting around 11.99% plus 3–3.5 points—but the leverage can make the economics work on the right deal.

But there's an important Myrtle Beach wrinkle

If this is actually a vacation rental you're planning to keep, I wouldn't automatically use a conventional "hard money flip" loan.

I'd structure it as:

Hard money/bridge → renovate → STR DSCR refinance

There are lenders specifically advertising Myrtle Beach STR programs. For example, AIRE advertises SC fix-and-flip loans from 9% and separate DSCR/STR loans from 7%, while Sab Tera advertises Myrtle Beach STR DSCR financing and flip financing.

That's potentially much better than selling the property if the finished Airbnb cash flow is strong.

Who I'd call first

For one Myrtle Beach deal, I'd get three term sheets simultaneously:

• Kiavi — benchmark the national lender
• Lima One — benchmark investor-focused financing
• Carolina Capital or ABL — benchmark regional/private leverage

And I'd have them quote the same exact deal, including purchase price, rehab budget, ARV, requested loan amount, and intended STR exit. The headline interest rate can be misleading—points, construction-draw fees, minimum interest, extension fees, appraisal requirements, and how they calculate ARV can easily matter more.

If you give me the purchase price, rehab cost, expected ARV, and whether you're keeping it as an Airbnb or selling it, I can run the Myrtle Beach deal and tell you which lender structure I'd pursue and roughly how much cash you'd need to bring to closing.

When tackling a vacation rental flip in a high-turnover coastal market like Myrtle Beach, you want a lender that understands short-term rental (STR) exit strategies, fast-rehab draws, and local Horry County property dynamics.

While "best" depends on whether you prefer national tech-forward private lenders with high volume or regional specialists who know the Southeast coast, several top contenders consistently lead the South Carolina market for fix-and-flip and transitional rental financing:

• Lima One Capital Headquartered in the region (Greenville, SC), Lima One Capital is widely regarded as one of the premier private lenders in the state. They specialize in fix-and-flip products tailored explicitly for investors, and crucially, they seamlessly transition hard money bridge loans into long-term DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) rental loans once your vacation flip is stabilization-ready.
• Kiavi As one of the highest-volume lenders across South Carolina, Kiavi offers a streamlined, tech-enabled platform. They provide competitive fix-and-flip financing (covering up to 100% of rehab costs) with fast qualification and minimal friction if you have standard investor experience.
• BridgeWell Capital Highly active across coastal SC and Myrtle Beach specifically, they are an A+ BBB-rated direct private lender known for fix-to-flip programs where you pay zero interest on undrawn rehab funds—a major cost-saver during slow renovation phases.
• Builders Capital If your vacation rental flip involves heavy structural renovation, ground-up components, or modular/condo-hotel configurations common to the Grand Strand, they are a dominant heavy-rehab and construction lender in the state.

Average market terms to expect in Myrtle Beach:

• Interest Rates: Typically 10.0% to 11.5% depending on experience.
• Origination Fees: 1.5% to 3.0%.
• Loan-to-Value (LTV): Usually capped around 65% to 75% of the Purchase Price, with up to 75%-80% of the After-Repair Value (ARV).

To help narrow down which lender fits your specific project, tell me:

• Are you planning to flip it immediately or keep it as a short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO) post-rehab?
• Is the property a standard single-family home or a condo/resort property in Myrtle Beach?

When tackling a vacation rental fix-and-flip in a high-turnover coastal market like Myrtle Beach, "the best" hard money lender depends on whether you prioritize closing speed, high leverage, or low rates.

Several prominent lenders consistently rank at the top for South Carolina fix-and-flips based on market reputation, volume, and investor feedback:

• Lima One Capital : Headquartered regionally in the Southeast, they are widely considered a premier lender for real estate investors in South Carolina. They offer specialized fix-and-flip programs, in-house underwriting, and strong closing certainty without outsourced processing.
• Kiavi : Highly active volume-wise in South Carolina, Kiavi is a favorite for tech-forward, streamlined, and fast approvals on residential fix-and-flips if your credit and experience profile lines up well.
• BridgeWell Capital : Frequently cited as a top-tier trusted private money and rehab lender explicitly servicing South Carolina investors, known for working closely with local real estate investor associations (REIAs).
• Ridge Street Capital : Popular for flexible fix-and-flip financing across SC, offering competitive leverage (up to 90% LTC and 100% of rehab costs on certain terms) with fast 7-day closes.

If you want to narrow down the best fit, let me know:

• What is your experience level (number of previous flips)?
• What is your estimated after-repair value (ARV) and purchase price?
• Do you need a lender that covers 100% of the rehab costs?

• Funding Resources LLC - 630 Chestnut Rd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
• Sarah Ellis Home Loans - AFN Mortgage - 1045 London St #1b, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• The Mortgage Company of South Carolina - 2411 N Oak St Ste 301 J, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• 1st Franklin Financial - 3076 Dick Pond Rd Ste 3, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
• Alpha Mortgage Advantage - 3888 Renee Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
• EMM Loans LLC - LowCounty Mortgage Team - 1803 N Oak St, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• Revolution Mortgage - 407 79th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
• Security Finance - 854 Jason Blvd D, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• Auto Money - 1000 US-501, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• Check `n Go - 612 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
• Ryan Leonard "The Loan Doctor" - Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation - NMLS 308661 - 695 Main St, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

If you mean a vacation-rental/STR acquisition + renovation + resale (“flip”) in Myrtle Beach, I’d put Lima One Capital at the top of the list to quote first.

My shortlist

1. limaone.com — my first call

• Specifically lends on South Carolina fix-and-flips.
• Current program: up to 95% LTC, up to 75% LTV, and up to 100% of rehab costs.
• Loans from $100K–$5M, with 13-, 19-, and 24-month terms.
• Advertises rates starting around 7.25% and closings as fast as 7 days when the file is ready.
• Particularly interesting for your Myrtle Beach deal because they also have a Fix2Rent option, giving you an exit strategy if selling doesn't make sense.

2. kiavi.com — probably the strongest competitor

• South Carolina fix-and-flip loans from $100K–$5M.
• Advertises up to 100% purchase price + 100% rehab, subject to its leverage/ARV requirements.
• Rates currently start around 7.75%, with 12-, 18-, and 24-month terms.
• Very investor-focused and highly automated, which can make it attractive when speed matters.

3. New Silver

• Worth getting a quote as a third comparison, particularly if speed and a streamlined underwriting process matter.
• Current industry comparisons put its fix-and-flip starting rates around 9%, with potentially faster closings than some competitors.

One important wrinkle with Myrtle Beach

For a vacation rental, I wouldn't automatically structure this as a conventional "buy → renovate → sell" hard-money loan.

If your actual plan is:

Buy distressed condo/house → renovate → operate as an Airbnb/VRBO for a period → sell

I'd have the lender underwrite the STR/rental exit from day one. Lima One is especially interesting because its product lineup gives you a potential bridge from FixNFlip → Fix2Rent.

Also, the local Myrtle Beach mortgage brokers that show up prominently in search aren't necessarily hard-money specialists. For example, Funding Resources LLC is local and highly rated, but I'd distinguish that from an investor-focused hard-money lender.

If you give me the purchase price, estimated rehab, ARV, your credit score range, and whether it's a condo or house, I can run the deal against Lima One vs. Kiavi and tell you roughly what you'd need to bring to closing and which lender looks better.

For a vacation rental flip in Myrtle Beach (STR/Airbnb/VRBO type property), the “best” hard money lender depends on whether you’re buying + renovating to sell, renovating then holding as a rental, or doing a BRRRR/refi. There isn’t one universally best lender, but these are the names I’d put at the top of the list for a Myrtle Beach investor deal:

Strong candidates for Myrtle Beach flips

1. Lima One Capital

• One of the better-known investor lenders based in South Carolina.
• Good fit for fix-and-flip, bridge, and rental strategies.
• Often competitive for experienced investors who want repeat funding.

2. Kiavi

• Large national hard money lender with strong fix-and-flip programs.
• Good if you want a streamlined online process and predictable underwriting.

3. BridgeWell Capital

• Active in South Carolina and markets specifically to Myrtle Beach investors.
• Often considered when speed and rehab funding are priorities.

4. Rehab Wallet

• South Carolina-based private lender focused on investor properties.
• Worth comparing if you prefer a more local/private-money style relationship.

5. Capital Kings

• Not a direct lender; they shop investor loans through a lender network.
• Useful if you want multiple term sheets without contacting many lenders yourself.

For a Myrtle Beach vacation rental flip, I’d pay special attention to:

• STR experience: Does the lender understand Airbnb/VRBO income and seasonal occupancy?
• Condo/HOA rules: Many Myrtle Beach deals involve condos, condo-tels, or HOA restrictions that some lenders avoid.
• Rehab draw process: How quickly do they release renovation funds?
• Exit strategy: Are you selling after the flip, or refinancing into a DSCR vacation-rental loan?
• Leverage: Purchase + rehab financing is often more important than the headline interest rate.

For a typical Myrtle Beach STR flip, I’d probably get quotes from:

1. Lima One
2. BridgeWell
3. Rehab Wallet
4. Kiavi
5. One local SC private lender/broker

Then compare total cost (points + interest + fees + draw fees), not just the rate.

If you tell me:

• purchase price,
• rehab budget,
• expected ARV,
• condo vs single-family,
• whether you’re selling or keeping it as an Airbnb,

I can help you narrow down which lender type is likely the best fit.

When you're flipping a vacation rental in a fast-moving coastal market like Myrtle Beach, "the best" hard money lender usually comes down to who understands the Grand Strand's unique short-term rental (STR) dynamics, flood zones, and HOA/condo-hotel complexities.

While there is no single universally crowned "best" lender, several regional and national direct private lenders consistently rank at the top for fix-and-flip projects in South Carolina:

• BridgeWell Capital: Widely recognized as a top direct hard money lender across South Carolina (including Myrtle Beach), they specialize in fix-to-flip funding with fast in-house approvals (often closing in 7 to 10 days) and don't gatekeep heavily on W-2 income or personal credit hurdles if the asset and profit margin make sense. You can check their specific criteria via BridgeWell Capital South Carolina Hard Money.
• Lima One Capital: Headquartered in the region (Greenville, SC), they are a premier national/regional heavyweight for real estate investors. They offer dedicated fix-and-flip programs tailored for scaling investors, though they lean slightly more institutional with credit/experience standards. Details are available on Lima One Capital South Carolina Hard Money.
• Yieldi: A trusted direct private lender active across coastal markets like Myrtle Beach and Charleston. They are popular for asset-based, 12-to-24-month interest-only fix-and-flip loans with minimal red tape and quick in-house underwriting. Review their terms on Yieldi South Carolina Hard Money Loans.
• Hard Money Lenders of Myrtle Beach / Local Specialized Groups: For hyper-local expertise along the Grand Strand, local private networks (like those outlined via Hard Money Lenders of Myrtle Beach ) are favored by local flippers because they utilize actual Horry County localized comps rather than automated valuation models (AVMs) that often misprice beach-adjacent or condo-hotel properties.

To help narrow down which lender fits best, tell me:

• Are you looking at a single-family home or an oceanfront condo/condo-hotel (which can have stricter financing rules)?
• What is your estimated experience level (first flip vs. seasoned portfolio)?

If you're talking about a Myrtle Beach vacation-rental flip—buy, renovate/furnish, then either sell or refinance into a short-term-rental loan—I’d put Lima One Capital at the top of my call list in South Carolina.

My short list

Lima One is particularly interesting because they're actually headquartered in Greenville, SC, and their SC program explicitly covers fix-and-flips plus rental/short-term-rental strategies. Their FixNFlip program currently advertises up to 95% LTC, 75% LTARV, 100% of rehab, $100K–$5M loans, and 13-, 19-, and 24-month terms. They also have a Fix2Rent product if you decide not to sell and instead turn the property into a vacation rental.

Kiavi is probably the strongest alternative. Its current published flip terms include rates as low as 7.75%, loans from $100K–$5M, up to 100% purchase price, 80% ARV, 100% rehab, and no income verification.

ABL is also worth a call specifically because they advertise Myrtle Beach lending and say they can approve in as little as 24 hours and close in 10 days or less.

One BIG Myrtle Beach issue

If this is a condo, I'd make the lender's experience with that specific building a deciding factor.

Oceanfront Myrtle Beach condos can have HOA rental restrictions, insurance issues, flood/wind requirements, structural assessments, litigation, and warrantability problems. Those can kill an otherwise great flip/STR financing deal. Even lenders advertising aggressive generic LTVs may substantially reduce leverage on a particular condo.

Also, if your actual plan is:

Buy distressed → renovate → furnish → Airbnb/VRBO → refinance and hold

then I wouldn't choose the hard-money lender solely on the flip rate. The refinance lender/exit strategy is just as important. You want the initial lender to be comfortable with the eventual STR DSCR refinance and seasoning requirements.

What I'd do

I'd send the same deal package to Lima One, Kiavi and ABL and make them compete. Ask each for:

• Purchase price
• Rehab budget
• Expected ARV
• Desired loan amount
• Down payment
• Interest rate
• Points
• LTC/LTARV
• Rehab-draw requirements
• Minimum borrower experience
• Prepayment penalty
• Extension fees
• Condo eligibility
• Myrtle Beach STR eligibility
• Whether they'll allow your intended Airbnb/VRBO exit
• Whether they have a DSCR/STR refinance product afterward

For a vacation-rental flip, I'd favor Lima One if their quote is reasonably close to the cheapest because the combination of SC presence + flip financing + rental exit is unusually well aligned with what you're trying to do.

If you give me the purchase price, estimated rehab, ARV, property type (condo/SFR), and whether it's Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle, Surfside, etc., I can run the deal structure and tell you which lender I'd approach first and what terms I'd try to negotiate.

When flipping a vacation rental in Myrtle Beach, you need a lender that understands the coastal market dynamics—such as short-term rental (STR) regulations, HOA restrictions in communities like Carolina Forest or Grande Dunes , and realistic after-repair values (ARV) for beachside properties.

Top-rated hard money and private lenders operating in South Carolina and specializing in the Grand Strand area include:

• Hard Money Lenders of Myrtle Beach : Highly specialized in the local Grand Strand market, the team at Hard Money Lenders of Myrtle Beach understands coastal valuations, FEMA-zone standard adjustments, and tourist-economy seasonality. They offer fast single-loan fix-and-flip structures based closely on local post-renovation comps.
• Asset Based Lending (ABL) : A heavily trusted regional and statewide lender that funds projects in every SC county. They offer robust fix-and-flip, rental, and new construction financing with flexible draw management and quick turnarounds. You can review their terms on the Asset Based Lending South Carolina page.
• Lima One Capital : Headquartered right in South Carolina (Greenville), Lima One Capital is one of the most prominent institutional private lenders in the Southeast. They are well-known for competitive fix-and-flip loans alongside long-term DSCR rental options, making them a great fit if you plan to keep the property as a short-term cash-flowing asset after the flip/rehab.
• BridgeWell Capital : An A+ BBB-rated direct lender providing fast residential fix-and-flip funding across the Palmetto State, including the Myrtle Beach market. They feature asset-based underwriting and quick closings without penalizing you for undrawn rehab capital. Check out their loan criteria via BridgeWell Capital South Carolina.

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

• Your estimated purchase price and rehab budget
• Whether you have prior fix-and-flip experience
• If the property is in a strict short-term rental HOA or flood zone

I can help you compare financing options tailored to your specific deal.

When doing a vacation rental fix-and-flip along the Grand Strand, there isn't a single "best" hard money lender for everyone, but a few regional and national private lenders consistently rank at the top for South Carolina fix-and-flips and coastal short-term rental (STR) markets.

Because Myrtle Beach has unique dynamics (seasonality, condo-hotel vs. single-family STR regulations, flood zones), you want a lender familiar with Horry County property values rather than just a generic statewide desk.

Top-rated hard money and private lenders active in South Carolina include:

• BridgeWell Capital : Widely recognized as a leading direct hard money lender explicitly active across South Carolina (including Myrtle Beach). They are BBB A+ rated, specialize in fix-to-flip and rehab lines, and don’t rely on traditional W-2 or tax return red tape, often closing in 7 to 10 days.
• Lima One Capital : Headquartered in-state (Greenville, SC), Lima One is one of the premier national-scale, investor-focused lenders with robust operations throughout South Carolina. They offer dedicated fix-and-flip programs alongside flexible in-house servicing, making them a favorite for scaling investors.
• Asset Based Lending (ABL) : Very active across South Carolina counties. They understand the distinct difference between an urban flip (like Florence or Columbia) and a coastal buy-and-hold/flip (like Myrtle Beach). They provide strong leverage on purchase-plus-rehab and close rapidly.
• Easy Street Capital : If your "flip" strategy leans toward the BRRRR method or transitioning a flipped property into a short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO), Easy Street is nationally recognized as a leading short-term rental and investor lender with active programs in South Carolina. They underwrite based on STR income potential (AirDNA data) rather than just standard metrics.
• Kiavi & RCN Capital : If you prefer a streamlined, tech-enabled national platform with high transaction volume in SC, both Kiavi and RCN consistently rank among the top private lenders by loan count in the Palmetto State for fast fix-and-flip financing.

To help narrow down the best fit for your specific project, tell me:

• Is the property a single-family home or a condo/condo-hotel?
• What is your estimated rehab budget vs. purchase price (approximate LTV)?

If you mean a hard-money lender for a Myrtle Beach vacation-rental flip—buy, renovate, then either sell or refinance into a DSCR/STR loan—I’d put Asset Based Lending (ABL) near the top of the list right now.

My shortlist

1. Asset Based Lending (ABL) — my first call

   • Specifically lends in Myrtle Beach.
   • Fix-and-flip loans can go up to 90% of purchase price + 100% of renovation costs.
   • Advertises 12-month interest-only bridge loans, approvals as fast as 24 hours, and closings in 10 days or less.
   • Current advertised SC flip rates start around 8.99%.
   • This is particularly interesting if you're trying to preserve cash for furnishings, carrying costs, and the STR conversion.

2. Carolina Capital Management / Carolina Hard Money — worth getting a quote

   • SC-based private/hard-money lender with an investor-oriented approach.
   • Local business results show a 5.0 rating from 12 reviews, and its positioning is very much "deal-based" lending rather than conventional underwriting.
   • I'd compare them against ABL if your deal has unusual property characteristics or you need flexibility.

3. Sab Tera Lending — interesting if the end game is STR

   • They specifically market hard money + STR/DSCR lending in Myrtle Beach/Horry County.
   • Their published 2026 comparison shows their fix-and-flip pricing starting around 9.5%, while they also offer DSCR financing for the eventual rental.
   • That combination can be useful because you're potentially dealing with the same lending relationship from acquisition/rehab → vacation rental refinance.

4. Funding Resources LLC — local broker option

   • Funding Resources LLC is actually in Myrtle Beach and advertises hard-money, bridge, construction and other commercial financing.
   • A broker can be useful if you want someone to shop multiple lenders rather than taking the first quote.

One important wrinkle with Myrtle Beach

If this is a condo, especially oceanfront/oceanblock, I'd be much more selective about the lender. HOA financials, insurance, flood/wind coverage, litigation, reserves and the building's warrantability can materially affect financing. A lender that happily finances an SFR flip may have very different rules for a beach condo.

And if you're not actually planning to sell after the renovation, I'd consider a different structure. For example:

Hard money acquisition + rehab → furnish/operate as STR → DSCR refinance

That can make more sense than paying hard-money rates for a long-term vacation rental. Local Myrtle Beach lenders are explicitly offering STR DSCR programs, and one local lender notes that HOA, flood, wind and the SC investment-property tax treatment need to be included in the actual cash-flow calculation.

If you give me the purchase price, estimated rehab, ARV, expected Airbnb gross revenue, and how much cash you want to put in, I can run the deal and tell you what I'd target for LTV, rate, points, and exit—and which 2–3 lenders I'd call first.