Kentucky fix and flip FAQ
Ten questions, asked by Kentucky flippers.
Specific to Kentucky. For broader hard money questions — FICO floors, BRRRR strategy, the 70% rule, application flow — see the 70% rule explainer, the BRRRR mechanics breakdown, or the full FAQ.
Do you lend in Kentucky?
Yes. PML funds fix and flip loans in all 50 states, with active flipper books in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Owensboro. Single-family, duplex, triplex, and fourplex properties. Loan size from $100,000 to $5,000,000 per asset, with cross-collateralized facility lines available for sponsors running three or more concurrent Kentucky projects. No state-line carve-outs on pricing or leverage; a Jefferson County flip prices off the same rate sheet as a Fayette County flip.
Is PML licensed in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not require a separate state lender license for business-purpose loans on 1 to 4 unit non-owner-occupied investment property held by an entity. PML originates Kentucky fix and flip loans under that posture, with closings handled through the customary Kentucky closing process. Loans are not consumer mortgages; they cannot be used for a primary or secondary residence. The borrower is always an LLC, LP, or corporation, never a natural person.
What is the typical Kentucky loan size and ARV range?
The bulk of Kentucky fix and flip activity in our book lands in a $145,000 to $315,000 ARV band, with loans typically between $115,000 and $254,000 on a single asset. Louisville and Lexington skew toward the lower half of that band on entry-level cosmetic flips; the Highlands and Crescent Hill stretch to $595,000 plus on full-gut projects. We will write a Kentucky loan as small as $100,000 and as large as $5,000,000.
How does title and escrow work in Kentucky?
Kentucky is a hybrid state: title companies handle most lender closings on investment property, but a Kentucky closing attorney may also conduct the closing depending on county custom and the deed package. PML aligns with whichever the borrower has engaged. A clean Kentucky file regularly closes 5 to 8 business days from term-sheet acceptance.
What transfer tax or recording fees apply in Kentucky?
Kentucky imposes a state transfer tax on the deed at $0.50 per $500 of consideration. The buyer pays the county clerk recording fee on the deed and mortgage. PML’s quote on the HUD reflects the actual Kentucky tax and recording schedule for the subject county; there are no lender markups on third-party closing costs.
Does Kentucky weather or seasonality affect rehab draws?
Northern Kentucky winters slow exterior trade work (roofing, siding, concrete) from late November through March, but they do not slow our draw cadence. Inspector clears within one business day, wire goes out within 48 hours, year-round. Plan rehab budgets with a 2 to 4 week seasonal cushion on cold-weather exterior scopes.
How long does foreclosure take in Kentucky if the loan defaults?
Kentucky is a judicial foreclosure state. A defaulted business-purpose loan moves through the courts in roughly 6 to 9 months from filed complaint to sheriff's or commissioner's sale — materially longer than non-judicial states like Texas or Arizona. As a sponsor this should never matter; as an underwriting input it is reflected in our Kentucky risk pricing.
How quickly does Jefferson County record a Kentucky deed?
The Jefferson County e-recording system normally posts a deed and deed of trust the same business day they are submitted. Other major Kentucky metros (Lexington, Bowling Green and Owensboro) run similarly fast on e-recording. PML wires loan proceeds the day of close; the lien recording happens in parallel.
Do you fund foreclosure or auction purchases in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky foreclosure sales are court-ordered judicial sales conducted by the county sheriff or court-appointed commissioner, with the sale date set by the court after entry of the foreclosure judgment. PML can fund acquisitions from courthouse-step foreclosure sales when title is clean and judgment is final, with a binding term sheet inside four business hours. Plan additional time for confirmation-of-sale where the Kentucky courts require it.
Can I close into a Kentucky LLC formed after the property goes under contract?
Yes. PML can close into a newly-formed Kentucky LLC even if you took the property under contract in your personal name. The closing party handles the deed transfer at closing — the property moves from your personal name into the new entity simultaneous with the loan funding, with the standard Kentucky transfer-tax treatment applied at close. We do not lend to natural persons; the borrower is always an entity. We can help structure the entity if you do not yet have one in place.