Wisconsin fix and flip FAQ
Ten questions, asked by Wisconsin flippers.
Specific to Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin?
Yes. PML funds fix and flip loans in all 50 states, with active flipper books in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and Kenosha. 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 Wisconsin projects. No state-line carve-outs on pricing or leverage; a Milwaukee County flip prices off the same rate sheet as a Dane County flip.
Is PML licensed in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin fix and flip loans under that posture, with closings handled through the customary Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin loan size and ARV range?
The bulk of Wisconsin fix and flip activity in our book lands in a $185,000 to $385,000 ARV band, with loans typically between $148,000 and $312,000 on a single asset. Milwaukee and Madison skew toward the lower half of that band on entry-level cosmetic flips; Whitefish Bay, Wauwatosa, and Madison's near-east side stretch to $725,000 plus on full-gut projects. We will write a Wisconsin loan as small as $100,000 and as large as $5,000,000.
How does title and escrow work in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is a title-company state. Closings happen at a licensed title company that handles both the title commitment and the escrow function — there is no attorney-state requirement and no separate settlement attorney. PML has working relationships with title companies in every major Wisconsin metro and routes closings to whichever office produces the fastest commitment for the subject property’s county. A clean Wisconsin file regularly closes 5 to 7 business days from term-sheet acceptance.
What transfer tax or recording fees apply in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin imposes a state real estate transfer fee at $3 per $1,000 of consideration (paid by the seller). The buyer pays the register of deeds recording fee on the deed and mortgage. PML’s quote on the HUD reflects the actual Wisconsin tax and recording schedule for the subject county; there are no lender markups on third-party closing costs.
Does Wisconsin weather or seasonality affect rehab draws?
Northern Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin if the loan defaults?
Wisconsin permits both judicial and non-judicial foreclosure depending on the deed instrument. Most business-purpose PML loans use a deed of trust with power of sale, allowing a non-judicial path of roughly roughly 12 to 16 months (judicial). As a sponsor this should never matter; as an underwriting input it shapes how our Wisconsin loans price.
How quickly does Milwaukee County record a Wisconsin deed?
The Milwaukee County e-recording system normally posts a deed and deed of trust the same business day they are submitted. Other major Wisconsin metros (Madison, Green Bay and Kenosha) 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 Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin foreclosure sales may proceed either non-judicially (where a deed of trust with power of sale is in place) or judicially through the courts. PML can fund acquisitions from either path when title is clean, with a binding term sheet inside four business hours. For non-judicial Wisconsin sales, winning bid to wire in 7 to 10 calendar days is typical.
Can I close into a Wisconsin LLC formed after the property goes under contract?
Yes. PML can close into a newly-formed Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.