Every real estate loan—whether from a bank or a private lender—goes through underwriting. That’s where the lender decides: Is this deal worth funding?

But here’s the difference:

  • Banks care about your tax returns, W-2s, credit scores, and debt-to-income ratios.
  • Private lenders like Lending Bee care about the deal itself: purchase price, rehab budget, ARV (after-repair value), and your track record as an investor.

If you’ve ever had a deal fall apart because a bank underwriter didn’t “like” your tax filing or employment status, you’ll appreciate how streamlined our process is.

The Bank Nonsense We Skip

Let’s be clear about what we don’t require:

  • No W-2s, tax returns, or pay stubs
  • No endless explanations of your credit report
  • No 45-day approval process
  • No committee review where no one in the room has ever flipped a house

We’re investors ourselves. We focus on what actually matters in getting a deal to the finish line.

What We Do Look At

At Lending Bee, our underwriting centers on three pillars:

1. The Property

We analyze:

  • Purchase price compared to market value
  • Rehab budget (is it realistic for the scope of work?)
  • After-repair value (ARV) supported by comps
  • Exit strategy (sale, refinance, or rental hold)

2. The Numbers

Our private lender underwriting is math-first:

  • Loan-to-value (LTV) usually capped around 70%
  • Loan-to-cost (LTC) when renovations are involved
  • Potential profit spread (does it make sense for you to succeed?)

3. The Borrower

We’re not judging you like a bank, but we do consider:

  • Experience level (first-timer vs. repeat flipper)
  • Past projects or references (if available)
  • Liquidity for carrying costs and unexpected expenses

Even first-time investors can get funded if the deal pencils out.

Step-by-Step: Lending Bee’s Underwriting Process

  1. Initial Application
    • Submit property details, contract, and your rehab budget.
    • We review same-day—often within hours.
  2. Valuation Review
    • We run comps and confirm ARV.
    • If needed, we order a quick appraisal or BPO (broker price opinion).
  3. Budget & Scope Check
    • Our team reviews your contractor bids or cost estimates.
    • We want to see your numbers align with market reality.
  4. Approval & Term Sheet
    • Within 24–48 hours, we issue a loan proposal.
    • You’ll see interest rate, points, term, and draw schedule (if rehab involved).
  5. Closing
    • Once docs are signed, we can fund in as little as 5 business days.
    • Rehab funds are disbursed in draws, tied to completed milestones.

How This Builds Investor Confidence

We designed our underwriting to do two things:

  • Protect you – by ensuring you’re not over-leveraged or underestimating costs.
  • Protect us – by funding deals that make financial sense.

It’s not about creating hoops to jump through. It’s about making sure you walk away with profit instead of problems.

Real Example

🏚 Investor bought a duplex in Sacramento at auction.

  • Purchase price: $320,000
  • Rehab budget: $60,000
  • Projected ARV: $500,000

We verified comps, approved the $60K budget, and closed in 6 days. The investor sold 7 months later for $505,000—exactly on target.

A bank? They wouldn’t have touched an auction property with no livable units.

Why Investors Choose Lending Bee

  • Speed: 24–48 hour approvals, closings in 5–7 days
  • Transparency: No hidden criteria—we tell you upfront
  • Investor-focused: We underwrite deals like we’d underwrite our own

When you know what we look for, you can structure stronger offers, win more deals, and fund them faster.

To sum up

Private lender underwriting isn’t about paperwork—it’s about deal-making. At Lending Bee, we’ve stripped away the red tape to focus on what matters: the property, the numbers, and your plan to succeed.

If you’ve been burned by bank underwriting in the past, it’s time to see how much easier it can be with a direct lender that speaks your language.

📋 Ready to get pre-qualified today? Talk to our lending team – apply now.