The research in brief
Kiavi is a good, but not clearly strong, fit for an investor-builder financing a residential ground-up construction project. Five of seven platforms named Kiavi during the ranking stage, with an average listed rank of 1.8 and a best rank of 1. The strongest reason to consider it is a purpose-built New Construction / Infill product that advertises land-plus-construction funding, up to 85% of total costs, quick draws, 12/18/24-month terms, and a possible DSCR refinance exit. The main limitation is transparency: builder experience requirements, exact draw mechanics, origination fees, and any guaranteed construction-to-permanent conversion are not publicly specified, and most cited evidence is Kiavi-owned marketing material.
Research Snapshot
| Field | Finding |
|---|---|
| Platform mentions in ranking stage | 5 of 7 platforms (Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity) |
| Share of included platform responses | 71.4% |
| Average listed rank | 1.8 |
| Best listed rank | 1 |
| Mortgage offering | New Construction / Infill Real Estate Loans |
| Overall use-case fit | Good (per five platforms); mixed (DeepSeek); uncertain (Kimi) |
| Research date | 2026-09-30 |
Why Kiavi Qualified for This Study
Questions explored
- Is Kiavi a good choice for a ground-up construction loan for investment property?
- How many AI platforms recommended Kiavi for investor-builder construction financing?
Kiavi qualified because it was named by five of the seven included platforms during ranking discovery and placed first overall in the final ranking [16]. It is one of the few lenders in this study with a dedicated, publicly marketed product for ground-up residential investment construction rather than a general bridge or fix-and-flip program [10].
Platforms ranked it between first and third: Claude and Gemini placed it first, DeepSeek and ChatGPT second, and Perplexity third. Kimi did not name Kiavi in its ranking stage and rated the fit uncertain, citing thin public product detail [5]. Deepseek rated the fit mixed and noted that its research ran on 2026-06-11 rather than the 2026-09-30 study date.
The consensus index for this category is available at ground-up construction loan for investment property.
The mortgage offering in focus
Questions explored
- Which Kiavi loan product applies to a ground-up construction loan for investment property?
- Does Kiavi's New Construction / Infill loan cover land acquisition plus building costs?
The relevant product is Kiavi's New Construction / Infill Real Estate Loans, marketed to real estate investors building residential properties from the ground up [16]. Kiavi states the product supports build-to-sell and build-to-rent strategies and can fund the property purchase plus building costs in a new-purchase transaction [16].
Advertised parameters include loan amounts from $150,000 to $10 million, rates as low as 9.00%, up to 85% of total costs, up to 70% of ARV, 12/18/24-month terms with 3- or 6-month extension options, no application fee, no income verification, and no third-party appraisal required for closing [16]. Kiavi also advertises that permits do not need to be secured before closing, subject to qualifications [16].
Platforms used slightly different product names — "New Construction / Infill Loans," "New Construction / Ground-Up Loans," and "Ground-up Construction Loans for real-estate investors" — but all point to the same program family [16]. Kiavi's FAQ states it does not currently lend on mixed-use, commercial, mobile-home, or certain rural properties [11].
What the AI Platforms Agreed About
Questions explored
- What do AI platforms agree Kiavi offers for ground-up construction loans on investment property?
- Is Kiavi's ground-up construction product considered fast and high-leverage by AI reviewers?
Five platforms — Claude, Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT, and Perplexity — rated Kiavi a good fit and converged on several points [16].
They agreed the product is purpose-built for ground-up residential investment construction, including infill single-family, townhome, and 2–4 unit projects [10]. They agreed advertised leverage reaches up to 85% of total costs and 70% of ARV, with loan amounts spanning $150,000 to $10 million [16].
They agreed on speed-oriented features: no income verification, no appraisal for closing, no application fee, no prepayment penalties, and a quick-draw process with in-house servicing [24]. They agreed terms run 12, 18, or 24 months with 3- or 6-month extensions [24].
They also agreed a DSCR rental loan exists as a post-completion refinance path for build-to-rent projects, though none confirmed an automatic or guaranteed conversion [17].
Where the AI Platforms Disagreed or Were Uncertain
Questions explored
- Why did some AI platforms rate Kiavi's ground-up construction fit as mixed or uncertain?
- Is Kiavi's construction-to-permanent conversion guaranteed for a build-to-rent investment property?
Fit ratings diverged. Five platforms said good; DeepSeek said mixed; Kimi said uncertain [14]. Deepseek's research date was 2026-06-11, not the study date, and it cited a $4.5 million publicly disclosed fix-and-flip maximum that conflicts with the $10 million new-construction figure other platforms reported [13].
Geographic coverage conflicts. Kiavi's homepage states lending in 49 states plus D.C., and a 2025 press release describes expansion to 49 states and Washington, D.C. [5]. Independent directory listings describe 32 states plus D.C. for core programs, with availability varying by state [33].
Builder experience requirements are unresolved. Kiavi's educational content says ground-up projects typically require prior investing experience and a solid builder relationship, and that newer builders may be considered when partnered with a licensed general contractor with verifiable ground-up experience — but no Kiavi-specific minimum threshold is published [10].
Construction-to-permanent conversion is unconfirmed. Kiavi describes DSCR financing as a refinance path but publishes no binding construction-to-permanent commitment [17]. Kimi could not verify land-financing mechanics, draw schedules, or rate ranges from Kiavi-owned pages [5].
Mortgage features for this borrowing need
Questions explored
- How does Kiavi's draw process work for a ground-up construction loan on an investment property?
- What leverage and loan terms does Kiavi offer on construction costs for investor-builders?
Kiavi advertises a quick-draw process with in-house servicing and draw schedules built around the project timeline [16]. Kiavi's ground-up guide describes staged draws tied to construction milestones and a draw-and-inspect reimbursement cycle similar to fix-and-flip [7]. Public materials do not specify minimum draw amounts, inspection fees, inspection turnaround, retainage, or reimbursement rules [16].
On leverage, Kiavi advertises up to 85% of total costs — defined as purchase price plus construction costs — and up to 70% of ARV [16]. One Kiavi blog states loan amounts may include land acquisition, construction expenses, soft costs, and contingency reserves, with loan-to-total-cost up to 85% [9]. The 85% figure's treatment of land equity, soft costs, interest reserves, and closing costs is not clarified publicly [16].
Interest is advertised as interest-only, with interest charged only on drawn funds [7]. Kiavi states it assesses over 20 property-specific factors and uses automated valuation instead of appraisal [16]. A Scope of Work is required after application [12].
Rates, fees, and ongoing costs
Questions explored
- How much does a Kiavi ground-up construction loan cost, and what fees apply?
- Are there prepayment penalties or extension fees on Kiavi's new construction loan?
Kiavi advertises rates as low as 9.00% on new construction, but this is a floor, not a quote, and varies by loan term, borrower qualifications, LTV, and property factors [16]. One Kiavi state page shows rates as low as 8.25% for some loans, and a homepage excerpt shows a 7.75% sample interest rate on an estimated-ARV illustration — neither is specific to ground-up construction (Evidence ID perplexity:c10, official:C1).
Kiavi advertises no application fee, no appraisal requirement for closing, low origination fees, and no prepayment penalties on the new-construction product [16]. It does not publish a specific origination percentage or dollar amount [16]. One independent review cites a typical 1.5%–2.5% origination range for competitive construction lenders, but that figure is not confirmed on Kiavi's pages [35].
Extension options of 3 or 6 months exist, but extension fees and approval conditions are not disclosed [16]. Third-party inspections, title, legal, recording, insurance, and draw charges are not fully itemized publicly [16]. Recourse, personal guaranty, completion guaranty, default, cancellation, unused-line, and minimum-interest terms are not disclosed [16]. Pricing confidence across platforms was low.
Best Suited For
Questions explored
- Who is Kiavi's New Construction / Infill loan best suited for?
- Is Kiavi a good fit for an experienced investor-builder doing an infill build-to-rent project?
Kiavi is best suited to experienced Investor-Builders doing infill single-family, townhome, or 2–4 unit residential projects [10]. It fits build-to-sell and build-to-rent strategies where the borrower plans a sale or DSCR refinance within 12–24 months [16].
It suits borrowers who want land acquisition plus construction funding in one facility, quick draws, digital underwriting, no income verification, and no appraisal for closing [16]. It suits investors who value closing speed over bank-style pricing; one independent review notes conditional approvals can arrive same-day and closings in as few as seven business days [37].
Independent review sources report that experienced investors with strong credit and multiple completed deals tend to have the best experiences, while newer investors and those without substantial upfront capital report more difficulty [31]. One independent review states Kiavi is a strong fit for borrowers with a credit score of 660 or higher and some prior deal experience [30].
Probably Not Best Suited For
Questions explored
- Who should not choose Kiavi for a ground-up construction loan on an investment property?
- Is Kiavi suitable for a first-time builder with no prior ground-up experience?
Kiavi is probably not best suited to first-time builders without prior development experience or a qualified licensed general contractor [10]. Kiavi's own content calls ground-up construction the most complex strategy and more sensitive to contractor risk than rehab [10].
It is not suited to owner-occupied construction; Kiavi's terms state non-owner-occupied properties only [26]. It excludes mixed-use, commercial, mobile-home, and certain rural properties [11]. Google's research states the product is limited to 1–4 unit residential properties and excludes commercial or multifamily builds over four units [32].
It is a poor fit for borrowers seeking the lowest-cost bank construction loan or a guaranteed permanent loan commitment at closing [16]. It is also a poor fit for projects whose schedules materially exceed 24 months and cannot reliably use the stated extension options [16].
When Another Option May Be Better
Questions explored
- What is a better alternative to Kiavi for a first-time builder who lacks ground-up experience?
- When should an investor choose a bank or a construction-to-permanent lender instead of Kiavi?
A local bank or credit union may be better when the borrower has strong financials, an experienced builder, substantial equity, and prioritizes lower interest cost over closing speed [16]. A lender specializing in construction-to-permanent financing may be better when the buyer wants one committed facility that automatically converts into long-term rental debt [16].
A commercial construction lender or regional debt fund may be better for larger multifamily, commercial, mixed-use, or multi-phase developments [16]. A lender with explicit land-only or lot-loan terms may be better when the immediate need is acquiring raw land before plans, permits, or a complete construction budget are ready [16].
For buyers who need published, comparable terms before applying, several competitors disclose more: Keck Capital advertises 100% construction and 60% land financing with 12–24 hour draws; Arcstone Financial advertises 85% LTC and 70% ARV with a one-completed-ground-up-in-36-months requirement; 1st Private Capital advertises 75% land with permits and 100% construction; Roc Capital advertises 75% land value plus 100% construction with 1–2 ground-ups of experience required [4]. These are competitor-owned claims, not independently verified. The broader investment property and non qm mortgage lenders directory lists additional options.
Questions to ask before choosing a lender
Questions explored
- What should a buyer confirm with Kiavi before signing a ground-up construction loan contract?
- Does Kiavi finance raw-land acquisition at the same closing as vertical construction?
Confirm whether Kiavi will finance raw-land acquisition at the same closing as vertical construction, and what percentage of land value or purchase price is recognized [16]. Confirm the exact LTC, total-cost, and ARV limits for the specific property, market, borrower, and builder [16].
Confirm builder or general-contractor experience requirements, and whether a first-time investor can qualify with an experienced licensed GC [7]. Confirm required plans, budget, permits, builder contract, insurance, inspections, and contingency reserves [12].
Confirm the draw schedule: milestone definitions, inspection fees, turnaround times, retainage, minimum draws, reimbursement rules, and change-order treatment [16]. Confirm whether interest is charged only on drawn principal and whether interest reserves are financed or required in cash [7].
Confirm the note rate, origination points, extension fees, default rate, late fees, unused-line fees, and any minimum-interest provisions [16]. Confirm recourse status and whether personal, completion, carry, or environmental guaranties are required [16]. Confirm whether Kiavi can provide a written DSCR refinance or construction-to-permanent commitment, and what stabilization, occupancy, seasoning, DSCR, LTV, and appraisal conditions apply [17]. Confirm state and municipal eligibility for the exact property [33].
The consensus assessment
Kiavi is a good, but not clearly strong, fit for a small-scale investor-builder needing fast, asset-based financing for a residential ground-up project. Five of seven platforms rated it good; DeepSeek rated it mixed and Kimi uncertain. Its advertised leverage, land-plus-construction structure, quick draws, flexible 12–24 month terms, and potential DSCR refinance path align well with the use case.
The rating is held below strong because current pricing is advertised only as a floor, builder and guaranty requirements are unclear, construction-to-permanent financing is not guaranteed publicly, geographic coverage is disputed between 32 and 49 states, and detailed draw and fee terms must be obtained in writing. AI-platform agreement here reflects consistent public marketing, not verified product quality.
How This Review Was Produced
This review synthesizes fit-research responses from seven AI platforms — Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, ChatGPT, and Perplexity — each asked which providers they would recommend for an investor or small builder financing ground-up construction of a new investment property. Five platforms named Kiavi during ranking discovery. Responses were normalized into a common schema covering product fit, pricing, limitations, and verification questions. All cited evidence is platform-reported and was not independently validated at the writer stage.
Research limitations
Company-owned citations materially outnumber independent citations in the supplied evidence, so Kiavi's advertised terms should not be treated as independently verified. Platform-reported research dates differ from the authoritative run date: DeepSeek's research is dated 2026-06-11 while the study date is 2026-09-30. The supplied URLs were collected from platform responses and were not independently validated. Conflicting product names, pricing, and capabilities were preserved rather than resolved. No-search model claims require explicit verification before being described as current facts. Missing public detail was not interpreted as disagreement among platforms.
Sources
Company-Owned Sources
- Ground Up | Roc Capital: https://roccapital.com/ground-up
- Ground-Up Construction Loans for Investors | 1st Private Capital: https://www.1stprivatecapital.com/ground-up-construction
- Arcstone Financial - Ground Up Construction Loans: https://www.arcstoneinc.com/GroundUp.html
- Ground Up Construction Loan | Keck Capital: https://www.keckcapital.com/ground-up-construction-loan
- Kiavi — Get the edge in a shifting real estate market: https://www.kiavi.com/
- Real Estate Investor Loans in Arizona | Kiavi: https://www.kiavi.com/arizona-dscr-loan-programs
- Ground-Up Construction for Real Estate Investors: A 2026 Strategy Guide: https://www.kiavi.com/blog/ground-up-construction-for-real-estate-investors-a-2026-strategy-guide
- Ground-Up Construction for Real Estate Investors: A 2026 Strategy Guide: https://www.kiavi.com/blog/ground-up-construction-guide
- Infill Construction Loans vs. Traditional Construction Loans: https://www.kiavi.com/blog/infill-construction-loans-vs.-traditional-construction-loans
- Which Kiavi Loan Is Right for Real Estate Agents Who Invest?: https://www.kiavi.com/blog/which-kiavi-loan-is-right-for-real-estate-agents-who-invest
- Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.kiavi.com/faqs
- How to Submit a Scope of Work Guide: https://www.kiavi.com/guides/submitting-an-sow
- Kiavi Fix and Flip Loans: https://www.kiavi.com/loan-products/fix-and-flip-loans
- Kiavi New Construction Loans: https://www.kiavi.com/loan-products/new-construction-loans
- Jumbo Real Estate Loans | Flexible Financing for Big: https://www.kiavi.com/loans/jumbo-loans
- New Construction Financing & Infill Real Estate Loans: https://www.kiavi.com/loans/new-construction-infill
- Rental Property Loans for Real Estate Investors: https://www.kiavi.com/loans/rental
- New Construction Financing & Infill Real Estate Loans - Kiavi: https://www.kiavi.com/new-construction-infill
- Financing you need to break ground | Kiavi: https://www.kiavi.com/new-construction-paid-lp
- Kiavi Closes $350M Rated RTL Securitization with Strong: https://www.kiavi.com/press/kiavi-closes-350m-rated-rtl-securitization-february-2026
- Kiavi Launches Construction Financing for Real Estate Investors: https://www.kiavi.com/press/kiavi-launches-construction-financing-for-real-estate-investors
- See Why 26,000+ Investors: https://www.kiavi.com/real-estate-agents/invest
- Servicing | Kiavi: https://www.kiavi.com/servicing
- Financing Solutions for New Construction: https://www.kiavi.com/solutions/new-construction-strategies
- Real Estate Investor Loans in Arizona: https://www.kiavi.com/states/arizona
- Terms and Disclosures | Kiavi: https://www.kiavi.com/terms
- Ground-Up Construction Loan | PK Capital: https://www.pkcapital.com/products/ground-up-construction
- Ground Up Construction Loans | Ridge Street Capital: https://www.ridgestreetcap.com/ground-up-construction
- Official pricing and terms source: https://www.kiavi.com/legal/terms
Independent Sources
- Kiavi Reviews – Should You Use This Hard Money Lender?: https://newsilver.com/hard-money-lenders/kiavi-reviews/
- Kiavi Reviews – Should You Use This Hard Money Lender? - New Silver: https://newsilver.com/the-lender/kiavi-reviews/
- Kiavi - Private Lender Link Profile: https://privatelenderlink.com/lenders/kiavi/
- Private Lender Link - Kiavi: https://privatelenderlink.com/profile/kiavi/
- Kiavi Reviews & Products - Real Estate Investor Lending Information: https://www.biggerpockets.com
- KIAVI New Construction & Infill Loan Review: Fast, Flexible Financing for Builders & Real Estate Investors: https://www.lendver.com/articles/kiavi-new-construction-infill-loan-review-2026-update-fast-flexible-financing-for-builders-real-estate-investors/
- Kiavi Expands into Four Additional States, Extending Nationwide Footprint to 49 States and Washington, D.C: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kiavi-expands-into-four-additional-states-extending-nationwide-footprint-to-49-states-and-washington-dc-302334057.html
- Kiavi Reviews 2026: Legit Hard Money Lender or Not?: https://www.realestateskills.com/blog/kiavi-reviews
ChatGPT
Claude
DeepSeek
Grok
Perplexity
Kimi
Gemini