Blog

What Is PITIA? Meaning, Formula, and DSCR Impact

elise.thompson@kiavi.com (Elise Thompson) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Rental Property Stress Test: Check DSCR Before You Buy

angela.davis@kiavi.com (Angela Davis) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

How to Flip a Haunted House: Stigmatized Property Guide

angela.davis@kiavi.com (Angela Davis) — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:17:12 GMT

In many cases, you can flip a haunted house, and the deal may come down to the same underwriting as any other fix and flip, with the property's reputation as one added variable at resale. ATTOM reported that thetypical gross flipping return reached 25.4% in Q1 2026, a figure calculated before rehab and holding costs, so even a modest stigma discount at exit could take a noticeable share of that margin. Seller disclosure rules for a death or alleged haunting also tend to vary by state, which suggests the legal side of the deal may deserve as much attention as the spooky side.

Kiavi Investor Pulse: September 2026 Market and Financing Update

angela.davis@kiavi.com (Angela Davis) — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

The September 2026 real estate market delivered the Federal Reserve's first rate hike since 2023, a 30-year mortgage rate above 7%, and a new chapter for Kiavi as a Figure company. Higher rates may slow retail buyers, but that same pullback could hand real estate investors more inventory than at any point in the past decade, more room to negotiate, and fewer competing investor buyers. Completed foreclosures rose 42% year-over-year in August and Midwest rents led the nation, two signals that may favor disciplined acquisition and rental hold strategies.

Rental Lease Renewal Timing and the School Calendar

madeline.sikorski@kiavi.com (Maddie Sikorski) — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:05 GMT

Timing rental lease renewals to the school calendar generally means locking in a renewal or a new lease before families and students settle in for the year, when demand and pricing power for real estate investors tend to peak. Apartment List's August 2026 report described the market as nearing the end of its busy summer leasing season, with the usual fall cooldown typically following once school starts.

Bridge Loan Application Denied? 5 Mistakes to Avoid

madeline.sikorski@kiavi.com (Maddie Sikorski) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:00:05 GMT

Most bridge loan denials can trace back to five recurring issues: thin experience, an incomplete loan package, an ineligible property, weak comparable sales, or unrealistic budget math. Bridge lenders evaluate the property and the deal as closely as the borrower, so a gap in any one of these areas could stall an application before underwriting even begins. The share of real estate investors selling below their after-repair value estimate rose to 21% in the second quarter of Stressed real estate investor reviewing loan payment paperwork before applying for Kiavi bridge loans.

2-4 Unit Property Financing: Bridge vs. DSCR Loan Options

angela.davis@kiavi.com (Angela Davis) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:00:02 GMT

Financing a 2-4 unit property typically comes down to two paths: a short-term bridge loan for acquisition and renovation, or a longer-term DSCR loan sized to the property's combined rental income. New construction of 2-4 unit buildings made up just 3% of multifamily starts in the second quarter of 2026, according to the National Association of Home Builders, which could keep demand concentrated on the existing small multifamily stock. Choosing between the two loan types often depends on the property's condition at purchase and how quickly it could generate qualifying rental income.

Skilled Labor Shortage: Impact on Renovation Costs in 2026

angela.davis@kiavi.com (Angela Davis) — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Skilled trades are in stronger demand than they've been in years, and that demand may be showing up in both paychecks and renovation budgets in 2026. More than 80% of contractors report competing hard for craft workers, and 40% raised base pay more in 2025 than the year before, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. For real estate investors, that strength in the trades workforce could be translating into higher renovation costs and longer contractor lead times that may be worth planning around.

Kiavi Investor Pulse: August 2026 Market & Financing Update

madeline.sikorski@kiavi.com (Maddie Sikorski) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:00:02 GMT

The August 2026 Kiavi Investor Pulse breaks down what actually moved for real estate investors this month, from mortgage rates and foreclosure activity to renovation costs and rental demand. Mortgage rates held mostly unchanged after the Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged in July, with 30-year rates still hovering near 6.65% by late August, per Freddie Mac. Foreclosure filings kept climbing but at a much slower pace than earlier in the year, and new home listings hit a multi-month high just as buyer demand appeared to cool for the end of summer.

When Is the Best Time to Sell a House? A Fix-and-Flip Investor's Guide

angela.davis@kiavi.com (Angela Davis) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:00:02 GMT

The best time to sell a house, including one you've just finished flipping, typically falls in spring, when seller premiums peak at 10.7% in March and 10.2% in April and May, according to ATTOM's 2026 analysis of more than 52 million home sales. But the Q2 2026 JBREC + Kiavi Fix-and-Flip Survey found that 59% of real estate investors still reported longer days on market this spring, as a 40-50 basis point jump in mortgage rates offset the usual seasonal tailwind. For real estate investors timing an exit, seasonality often sets the baseline, but current financing conditions could shift it by a full quarter or more.