Bridge lenders
Griffin Funding
Griffin Funding, Inc. is a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender founded in 2013 that operates nationally. It specialises in non-QM products - DSCR loans for real estate investors, bank statement and 1099 loans for self-employed borrowers, home equity loans and HELOCs - alongside VA, FHA and conventional mortgages.
For investors, the DSCR product qualifies a loan on the property rather than personal income. The firm also offers residential transition loans, an umbrella for short-term investment property financing that includes bridge loans, fix-and-flip and ground-up construction, where underwriting weighs the property's potential value and the investment strategy instead of the borrower's W-2 income.
Origination is fully digital, with online application, pre-approval and quick quote. The company reports funding more than $3.6 billion in loan volume to over 8,000 clients as of May 2025.
The corporate office is at 2445 5th Avenue Suite 401, San Diego, CA 92101, with branches at 7033 E. Greenway Parkway Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 and 100 Spectrum Center Dr Suite 470 in Irvine, California. Different products route to different desks: non-QM loans and conventional or VA loans each have their own number, so call the one that matches the product.
Best for
Real estate investors needing DSCR or short-term bridge and fix-and-flip financing, self-employed borrowers qualifying on bank statements or 1099s, and veterans using VA loans. Lends nationwide, direct to the borrower.
What they do
- DSCR investment property loans
- Bank statement loans for self-employed borrowers
- 1099 income mortgage loans
- Residential transition loans (bridge, fix-and-flip, ground-up)
- Home equity loans and HELOCs
- Reverse second mortgages
- VA purchase loans
- VA streamline and cash-out refinance
- FHA and conventional mortgages
- Asset-based mortgage loans
- Foreign national lending
- Piggyback loan structures
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Other offices | Scottsdale, AZ, Irvine, CA |
What stands out
- Founded in 2013 as a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender operating nationwide.
- Reports funding more than $3.6 billion in loan volume to over 8,000 clients as of May 2025.
- Corporate office in San Diego, with branches in Scottsdale, Arizona and Irvine, California.
- Runs separate phone lines for non-QM loans and for conventional and VA loans.
Common questions
- What is a residential transition loan?
- A residential transition loan, or RTL, is an umbrella term for short-term investment property loans: bridge loans, fix-and-flip financing and ground-up construction. Instead of focusing on personal income and credit score, the lender looks primarily at the property's potential value and the investment strategy. That makes these loans useful for investors who need funding faster than a conventional lender can provide, or who would not qualify for conventional financing. Many investors refinance into a conventional mortgage once the project is complete.
- What is a piggyback loan?
- A piggyback loan combines two mortgages that close at the same time. The primary mortgage typically covers 80% of the purchase price and a second loan covers part of the down payment, which lets a buyer avoid private mortgage insurance without putting 20% down. In the common 80/10/10 structure on a $500,000 home, the first mortgage is $400,000, the second is $50,000 and the buyer puts down $50,000.
- How can a self-employed borrower qualify for a mortgage?
- Self-employed borrowers often struggle with conventional mortgages because they have no W-2 and their tax returns may not reflect true earnings after deductions. Asset-based loans, bank statement loans and DSCR loans use alternative forms of income verification instead. Paying down debt, raising a credit score and saving a larger down payment also help a self-employed borrower qualify at a competitive rate.