First Equity Funding
First Equity Funding is a privately funded, asset-based real estate investment lender offering Fix & Flip bridge, DSCR rental, and New Construction loans to individual real estate investors across 40+ US states, with distribution through direct sales and a broker wholesale channel.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSea Girt, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What First Equity Funding does
First Equity Funding, LP is a privately funded, asset-based real estate investment lender headquartered in Sea Girt, New Jersey, that originates and services non-owner-occupied investment property loans across more than 40 US states. The firm offers three core loan programs: short-term interest-only Fix & Flip (bridge) loans with terms of 12-24 months and up to 90% LTV plus 100% of rehab funds; 30-year fixed-rate Rental (DSCR) loans qualified on property cash flow with up to 80% LTV and no tax returns required; and New Construction loans of up to 85% loan-to-cost for ground-up residential builds with flexible draw schedules. Underwriting is asset-based and bypasses personal income verification, allowing properties to be held in LLCs and supporting both novice and experienced investors, with closings reportedly achievable in as little as 48 hours (typical 2-4 weeks).
The company's revenue model is transaction-based, deriving income from interest on originated loans plus origination fees, points, and closing costs rolled into loan balances. Distribution combines direct origination through an in-house sales team of loan officers supported by website lead capture (Get a Quote, Apply Now), alongside a wholesale broker channel (First Equity Wholesale) that allows third-party brokers to submit investor loans in most states without licensing requirements. The firm is part of a broader First Equity affiliated group controlled by Managing Partners Christian Pepe (founder, since 2004) and John Child (former Morgan Stanley Executive Director, since 2008), which also operates First Equity Mortgage, First Equity Capital (non-performing loan investments), First Equity Homes (licensed general contractor), and First Equity Wholesale. Marketing relies on content (blog, video, podcast), SEO, email/SMS, and investor events rather than paid performance channels.
The firm operates with disclosed headcount of 11-50 employees, including named VPs of Lending, Sales, and Finance, multiple senior loan officers, and dedicated underwriting and processing staff. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or third-party API integrations are referenced in available sources — loan decisions and processing appear manual and human-driven. Geographic reach is national (40+ states) but with state-by-state lending restrictions and no international footprint. No external institutional investment, private equity backing, public listing, or audited financials are disclosed.
First Equity Funding firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Equity Funding
- Legal name
- First Equity Funding LP
- Website
- https://firstequityfundingllc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- First Equity Funding is a privately funded, asset-based real estate investment lender offering Fix & Flip bridge, DSCR rental, and New Construction loans to individual real estate investors across 40+ US states, with distribution through direct sales and a broker wholesale channel.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Equity Funding industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Real Estate Investment Lending
- NAICS
- Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)
- SIC
- Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Direct Lending — Senior Secured (First Lien) (FSAHAJAA)
Keywords
Where First Equity Funding is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sea Girt
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Equity Funding business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Loan Interest Income: First Equity Funding generates revenue by originating and servicing private real estate investment loans. The company charges interest on bridge/fix-and-flip loans (typically 12-18 month terms, interest-only) and DSCR rental loans (30-year fixed rate). Additional revenue comes from loan origination fees, points, and closing costs rolled into the loan amount.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Bridge/Fix & Flip Loans - Up to 90% LTV of purchase price, 100% of rehab funds, 12-24 month terms, interest-only payments |
| Subscription | Monthly | DSCR Rental Loans - 30-year fixed rate, up to 80% LTV |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | New Construction Loans - Up to 85% Loan to Cost |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
First Equity Funding product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Equity Funding is a private, asset-based real estate investment lender offering three core loan programs for non-owner-occupied investment properties: Fix & Flip (bridge) loans for purchase and rehabilitation, DSCR-based Rental loans for long-term buy-and-hold investors, and New Construction loans for ground-up residential builds. The company lends in over 40 U.S. states, requires no personal income verification, allows borrowing through LLC entities, and targets fast closings (as fast as 48 hours, typically 2-4 weeks).
Product overview
First Equity Funding is a private real estate investment lender offering three core loan programs: Fix & Flip (Bridge) Loans, Rental (DSCR) Loans, and New Construction Loans. The company also provides complementary tools including rental and fix-and-flip loan calculators and draw request forms. Fix & Flip loans provide short-term financing (12-24 months) for investors purchasing and rehabilitating properties, while Rental loans offer 30-year fixed-rate long-term financing qualified based on property cash flow. New Construction loans fund ground-up residential builds. These products serve real estate investors across over 40 U.S. states through broker partnerships and direct lending.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- First Equity Wholesale: Wholesale lending platform for brokers, offering loan programs for investor clients
Products and services
- Fix & Flip Loans (Bridge Loans) Short-term, interest-only bridge loans for real estate investors to purchase and renovate distressed properties for resale. Features include up to 90% of purchase price, up to 100% of rehab costs, 12-24 month terms, and no prepayment penalties.
- Rental Loans (DSCR) Long-term 30-year fixed-rate financing for investors acquiring rental properties, qualified based on property cash flow (DSCR) rather than borrower income. Features include no tax returns required, up to 80% LTV, and rate/term or cash-out refinancing options, with a default 5/4/3/2/1 step-down prepayment penalty.
- New Construction Loans Financing for ground-up construction projects including land acquisition and vertical build costs. Features include up to 85% loan to cost, flexible draws, and funding for single-family infill, townhomes, and build-to-rent communities. Prior construction experience is required.
Quantifiable outcome
- Closings in as little as 48 hours
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use First Equity Funding
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
First Equity Funding technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
First Equity Funding partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Equity Funding competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lima One Capital: One of the largest private real estate lenders in the U.S., originating fix-and-flip, rental, and new construction loans for investors - the closest direct competitor to First Equity Funding across product mix and target borrower.
- RCN Capital: Direct private money lender offering bridge/fix-and-flip, DSCR rental, and new construction loans to real estate investors nationwide, with a multi-state footprint and broker/wholesale channel - directly comparable in product set and GTM.
- CoreVest Finance: Specialist private lender to residential real estate investors offering bridge, DSCR rental, and construction loans - mirrors First Equity's investor-only underwriting model and product portfolio.
- Kiavi (formerly LendingHome): Online direct lender specializing in fix-and-flip and rental loans to real estate investors across many U.S. states; competes head-to-head on speed, DSCR underwriting, and geographic reach.
- Newfi: Non-QM and investor-purpose lender providing DSCR rental, bridge, and construction financing to real estate investors - a similar asset-based specialty lender with overlapping products.
- Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions: Non-QM and investor mortgage lender offering DSCR, fix-and-flip, and construction loans to real estate investors, serving a comparable niche with multiple state licenses.
- Visio Financial: Private lender focused exclusively on non-owner-occupied residential investment property loans (fix-and-flip, rental, new construction) - directly comparable niche specialization.
Emerging players
- AHL Hard Money: Smaller private hard-money lender offering bridge and rental loans to real estate investors; overlaps with First Equity Funding's fix-and-flip and DSCR products but with a more limited state footprint.
Others
- CrowdStreet: Online marketplace for private real estate investments - not a direct lender, but a capital source and competitor for the real estate investor end-customer that First Equity funds.
- Roofstock: Marketplace for buying and managing single-family rental investment properties - a downstream platform that interacts with the same buy-and-hold investor borrower segment First Equity serves with DSCR loans.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
First Equity Funding social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Equity Funding financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Equity Funding leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
First Equity Funding subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
First Equity Funding funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Equity Funding M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Equity Funding
What does First Equity Funding do?
First Equity Funding is a private, asset-based real estate investment lender offering three core loan programs for non-owner-occupied investment properties: Fix & Flip (bridge) loans for purchase and rehabilitation, DSCR-based Rental loans for long-term buy-and-hold investors, and New Construction loans for ground-up residential builds. The company lends in over 40 U.S. states, requires no personal income verification, allows borrowing through LLC entities, and targets fast closings (as fast as 48 hours, typically 2-4 weeks).
Is First Equity Funding a public or private company?
First Equity Funding is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was First Equity Funding founded?
First Equity Funding was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is First Equity Funding based?
First Equity Funding is headquartered in Sea Girt, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Equity Funding make money?
One revenue line is on record: loan Interest Income.
Who are First Equity Funding's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lima One Capital, RCN Capital, CoreVest Finance, Kiavi (formerly LendingHome), Newfi, Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions and Visio Financial. AHL Hard Money is listed as an emerging player. Others are CrowdStreet and Roofstock.
Does First Equity Funding have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Equity Funding.
What industry is First Equity Funding in?
First Equity Funding's product category is Private Real Estate Investment Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAHAJAA, Direct Lending — Senior Secured (First Lien). Its NAICS code is 52231 and its SIC code is 6162.