Why The King of Reno
The renovation loan specialist. Not a generalist who does them occasionally.
25 years. $500M+ in funded renovation loan volume. A purpose-built 203(k) Maximum Mortgage Estimator built on HUD-based calculation logic. Here's what that means for your deal.
The honest answer to "why you?"
Most lenders who offer renovation loans treat them as a specialty product — something they can do if a borrower asks. The loan officer may have done a handful. The processor has seen a few. The underwriter is working from a checklist.
That's fine for a straightforward deal. It's a problem when the appraisal comes in short, the contractor doesn't meet program requirements, the scope of work needs to be restructured, or the borrower is trying to figure out whether Limited or Standard makes sense before they write an offer.
Renovation financing is the entire practice here — not a product line. That means the experience to recognize problems before they become deal-killers, and the depth to explain what's actually happening and why.
If you want a rate sheet and an application, there are faster options. If you want someone who has seen your situation before, this is the right call.
"Renovation financing is a game with rules that most players don't know. The rules aren't secret — they're just buried in HUD handbooks and Fannie Mae selling guides that nobody reads for fun. I read them so you don't have to."
The Reno Game is the framework for understanding how renovation financing actually works — the programs, the mechanics, the appraisal process, the contractor requirements, and the deal structures that work in the real world. If you understand the game, you can play it.
Six things that are actually different here
Not marketing copy. Specific, verifiable differences that affect your deal.
25 years. One focus.
Renovation financing is not a product line — it's the entire practice. While most loan officers handle renovation loans occasionally, Dustin Swigart has spent 25 years doing nothing else. That depth shows in every transaction.
Content written from the origination desk.
Every guide, calculator, and case file on this site was built from direct experience — not from reading other lenders' websites. The details that kill deals, the lender overlays that go beyond HUD guidelines, the contractor issues nobody warns you about: it's all here because it's all been lived.
A purpose-built 203(k) calculator.
The 203(k) Maximum Mortgage Estimator follows HUD-based calculation logic to help users understand how rehabilitation costs, after-improved value, FHA loan limits, mortgage insurance, and other inputs can affect a 203(k) scenario. It covers both Limited and Standard programs, handles purchase and refinance, and computes UFMIP and annual MIP per the current HUD mortgagee letter.
No affiliate links. No sponsored content.
This site doesn't run affiliate programs or accept sponsored content. The information here is based on 25 years of direct experience — not on what generates a referral fee. When the answer is "this loan doesn't work for your deal," that's what you hear.
Built for realtors, not just borrowers.
Renovation loans live or die on the real estate side. Realtors who understand how to identify renovation loan candidates, structure offers, and set client expectations close more deals. The Realtor Resource Center exists because that education matters.
Investors get a real conversation.
Fix-and-flip, BRRRR, DSCR, hard money, construction-to-perm — the investor toolkit is covered in depth. The scenario submission form exists because deal structure matters more than rate, and a 15-minute conversation is worth more than a generic rate sheet.
The King of Reno vs. a generalist lender
Renovation loans are not standard mortgages with a construction rider attached. The difference in experience shows up in the details.
| Generalist lender | The King of Reno |
|---|---|
| Handles renovation loans occasionally | Renovation financing is the entire practice |
| Generic content copied from HUD handbooks | Content written from 25 years at the origination desk |
| Rate sheet and application form | Scenario analysis before you ever apply |
| No tools — just a contact form | Free HUD-formula 203(k) calculator, deal analyzers, BRRRR, DSCR |
| Treats renovation loans like standard mortgages | Knows the lender overlays, contractor requirements, and appraisal nuances |
| Realtors are an afterthought | Dedicated Realtor Resource Center with training and tools |
Every program. Deep expertise.
Not a generalist who can do renovation loans — a specialist with $500M+ in funded renovation loan volume across every major program.
Up to $75k in repairs, up to 4 draws, no structural work
Structural repairs, major rehabs, HUD consultant required
Conventional renovation financing, luxury improvements allowed
Conventional renovation with resilience improvements
Short-term capital for investors, scenario-based pricing
Ground-up and major reconstruction financing
A 203(k) calculator built on HUD-based calculation logic
The 203(k) Maximum Mortgage Estimator follows HUD-based calculation logic to help users understand how rehabilitation costs, after-improved value, FHA loan limits, mortgage insurance, and other inputs can affect a 203(k) scenario. It implements the HUD four-limit test — the same formula used by FHA Connection to determine the maximum insurable mortgage.
It covers both Limited and Standard programs, handles purchase and refinance scenarios, computes the HUD consultant fee by the official tiered schedule, applies the correct contingency reserve rules, and calculates UFMIP and annual MIP per HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05.
Knowing the real number before you write an offer changes the deal.
Common questions
Is this a lender or an educational site?
Both. The King of Reno is Dustin Swigart — a licensed mortgage loan originator with 25 years of renovation loan experience. The educational content exists because informed borrowers close better deals. The scenario submission form is how you start a real conversation about your specific transaction.
What states are you licensed in?
The King of Reno is currently licensed in 14 states. See the States page for the current list. If your state isn't covered, the educational resources and calculators are still fully available.
How is this different from the About page?
The About page covers the origin story and philosophy. This page is about the specific, verifiable reasons to choose The King of Reno for your renovation loan — the depth of experience, the tools, the programs covered, and what that means for your deal.
What does "scenario submission" mean?
Rather than a generic application, the scenario submission form captures the details of your specific deal — property type, purchase price, estimated rehab, entity structure, and exit strategy. That information makes the first conversation productive instead of generic.
Do you work with realtors?
Yes — and there's a dedicated Realtor Resource Center with tools, training, and deal-structuring guidance. Renovation loans live or die on the real estate side, and realtors who understand the programs close more deals.
Start here
The most useful resources on the site, depending on where you are in the process.
A detailed 203(k) calculation tool built around HUD-based methodology — covering both Limited and Standard programs.
Everything about the 203(k) program — Limited, Standard, eligibility, process.
Real renovation financing scenarios with deal structure and outcome.
Tools, training, and deal-structuring guidance for real estate agents.
Get terms on your investment deal — not a rate sheet, a real conversation.
25 years. The origin story and the philosophy behind The Reno Game.
Have a deal? Let's talk about it.
Submit your scenario and get a real response — not a rate sheet. The details of your deal determine the structure, and the structure determines whether it works.