No tax returns. No W-2s.
On most DSCR programs, qualification is based on the property’s rental income — not your personal income, pay stubs, or tax returns. Built for self-employed investors whose tax returns show heavy write-offs or depreciation.
Investor loan programs · DSCR
Qualify with rental income. Not your tax returns.
Answer a few questions about the property and a licensed advisor runs the numbers the way lenders look at them. No credit pull to check your options, no obligation.
No credit pull to startRental income, not tax returnsAbout 60 seconds
Why investors use them
Built for growing a rental portfolio
Close in your LLC
Most DSCR programs let you vest title in an LLC or corporation — a structure many investors already use to hold rentals.
Built to scale
Conventional loans cap how many financed properties you can carry and require full income documentation for each one. DSCR programs are designed for portfolio growth — each property qualifies on its own cash flow.
Short-term rentals welcome
Airbnb and VRBO properties are financeable on many DSCR programs, using either the property’s rental history or a market rent analysis.
The one number that matters
How the DSCR is calculated
DSCR stands for Debt Service Coverage Ratio— the property’s monthly rent divided by its full monthly payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any HOA dues).
A ratio of 1.0 means the rent exactly covers the payment. Above 1.0, the property cash-flows and pricing improves — 1.25+ usually gets the best terms. Below 1.0, options still exist on many programs (often down to around 0.75) with more down payment.
That’s the whole qualification story: the property carries the loan, so the underwriting looks at the property.
A concrete example
- Monthly rent
- $2,400
- Full monthly payment (PITIA)
- $2,000
- DSCR = 2,400 ÷ 2,000
- 1.20
A 1.20 ratio meets the minimum on most DSCR programs — the rent covers the payment with 20% to spare. Approval still depends on credit, down payment, and reserves.
What lenders look for
Typical DSCR qualification guidelines
The ratio itself
A DSCR of 1.0+ (rent covers the full payment) is the standard sweet spot, with the best pricing usually at 1.25+. Sub-1.0 options exist on some programs — often down to around 0.75 — in exchange for a larger down payment and a higher rate.
Down payment
Typically 20–25% down on a purchase (80% max loan-to-value is common). Cash-out refinances usually cap a bit lower. More down improves both the rate and the ratio.
Credit score
Most programs start around 660–680, with meaningfully better pricing at 720+. Your credit still matters — it is your income documentation that doesn’t.
Reserves
Plan on showing roughly 3–6 months of the property’s payment in reserves after closing. Bigger portfolios and cash-out deals may need more.
Guidelines vary by program and change over time — the numbers above are typical ranges, not a commitment to lend. Eligible property types commonly include single-family rentals, 2–4 unit buildings, condos, and townhomes.
Side by side
DSCR vs. a conventional mortgage
| DSCR loan | Conventional | |
|---|---|---|
| How you qualify | Property’s rent vs. its payment (DSCR) | Your personal income and debt-to-income ratio |
| Documentation | Lease or market rent analysis, credit, assets | Tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs, employment verification |
| Close in an LLC | Yes, on most programs | Generally no — personal name only |
| Portfolio size | Scales property by property | Hard caps on financed properties |
| Best for | Investors, self-employed, short-term rental owners | Primary homes and traditional W-2 files |
Three steps
How it works
Tell us about the property
Purchase price or value, expected rent, property type, and what you want to accomplish — takes about a minute, with no credit pull.
We run the ratio
Your advisor calculates the DSCR the way lenders look at it — actual or market rent against the full payment — and matches it to the programs that fit.
See your estimated options
Estimated rate, down payment, and structure options based on the property’s numbers, laid out by a licensed advisor. You decide the next step.
Straight answers
DSCR loan FAQ
Typically not. DSCR loans qualify on the property’s rental income versus its payment — on most programs lenders don’t ask for tax returns, W-2s, or pay stubs. They do still verify your credit, your down payment funds, and reserves.
Ready when you are
Ready to grow your rental portfolio?
Sixty seconds of questions about the property, no credit pull to start, and one licensed advisor who runs the numbers the way lenders look at them — then lays out your estimated options.
No credit pull to check your options · 100% free
About the numbers on this page
DSCR ratios, down payment ranges, credit guidelines, and reserve requirements are typical industry ranges and vary by program, property, and market conditions. This page is education, not an offer of credit, a rate quote, or a commitment to lend — your eligibility and terms depend on your complete file. DSCR loans are for investment properties only.