No tax returns. No W-2s.
Qualification is based on the property’s rental income — not your personal income, pay stubs, or tax returns. Built for self-employed investors and anyone whose returns understate what they really make.
Investor loan programs · DSCR
Qualify with rental income. No tax returns required.
DSCR loans let real estate investors qualify on the property’s cash flow instead of personal income — so you can buy the next rental, close in your LLC, and keep scaling without handing over two years of tax returns.
No credit impact · No tax returns · Takes about 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 — the asset-protection and bookkeeping structure serious investors already use.
Built to scale
Conventional loans cap how many financed properties you can carry and drown you in 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
This property qualifies comfortably — the rent covers the payment with 20% to spare, and the investor’s personal tax returns never enter the conversation.
Check your options now
Answer a few questions about the property — get your real DSCR options.
Property type, expected rent, and your down payment plan. About 60 seconds, then a licensed advisor runs the ratio the way an underwriter will.
No credit pullNo SSNNo tax returnsNever sold to lenders
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 | 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 an underwriter will — actual or market rent against the full payment — and matches it to the programs that fit.
Get your real terms
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
No. DSCR loans qualify on the property’s rental income versus its payment — 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, zero credit impact, and one licensed advisor who runs the ratio the way an underwriter will — then lays out your real options.
No credit impact · 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.