DSCR Loan Requirements: Credit Score, Down Payment, Ratio
Business Purpose Lending

Qualify on the property's income, not yours.

A DSCR loan is underwritten on one question: does the property produce enough income to cover its own debt? Your tax returns, W-2s, and personal debt-to-income ratio stay out of it. For investors who write off aggressively or hold property in an entity, that difference is the whole ballgame.

How it works

DSCR Loans, step by step.

  1. Calculate the ratio. DSCR is gross rental income divided by the property's monthly principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any HOA dues. Lenders call that bundle PITIA. A property renting for $2,400 against $2,000 PITIA carries a 1.20 DSCR.
  2. Establish the rent. Lenders use the lower of the in-place lease or the appraiser's market rent opinion, delivered on Form 1007 alongside the appraisal.
  3. Verify reserves and credit. Expect to document several months of PITIA in reserves and a credit score that meets the program floor.
  4. Close in the entity. Most DSCR lenders prefer or require an LLC, which keeps the loan off your personal credit.
At a glance
Qualifies onProperty income, not personal income
Typical DSCR floor1.00 to 1.25, program dependent
OccupancyNon-owner-occupied only
VestingLLC, corporation, or individual
Income docsNo tax returns or W-2s
Common usesPurchase, rate-and-term, cash-out

Some programs accept a DSCR below 1.00 with compensating factors such as lower leverage or stronger reserves. If the ratio is thin, the fix is usually leverage rather than a different lender.

Run the numbers

DSCR calculator.

Enter the property's numbers and see the ratio a lender will see. Nothing is sent anywhere, this runs entirely in your browser.

Your DSCR1.20
Principal & interest$0
Taxes, monthly$0
Insurance, monthly$0
HOA, monthly$0
PITIA, total monthly$0
Monthly cash flow before repairs$0

DSCR is gross rent divided by PITIA. Most programs want 1.00 to 1.25. This is an estimate for planning, not a quote or a commitment to lend.

Who it fits

Built for these borrowers.

  • Buy-and-hold investors scaling a rental portfolio
  • Self-employed borrowers whose returns understate real income
  • Investors already at the conventional financed-property limit
  • Borrowers purchasing or refinancing in an LLC
What we will ask for

Documents to gather.

  • Lease agreement or market rent analysis
  • Purchase contract, for acquisitions
  • Entity documents and EIN letter
  • Reserve statements
  • Insurance quote or binder
  • Payoff statement, for refinances

Have a project that fits?

Send us the scenario and we will tell you honestly whether it works, and which lender is the right home for it.

Other programs

Explore the rest of the shelf.

DSCR by state

Property tax and insurance vary enormously by state, and both sit inside the payment your rent has to cover. That makes the same loan easier in one state than another. See how this works in Texas, where the tax rate does more to a ratio than most investors expect.

Common questions about DSCR loans

What credit score do you need for a DSCR loan?

A score of 640 and above opens the most programs. There are options below 640, but they come with tighter guidelines and usually a larger down payment. Credit is a real factor on a DSCR loan even though your income is not.

How is DSCR calculated?

Divide the monthly rent by the monthly payment including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and any association dues. A result of 1.0 means the rent exactly covers the payment. Above 1.0 means the property carries itself with room to spare.

Do DSCR loans require tax returns or W-2s?

No. A DSCR loan is underwritten on the income the property produces rather than the income you personally report. Your tax returns, pay stubs and debt to income ratio are not part of the decision.

How much do you need to put down on a DSCR loan?

Most programs land between 15 and 20 percent down. The exact figure moves with your credit score, the debt service coverage ratio and the property type.

Can you use a DSCR loan for an Airbnb or short-term rental?

Yes. Short term rental income can be used to qualify, though lenders document it differently than a signed twelve month lease. Expect to show platform revenue history rather than a lease agreement.