Published 2026-09-29 · 12 min read

Best DSCR Lenders for Landlords 2026: 6 Compared on Terms, Minimums, and Speed

A DSCR loan lets the rental property qualify for the mortgage — not you. No W-2s, no tax returns, no debt-to-income math on your personal finances. The lender looks at one thing: does the property's rental income cover its debt payments?

That makes DSCR loans the workhorse financing tool for landlords who are self-employed, scaling past conventional loan limits, or buying through an LLC. But not all DSCR lenders are built the same. Minimum coverage ratios, credit floors, loan sizes, prepayment penalties, and closing speed vary a lot — and the wrong pick can cost you thousands or kill a deal entirely.

We compared six of the most established DSCR lenders for landlords in 2026 on their published terms: Kiavi, Easy Street Capital, Lima One Capital, CoreVest Finance, LendingOne, and Visio Lending. Every rate, fee, and requirement below comes from the lender's own site or is flagged as third-party data — check current terms before you apply, because guidelines move.

Check Kiavi's current DSCR terms before you apply — published rates and guidelines change:

What Is a DSCR Loan, Briefly?

DSCR stands for debt service coverage ratio: monthly rental income divided by the monthly debt obligation (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA dues — PITIA).

• DSCR of 1.0 means rent exactly covers the payment (breakeven).
• Below 1.0 means the property runs at a monthly shortfall.
• 1.25 or higher typically unlocks the best rates and highest leverage.

Instead of verifying your personal income, the lender orders an appraisal with a rent schedule (usually a 1007 form) and uses market rent to calculate the ratio. Most programs ask for 20–25% down, a credit score in the 620–660 range at minimum, and several months of cash reserves. For the full mechanics, see our DSCR loan guide for landlords.

The 6 Best DSCR Lenders for Landlords in 2026: Side by Side

1. Kiavi — Best for a Fast, Fully Digital DSCR Process

Kiavi is one of the largest private lenders to residential real estate investors, and in 2026 it entered a new chapter: it was acquired by Figure, with DSCR and rental loans now originated through Figure Lending LLC. The investor-focused platform and online-first process remain intact — see our full Kiavi review for the acquisition details.

Kiavi's published DSCR rental terms include rates as low as 6.125% (with footnotes applying — check current terms), up to 80% LTV, 30-year fixed and 5/1 or 7/1 ARM structures, interest-only options, and no prepayment penalty after year three. Cash-out refinance options are published, and there is no W-2, tax-return, or personal income verification. Eligible property types are single-family rentals, PUDs, condos, and 2–4 unit properties. A September 2026 comparison of published Figure-via-Kiavi terms lists loan amounts of $100,000–$2,000,000, a 660 minimum FICO, a minimum DSCR as low as 0.8x, cash-out LTV up to 75%, first-lien only, on 1–4 unit properties.

Best for: tech-savvy investors who want to pre-qualify, apply, and track the loan online — including the BRRRR strategy, where Kiavi's short-term bridge loans can roll into a long-term DSCR refinance.

Watch out for: as a private non-bank lender, pricing carries adjustments by credit tier, LTV, and DSCR band. Verify the current published guidelines on Kiavi's site, since terms have shifted with the Figure acquisition.

Check Kiavi's current DSCR terms and run your numbers online:

2. Easy Street Capital — Best for Thin Cash Flow (No Minimum DSCR)

Easy Street Capital's EasyRent DSCR program stands out for one published fact: there is no minimum DSCR requirement on its own program pages. If your deal's rent doesn't fully cover the payment, Easy Street is one of the few lenders that will still fund it — with pricing adjustments, of course.

Published program terms on the company's site: rates starting at 5.75%, up to 80% LTV, no income verification, and no tax returns. The company reports more than $3 billion funded across over 3,400 DSCR loans in the last four years. Its pages also show the program supports short-term rental and BRRRR investors, and accepts projected rental income — useful when STR income runs well above long-term comps. Third-party reviews report a 640 minimum FICO, 30-year fixed structures with partial interest-only in the early years, closings often within 2–3 weeks, and higher origination points for sub-680 scores or sub-1.0 DSCR ratios — confirm all of that on their site, as third-party figures change.

Best for: investors whose properties fall just short of a 1.0 DSCR and would be rejected elsewhere, plus STR investors who want projected income counted.

Watch out for: flexibility has a price — lower scores and lower ratios mean higher points and rates. The 5.75% floor is for the strongest borrower profiles only.

See Easy Street Capital's current programs and check whether your deal qualifies:

3. Lima One Capital — Best for Scaling Into a Portfolio

Lima One publishes its DSCR requirements plainly: a minimum 660 FICO, a minimum 1.0 DSCR, and a 1.2-or-higher DSCR to unlock the lowest rates and highest leverage. Its single-family rental loan runs $100,000 to $2.5 million, offers 5, 10, and 30-year options, goes up to 80% LTV on purchases and rate/term refinances (75% on cash-out), requires no personal income, and covers 1–4 unit properties.

Two things make Lima One interesting for growth-minded landlords. First, the portfolio rental loan: two or more rental properties under a single loan, with a $100,000 minimum value per property — built for investors consolidating or scaling. Second, the dedicated short-term rental loan, underwritten to STR data: up to 75% LTV on purchases, 70% on cash-out, a 1.3+ DSCR requirement, and a 700 minimum FICO. Quotes come through a loan consultant rather than a fully self-serve online flow.

Best for: landlords moving from single doors to portfolios, and STR investors who want a purpose-built product rather than a standard DSCR loan stretched to fit.

Watch out for: the 1.0 minimum DSCR is firmer than Easy Street's no-minimum approach, and investor reports suggest underwriting can be documentation-heavy with slower closings than the digital-first lenders. Check current terms.

4. CoreVest Finance — Best Straightforward 30-Year DSCR Hold Loan

CoreVest Finance (NMLS #1627183) publishes a clean, simple 30-year DSCR program: fixed-rate financing based on a 1.0x DSCR, for single-family rentals (1–4 units), condos, and townhomes, up to 80% of the property's value, with loan amounts from $75,000 to $2 million-plus and a 30-year term. Qualification is based on the property's projected or in-place rental income — no personal income or tax-return documentation.

There's no gimmick here, and that's the appeal: one flagship long-term product, clearly published terms, and a lender built specifically for rental investors rather than a generalist mortgage shop.

Best for: buy-and-hold landlords who want a plain 30-year fixed DSCR loan on a stabilized rental, with terms they can read on the lender's site before ever calling.

Watch out for: CoreVest doesn't publish a minimum credit score or rate sheet on the program pages we reviewed — expect to talk to a relationship manager for pricing. Check current terms.

5. LendingOne — Best for Borderline DSCR Deals and Flexible Prepay Terms

LendingOne publishes its DSCR rental loan range at $85,000 to $2,000,000, with up to 80% LTV for purchases and rate/term refinances and up to 75% LTV for cash-out refinances. No personal income documentation — no W-2s, pay stubs, or tax returns — is required; qualification rests on the property's income. Structures include 30-year fixed, ARM, and interest-only, and the prepayment penalty is flexible: penalty periods ranging from zero to five years, so you can match the loan to your hold period instead of the other way around.

LendingOne's own rate guide puts current averages in the mid-6% to 7% range, notes that a 1.25+ DSCR is viewed favorably for the best terms, and confirms short-term rentals are accepted. Third-party reviews report the program accepts DSCR ratios as low as 0.75 with a 640 minimum FICO, and that the company has originated over $6 billion nationally — verify those third-party figures on LendingOne's site before relying on them.

Best for: investors with deals in the 0.75–1.0 DSCR band, and anyone whose exit timeline demands a short or zero prepayment penalty.

Watch out for: sub-1.0 ratios and lower credit scores trade for higher rates and fees, and STR deals price above long-term rental pricing. Check current terms.

6. Visio Lending — Best for LLC and Entity Investors

Visio Lending has focused exclusively on rental-property loans since 2012, and it's built for investors who hold property in entities: LLCs, corporations, and similar structures can close in the business name, with no personal income verification and no DTI calculation. Third-party profiles citing Visio's guidelines report a 680 minimum credit score, 70–80% LTV on purchases (65–75% on refinances), a minimum property value of $150,000 with standard loan amounts starting at $75,000, and a 1.0 minimum DSCR. Its Rental360 program offers 30-year fixed terms, and the Rental360 Plus program can roll up to eight properties into a single closing with one monthly payment. Visio also runs dedicated vacation-rental programs for STR investors.

Best for: entity investors who want standardized, landlord-only underwriting, and portfolio builders who want multi-property closings. Our best LLC for landlords guide pairs well if you haven't set up your entity yet.

Watch out for: the 680 credit floor is the highest of the six lenders here, and reviewers note Visio can be stricter on property condition than some competitors. Prepayment penalties are standard. Check current terms.

How to Choose the Right DSCR Lender

Start with your deal's numbers, not the lender's marketing. Estimate market rent with rent estimate tools, then run the full DSCR calculation — rent divided by PITIA — with rental property calculators before you apply. Then match the lender to the deal on five points:

1. Your DSCR vs. their minimum. At 1.2+, every lender on this list works — shop on rate. At 0.75–1.0, your realistic shortlist is Easy Street Capital (no minimum) and LendingOne (reported 0.75 floor). Don't waste hard credit pulls where you can't qualify.

2. Leverage vs. rate. Most cap purchases at 80% LTV. Putting 25% down instead of 20% often buys a meaningfully lower rate — do the math on cash-on-cash return, not just the down payment.

3. Prepayment penalty vs. hold period. LendingOne lets you choose zero to five years; Kiavi publishes no penalty after year three. If you might sell or refinance within five years, this matters more than a small rate difference.

4. Speed. Digital-first lenders (Kiavi, Easy Street Capital) typically close in weeks; consultant-driven processes can run longer. In a competitive offer situation, a 2–3 week close can beat a slightly lower rate.

5. Entity and property fit. Buying in an LLC? Visio and most DSCR lenders welcome it; conventional lenders often don't. STR property? Confirm the lender underwrites STR income — Lima One's STR program, Easy Street's projected-income approach, and Visio's vacation-rental programs are the clearest fits. Compare against hard money vs. DSCR if the property needs rehab first — DSCR lenders want stabilized, rentable properties.

One more rule: published starting rates are floors for the strongest profiles — high credit, low LTV, strong DSCR. Your actual quote will reflect your credit tier, leverage, and ratio band.

If your deal's cash flow is thin or your credit is still building, start with the most flexible published terms:

See Easy Street Capital's current programs and check your deal against their no-minimum-DSCR guidelines:

DSCR Lender FAQ

What credit score do I need for a DSCR loan?

Most programs start around 620–640, though 680–720 unlocks standard pricing and 740+ gets the best rates. Among the six lenders here, published minimums range from 640 (Easy Street Capital, LendingOne, per third-party reviews) to 660 (Kiavi, Lima One) to 680 (Visio, per third-party reviews). Credit still matters — with no income documentation, your score is the lender's main read on reliability.

How much do I need for a down payment?

Plan on 20–25% down. Up to 80% LTV on purchases is the common ceiling across these lenders, with cash-out refinances typically capped at 70–75%. Some aggressive programs go lower on down payment with high credit and strong reserves, but 25% down usually earns meaningfully better pricing.

Can I get a DSCR loan for a short-term rental?

Yes, with the right lender. Lima One offers a dedicated STR loan (up to 75% LTV, 1.3+ DSCR, 700 FICO). Easy Street Capital accepts projected STR income, Visio runs vacation-rental programs, and LendingOne accepts STRs at higher pricing. Confirm STR treatment in writing — not every DSCR lender underwrites Airbnb income the same way.

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

No — that's the entire point. Qualification is based on the property's rental income, verified through the appraisal's rent schedule (and sometimes leases), plus your credit, reserves, and the property itself. Self-employed investors and anyone with heavy tax write-offs are the classic use case.

Can I close a DSCR loan in an LLC?

Yes. DSCR loans are business-purpose loans, and lenders like Visio, Lima One, Kiavi, and Easy Street Capital routinely close in LLCs or other entities. That's a major advantage over conventional mortgages, which usually require closing in your personal name.

Are DSCR loan rates higher than conventional mortgages?

Typically yes — expect a premium of roughly half a point to a point and a half over conventional investment-property rates, reflecting the no-income-documentation risk. Published starting rates we verified range from 5.75% (Easy Street Capital) to 6.125% (Kiavi), and LendingOne's own guide puts market averages in the mid-6% to 7% range — all starting-rate floors for top profiles, so check current terms for your scenario. If you're financing a second rental property and qualify conventionally, compare both paths.

Bottom Line

There's no single best DSCR lender — there's the best lender for your deal. Use this shortlist:

• Fastest digital process: Kiavi — online pre-qualification, up to 80% LTV, interest-only options, no prepay penalty after year three.
• Thinnest cash flow: Easy Street Capital — no minimum DSCR, rates starting at 5.75%, STR-friendly underwriting.
• Portfolio growth: Lima One Capital — multi-property portfolio loans plus a dedicated STR product.
• Simple 30-year hold: CoreVest Finance — clean 1.0x DSCR, 30-year fixed, $75K–$2M+.
• Borderline ratios / flexible prepay: LendingOne — reported 0.75 DSCR floor, prepay terms from zero to five years.
• Entity investors: Visio Lending — LLC-friendly since 2012, multi-property closings, vacation-rental programs.

Run your DSCR before you apply, get quotes from at least two lenders, and read the prepayment penalty line as carefully as the rate. Then lock the deal.

Before you lock, run the numbers yourself — the Mortgage Refinance Comparison Calculator models refi-versus-keep scenarios side by side so you can verify a lender's break-even claim against your own deal.

Check Kiavi's current DSCR terms — published rates move with the market:

See Easy Street Capital's current programs — compare their no-minimum-DSCR terms against your deal: