Investor Cash Flow Loans
Qualify for a rental property using its own income.
Overview
Our Investor Cash Flow program is built for real estate investors, from first-time landlords to seasoned portfolio owners, who want to qualify based on a property's rental income rather than their personal income or employment history. Using the property's cash flow, we help you unlock financing that scales with your portfolio instead of your personal debt-to-income ratio. In the mortgage industry, this loan type is more formally known as a DSCR (Debt-Service Coverage Ratio) loan — see our DSCR loans page for the technical breakdown of how that ratio is calculated.
Who It’s For & What You’ll Need
- A signed lease or a market rent estimate for the subject property
- A property that reasonably covers its own debt obligations under the lender’s cash-flow calculation
- A larger down payment than a typical owner-occupied purchase, since the property is non-owner-occupied
- Cash reserves after closing, per the lender’s guidelines
- A qualifying credit score (personal income documentation, like tax returns, is typically not required)
Benefits
- Qualify without providing tax returns, pay stubs, or employment verification
- Close in the name of an LLC or other entity in many cases
- Scale a rental portfolio without being limited by your personal debt-to-income ratio
- Often a faster, simpler underwriting process than a traditional owner-occupied loan
Common Scenarios
- An investor buying a single-family rental whose projected rent comfortably covers the mortgage payment.
- A self-employed investor who doesn’t want personal tax returns driving the qualification decision.
- A growing portfolio owner who has hit debt-to-income limits with conventional financing and needs a different qualification path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as the property’s cash flow?
Lenders typically compare the property’s rental income (actual or market-rate, via an appraiser’s rent schedule) against its housing expenses — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any association dues — to determine whether it cash flows well enough to qualify.
Can this be used for a short-term or vacation rental?
Some lenders in our network will consider short-term rental income; guidelines vary by lender, so we’ll match you with one suited to how you plan to use the property.
Do I need to already own other rental properties?
No. First-time investors can qualify for these programs as long as the subject property and your financial profile meet the lender’s guidelines.
Is Investor Cash Flow the same thing as a DSCR loan?
Yes — Investor Cash Flow is the name we use for this program; DSCR (Debt-Service Coverage Ratio) is the technical, industry-wide term for the same loan type. See our DSCR loans page for more on how the ratio itself works.
Related Calculators
Run your own numbers before you apply:
Ready to Move Forward with Investor Cash Flow Loans?
Start your application, or talk it through with a loan officer first — whichever fits where you are.