What Is a DSCR Loan?

A DSCR loan is one of several types of home loans referred to as Non-QM loans. Non-QM loans provide potential borrowers with an alternative route to financing, which doesn't require traditional income verification methods. A DSCR loan, in particular, makes it easier to show rental income that might not show up on your taxes due to deductions for legitimate business expenses.

A DSCR loan is a strong Non-QM loan for real estate investors. Lenders can use a DSCR to help qualify real estate investors for a loan because it can easily determine the borrower's ability to repay without verifying personal income.

When it comes to Non-QM mortgages, DSCR loans are one of the most popular options among all borrowers. In fact, between 2018 and February 2023, DSCR loans accounted for approximately half of the 201,000 Non-QM loans rated by S&P Global.

A DSCR loan enables real estate investors to get a loan because it takes into account cash flow from investment properties rather than pay stubs or W-2s, which many investors do not typically have. Lenders use DSCR to evaluate a borrower's ability to make monthly loan payments.

Deductions from properties may lower taxable income, making it hard for investors to prove their true income. Lenders use DSCR to determine whether someone can make loan repayments. Otherwise, many investors might struggle to meet the basic eligibility standards for real estate loans.

Since they don't require pay stubs or tax returns showing minimum income levels, debt service coverage ratio loans are a great alternative for investors who claim many write-offs and business deductions.