🏠 Airbnb Investor Guide 2026

Best DSCR Loan Lenders for Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals 2026:
No W-2. No Tax Returns. Just Your STR Income.

David Rodriguez, Refinance & Rate Specialist
16 min readExpert
Mortgage RefinancingRate AnalysisMarket Trends

20% down

Minimum for STR DSCR

1.20x

Typical min DSCR required

AirDNA

STR income proof accepted

Get STR DSCR Loan Quotes →

⚡ The Smart Airbnb Investor's Financing Secret:

DSCR loans don't look at your W-2 or tax returns. They only care about one thing: does the property's income cover the mortgage payment? For Airbnb properties generating $4,000–$8,000/month, this is a slam-dunk. The challenge: finding lenders who accept short-term rental income for DSCR qualification — not all of them do. This guide shows you the 8 who do.

🏆 Top 3 DSCR Lenders for Airbnb — June 2026

Top 3 STR DSCR Lenders — Ranked by STR Income Acceptance & Rate

All accept AirDNA or booking history for income qualification

LenderRateMin DSCRSTR IncomeApply
#1

Visio Lending

⭐ Best STR Specialist

7.75%1.0xAirDNA + 12mo historyApply →
#2

Griffin Funding

🏆 Best Rate for 1.25+ DSCR

7.55%1.0xAirDNA or 12mo 1099-KApply →
#3

Angel Oak Mortgage

🔥 Best for New STR Properties

7.90%0 DSCR (asset-based)AirDNA projections OKApply →

Full Ranking: 8 Best DSCR Lenders for Short-Term Rentals

#1

Visio Lending

Best STR DSCR Specialist⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get Quote →

Rate From

From 7.75%

Min DSCR

1.0x

Min Down

20%

Min Credit

680

STR Income Documentation Accepted:

AirDNA projections + 12-month booking history + 1099-K

✅ Pros:

  • #1 lender for non-owner-occupied STR properties
  • Accepts AirDNA for brand-new STR purchases
  • No limit on number of properties
  • 30-year fixed and ARM options

❌ Cons:

  • Rates slightly higher than banks
  • No primary residence loans
#2

Griffin Funding

Best Rate for Strong DSCR Properties⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get Quote →

Rate From

From 7.55%

Min DSCR

1.0x

Min Down

20%

Min Credit

660

STR Income Documentation Accepted:

AirDNA or 12-month 1099-K or Airbnb income summary

✅ Pros:

  • Lowest base rate among STR specialists
  • Works with experienced and first-time STR investors
  • Fast 20-day close
  • LLCs and entities accepted

❌ Cons:

  • 660 credit minimum — slightly higher than some competitors
  • Processing slower in high-volume periods
#3

Angel Oak Mortgage

Best for Asset-Based (No DSCR Required)⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Get Quote →

Rate From

From 7.90%

Min DSCR

0x (no-ratio available)

Min Down

30%

Min Credit

640

STR Income Documentation Accepted:

AirDNA projections accepted even without operating history

✅ Pros:

  • No-ratio DSCR option for high-net-worth investors
  • Best for new markets where STR history doesn't exist
  • Accepts foreign nationals

❌ Cons:

  • 30% down required for no-ratio loans
  • Higher rate vs income-verified DSCR
#4

Kiavi (formerly LendingHome)

Best for Fast STR Funding⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get Quote →

Rate From

From 7.95%

Min DSCR

1.10x

Min Down

20%

Min Credit

660

STR Income Documentation Accepted:

12-month Airbnb/VRBO history + AirDNA for new properties

✅ Pros:

  • Fastest close in the industry (10–15 days for experienced investors)
  • Streamlined online portal
  • Works with STR and mid-term rental properties

❌ Cons:

  • 1.10 minimum DSCR slightly higher than best competitors
  • Focus on experienced investors
#5

Deephaven Mortgage

Best Non-QM DSCR with STR Focus⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get Quote →

Rate From

From 7.85%

Min DSCR

1.0x

Min Down

25%

Min Credit

620

STR Income Documentation Accepted:

Accepts Rabbu or AirDNA reports, 12-month history

✅ Pros:

  • Lowest credit score requirement (620)
  • Strong STR market expertise
  • LLC, trust, and entity purchases accepted

❌ Cons:

  • 25% minimum down payment
  • Slightly slower than Kiavi

📊 STR DSCR Calculator: Does Your Airbnb Qualify?

Use this table to estimate whether your target property will hit the minimum 1.20x DSCR threshold required by most lenders.

Property / MarketPurchase PriceMonthly PITIAvg STR IncomeDSCRResult
Smoky Mtns cabin, TN$350K$2,400$4,800/mo2.00x✅ Qualifies
Orlando condo, FL$280K$1,950$3,200/mo1.64x✅ Qualifies
Scottsdale home, AZ$520K$3,600$5,100/mo1.42x✅ Qualifies
Nashville townhouse, TN$420K$2,950$3,500/mo1.19x❌ Too Low
LA condo, CA$750K$5,200$4,800/mo0.92x❌ Too Low
Gulf Shores beach, AL$460K$3,200$6,200/mo1.94x✅ Qualifies

STR income from AirDNA market averages. Actual income varies by season, property quality, and management. PITI based on 20% down, 7.75% rate.

Your Airbnb Can Finance Itself

Get quotes from the top 8 DSCR lenders who accept short-term rental income. Compare rates, DSCRs, and terms in minutes — no personal income verification required.

Compare STR DSCR Loan Quotes →

Airbnb DSCR Loan FAQ 2026

Q: Can I finance an Airbnb in my own name or do I need an LLC?

Both options work. Most DSCR lenders accept loans in personal name OR LLC/entity. Many experienced investors prefer LLC for liability protection. Some lenders offer slightly lower rates for personal-name loans due to simpler underwriting. LLCs accepted by: Visio Lending, Griffin Funding, Angel Oak, Kiavi, Deephaven. If you plan to scale to 5+ properties, LLC from the start is recommended for portfolio management.

Q: What happens if Airbnb bans short-term rentals in my city?

This is the #1 risk of STR DSCR investing. If local regulations ban Airbnb, your DSCR could drop dramatically (long-term rents are typically 40–60% lower than STR). Mitigation strategies: (1) Buy in STR-friendly jurisdictions with established permitting. (2) Ensure the property works as a long-term rental if STR bans occur. (3) Ask your lender how they handle DSCR if rental strategy changes. (4) Diversify across multiple markets.

Q: How many DSCR Airbnb loans can I have at once?

Most DSCR lenders have no limit on the number of properties — this is one of the main advantages over conventional financing (which caps at 10 financed properties for conventional loans). Visio Lending explicitly markets unlimited properties. Griffin Funding also allows unlimited DSCR loans. Your equity and credit score are more limiting factors than loan count.

Ready to Scale Your Airbnb Portfolio?

No W-2, no tax returns, no income limits. Just your STR income and 20% down. Get matched with STR DSCR specialists now.

Get My STR DSCR Quotes →

Free quotes • No personal income docs • STR specialists

David Rodriguez - Refinance & Rate Specialist

Meet David

Refinance & Rate Specialist

10+ years Experience38+ ArticlesNMLS Licensed

David Rodriguez is a seasoned refinancing expert with over 10 years of experience in mortgage rate analysis and market trend forecasting. As a Certified Rate Lock Specialist, he has saved homeowners millions in interest payments through strategic refinancing timing. His expertise in Federal Reserve policy impact and mortgage-backed securities makes him a go-to expert for rate predictions and refinancing strategies.

EXPERTISE:

Mortgage RefinancingRate AnalysisMarket TrendsFed Policy Impact

KEY ACHIEVEMENT:

Saved clients $50M+ in interest payments

10+ years
Experience
38+
Articles
NMLS
Licensed
Expert
Certified
💰

Get 6.25% Mortgage Rates