Compare DSCR Loan Programs Side by Side

Qualitative comparison of DSCR program structures
Attribute	P-01 · Standard	P-02 · No-Ratio	P-03 · Interest-Only	P-04 · Foreign National	P-05 · 5-10 Unit	P-06 · Short-Term Rental
Qualifying basis	Property rent compared against the full monthly payment	No minimum ratio; compensating factors carry the file	Rent versus payment; IO or amortizing basis varies by lender	Property rent versus payment, plus foreign borrower review	Building rent roll compared against the full monthly payment	Projected or historical short-term income versus payment
Income documents	No personal income documents; lease or market rent used	No personal income documents; rent still documented	No personal income documents; lease or market rent used	No personal income documents; passport and visa reviewed	Rent roll and leases; no personal income documents	Booking history or third-party market data report
Tends to fit	Investors with rentals that cash flow on their own	High-cost markets or properties bought for appreciation	Investors maximizing early cash flow on a rental	Non-U.S. residents buying American rental property	Investors stepping up from one-to-four unit rentals	Investors operating furnished vacation or nightly rentals
Property types	One-to-four unit homes, condos, and townhomes held as rentals	One-to-four unit rentals; some lenders allow condos	One-to-four unit rentals and many small multifamily	One-to-four unit rentals; condo eligibility varies	Residential buildings with five to ten units	Furnished one-to-four unit homes and eligible condos
Leverage (qualitative)	Typically the most leverage in the catalog	Often more conservative than standard DSCR	Sometimes slightly reduced versus fully amortizing options	Often more conservative than standard DSCR	Often more conservative than one-to-four unit DSCR	Often more conservative than long-term rental DSCR
Watch for	Ratio must usually clear the wholesale lender's minimum	Negative monthly cash flow the investor must cover	Payment increase when the interest-only period ends	Funds transfer timing and U.S. bank account setup	Appraisal complexity and vacancy assumptions	Local ordinances, permits, and seasonal income swings
Read the card	Standard DSCR Loan →	No-Ratio DSCR Loan →	Interest-Only DSCR Loan →	Foreign National DSCR Loan →	5-10 Unit DSCR Loan →	Short-Term Rental DSCR Loan →

Scroll sideways on smaller screens. Descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees; guidelines differ across wholesale lenders and every loan is subject to underwriting and lender/investor approval.

Five questions that narrow the catalog

Does the rent cover the full payment?: If yes, with some cushion, start with the standard card. If no, read the no-ratio card next.
Is cash flow in the early years the priority?: The interest-only card explains how a lower initial payment works and what happens when amortization begins.
Do you live outside the United States?: The foreign national card covers identity, credit-reference and account requirements that differ from domestic files.
Does the building have five to ten units?: The 5-10 unit card describes how small multifamily can be underwritten with a residential-style DSCR approach.
Is the property rented by the night or week?: The short-term rental card explains how booking history or market data reports can stand in for a lease.

Structures can also combine. An interest-only payment might be paired with a short-term rental file, or a foreign national borrower might buy a small multifamily building. The guide to choosing a structure walks through those overlaps.

Broker, not a lender. Business-purpose loans for non-owner-occupied investment property only; not for personal, family or household use. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriting and lender/investor approval; terms subject to change.