DSCR Calculator, by program
The same qualifying-rent rules our desk uses - 1–4 unit, 5–8 unit, short-term rental and condotel. Live, ungated, no credit pull.
Property type
Transaction
Unit schedule
Monthly property expenses
Purchase in CA or new construction: use 1.25% of the sale price ÷ 12.
Updates as you type. Qualifying rent follows the program rules below.
Faithful to the program worksheet our desk uses (revised 7/28). Estimates are educational - not an approval, commitment, rate quote or guarantee; program availability varies by state. See how these figures are calculated or run the full Deal Review. Read how qualifying rent works.
The qualifying-rent rules, in plain language
1–4 unit rental (long-term)
Purchase: the lower of the in-place lease or market rent - proposed leases don’t count. Refinance with a rent receipt: the lease amount, up to 115% of market rent. Without a receipt: the lower of lease or market. Vacant units aren’t permitted on a refinance.
Short-term rental (1–4 unit)
Purchase: market rent from the appraisal. Refinance: the lower of market rent or the 12-month average verified by a third-party management provider. Minimum DSCR 1.00; loans cap at $1.5M.
Condotel
Both sides get an 80% haircut: purchase uses 80% of market rent; refinance uses the lower of 80% of market or 80% of the verified 12-month history. Minimum DSCR 1.00.
5–8 units
Vacant units count at 90% of market rent (max 35% of units vacant on a refinance). Occupied: lower of lease or market with a receipt; without one, the lower of the lease or 90% of market.
Prepare your DSCR review
The program calculator compares financing assumptions; the analyzer helps explore rental coverage. Neither replaces a lender review.
Have a specialist confirm the program
Your numbers, the right program, and what moves leverage - personally, within one business day.
Quick questions
Which DSCR program fits a 6-unit building?
A dedicated 5–8 unit DSCR program - qualified on the building’s rents with vacant units counted at 90% of market, and no more than 35% of units vacant on a refinance.
How is qualifying rent different from actual rent?
Programs discount rent for risk: leases above market get capped (115% with receipts on 1–4 unit refinances), condotels take an 80% haircut, and vacant 5–8 unit space counts at 90% of market. This calculator applies those rules automatically.
Can I use Airbnb income to qualify?
Yes - short-term rental programs use market rent on a purchase and the lower of market rent or your verified 12-month average on a refinance, with a 1.00 minimum DSCR.
What payment is used for an interest-only loan?
The interest-only payment (balance × rate ÷ 12) is the qualifying payment on 10-year IO structures; amortizing loans qualify on the 30-year payment.
Is this an approval?
No - it’s the same math the desk runs first. Lenders also weigh credit, reserves and property condition; a specialist confirms the real number before you apply.
Prepare the next decision
Our first DSCR loan guide separates qualifying rent from real cash flow and explains what to prepare as a new landlord. It includes a refinance example with less cash available than expected.
Does the property have five to eight units? Our 5–8 unit financing guide explains how to review rents, operating expenses and legal unit count before choosing a route. Calculator assumptions do not confirm eligibility for a program.