On rental and multifamily listings
Investors using DSCR financing want to know if the property 'DSCRs'. Pre-fill the rent and taxes, and they can test loan amounts against it.
Investor tools · DSCR
A DSCR calculator for investor listings
DSCR loans qualify investors on the property's rent rather than their personal income, which makes them popular with full-time investors and the self-employed. This DSCR loan calculator works out the debt service coverage ratio from monthly rent and the full payment, including taxes, insurance and HOA. It tells an investor in seconds whether a rental is likely to cover itself in a lender's eyes.
- Included on: Brokerage plan and up
- Runs in English and Spanish
- Leads arrive with all 5 results attached
What is DSCR in real estate?
Debt service coverage ratio is the property's monthly rent divided by its monthly debt payment, including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and HOA (PITIA). A DSCR of 1.0 means rent exactly covers the payment. Many DSCR lenders look for around 1.0 to 1.25 or higher, depending on the program.
When you'd send it
When to put the DSCR Loan Calculator in front of people
When an offer depends on financing
Before writing an investor's offer, check the ratio at their intended loan amount. A DSCR below the lender's minimum may mean a bigger down payment.
With self-employed buyers who invest
Self-employed investors whose tax returns understate cash flow often prefer DSCR loans. The calculator shows whether the property can qualify on its own.
What your visitor sees
The investor enters the loan amount, rate, term, monthly rent, and monthly taxes, insurance and HOA. They see the DSCR, monthly rent, total debt service (PITIA), principal and interest, and a lender assessment of the ratio.
The lead you receiveAn investor testing financing on a specific rental
You receive the Loan Amount, Monthly Rent, Total Debt Service (PITIA), DSCR and Lender Assessment. An investor running this usually has financing in mind, often DSCR, and is close to deciding whether to pursue the property.
Follow-up that works
- If DSCR is near or below 1.0, show the loan amount at which it reaches the lender's likely minimum.
- Connect them with a lender who offers DSCR programs, without any referral payments.
- Send similar rentals with stronger rent-to-price ratios.
- What your visitor enters
- Loan Amount
- their input
- Interest Rate (%)
- their input
- Loan Term (years)
- their input
- Monthly Rent
- their input
- Taxes, Insurance & HOA (monthly)
- their input
- What they see (and what you receive)
- DSCR
- their result
- Monthly Rent
- their result
- Total Debt Service (PITIA)
- their result
- Principal & Interest
- their result
- Lender Assessment
- their result
- Contact and source
- Name, email, phone
- with consent
- Page and campaign
- UTM · referrer
At a $280,000 loan, the duplex came out at a 1.08 DSCR. Some lenders want 1.2. Putting about $30,000 more down would get you there. Do you want me to send the rent roll so your lender can check?
Before and after
Your page before and after this calculator
BeforeAfter
Before: Great investment opportunity
- No financing figures on the listing
- Investors calculate DSCR themselves, or move on
- Offers fall through at underwriting
After: Check the DSCR
- Investors see the ratio at their loan amount
- Financing fit is clear before an offer
- Their loan plans come with the lead
Reading the results
What each result means for your follow-up
The same figures your visitor sees arrive in your lead record. Here's how to read the ones that matter.
- DSCR
- Monthly rent divided by total debt service. Above the lender's minimum is good. Below 1.0 means the rent doesn't cover the payment.
- Total Debt Service (PITIA)
- Principal, interest, taxes, insurance and association dues: the denominator DSCR lenders typically use.
- Lender Assessment
- A plain-language read on the ratio. Each lender sets its own minimum and adjusts pricing by DSCR, so treat this as a guide.
What can go wrong
Mistakes that cost agents the lead
Using asking rents
Lenders use leases or an appraiser's rent schedule, not the rent an investor hopes for. Pre-fill realistic market rents.
Forgetting HOA and insurance
Leaving out HOA or using low insurance overstates DSCR. Include all housing costs.
Quoting a universal minimum
DSCR minimums and pricing vary widely between lenders. Mention a range, and let the lender confirm.
Inside the DSCR Loan Calculator
What your visitor enters (5)
Loan Details
- Loan Amount
- Interest Rate (%)
- Loan Term (years)
Rental Income & Expenses
- Monthly Rent
- Taxes, Insurance & HOA (monthly)
Field names are shown as they appear in the calculator's English interface.
What they see (and what you receive) (5)
- DSCR
- Monthly Rent
- Total Debt Service (PITIA)
- Principal & Interest
- Lender Assessment
Definitions shown in the calculator (8)
- Debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR)
- Monthly rent divided by the property’s total monthly debt service. A DSCR of 1.0 means rent exactly covers the payment; above 1.0 leaves a cushion, below 1.0 means the owner covers the gap. DSCR lenders set their own minimum ratios, and this number is the main figure they use to qualify the loan.
- DSCR loan
- A mortgage for rental property that qualifies the borrower mainly on the property’s rental income rather than on personal income documents such as tax returns. Because the lender takes on different risk, rates, down payment requirements and fees are often higher than for owner-occupied loans. Terms and minimum ratios vary by lender.
- Total debt service (PITIA)
- Principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance and association (HOA) dues, added together as one monthly figure. It is the denominator in the DSCR. In this calculator, principal and interest come from the loan inputs and the other three are entered as one combined monthly amount.
- Principal and interest
- The part of the monthly payment that repays the loan and pays the lender’s interest, calculated from the loan amount, rate and term with the standard amortization formula. It is usually the largest piece of debt service, so changes to the rate or term move the DSCR more than most other inputs.
- Gross monthly rent
- The full rent the property brings in each month before vacancy, repairs or management costs. It is the numerator in the DSCR as calculated here. Lenders may use a signed lease, an appraiser’s market-rent estimate or the lower of the two, so the rent a lender credits can differ from what you expect to collect.
- Interest rate
- The annual percentage the lender charges on the outstanding balance, before fees. DSCR loans often carry higher rates than owner-occupied mortgages. A higher rate raises principal and interest, which raises total debt service and lowers the DSCR, so the rate can decide whether a property qualifies.
- Loan term
- The number of years over which the loan is repaid. A longer term lowers the monthly principal-and-interest payment, which improves the DSCR, but it raises total interest over the life of the loan. Some DSCR programs also offer interest-only periods, which lower debt service further for a time.
- Loan amount
- The total borrowed to buy or refinance the rental property. It drives principal and interest and therefore the DSCR. When a property falls short of a lender’s minimum ratio, a smaller loan, usually from a larger down payment, is the most direct way to bring the ratio up.
Calculator disclaimer
Estimates only. DSCR requirements, minimum ratios and rates vary by lender. Confirm qualifying figures with a DSCR lender.
Calculator results are estimates for illustration, not Loan Estimates, pre-approvals or offers of credit.
Terms on this page
Questions by topic
DSCR Loan Calculator: questions agents ask
How is DSCR calculated?
DSCR = monthly rent ÷ monthly PITIA (principal, interest, taxes, insurance and association dues). A ratio above 1.0 means the rent covers the payment.
What DSCR do lenders require?
It varies. Many programs look for 1.0 to 1.25, and some allow lower ratios with larger down payments or different pricing. Investors should confirm with a lender that offers DSCR loans.
Does vacancy affect DSCR?
Lender DSCR calculations usually use gross rent from leases or the appraisal, not vacancy-adjusted rent. For a fuller picture of cash flow, use the investment property ROI calculator.
Who uses DSCR loans?
Investors who prefer to qualify on property income, including full-time investors, self-employed buyers and people building portfolios. DSCR loans are for investment properties, not primary residences.
How do I advise an investor whose DSCR is too low?
Show what changes it: a larger down payment, a lower price or higher rents supported by leases. The investor and lender decide which path to take.
Are DSCR loans more expensive?
They're often priced higher than owner-occupied conventional loans, with larger down payments. Investors should compare offers. Your role is to show the property's numbers.
Which plan includes the DSCR calculator?
The Brokerage plan, as one of the Real Estate & Pros tools. See pricing.
Can I pre-fill rent and taxes per listing?
Yes. Set defaults for each listing's embed so investors only adjust the loan amount and rate.
Is there a Spanish version?
Yes. The DSCR calculator runs in English and Spanish.
Pairs well with
Calculators that pair well with this one
Put the DSCR Loan Calculator on your next listing
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