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DSCR loan calculator: will the rent carry the mortgage?

In short: this calculator runs the exact qualification non-QM DSCR lenders use — monthly gross rent divided by the full monthly payment (PITIA) — with short-term-rental and interest-only modes, and it back-solves the biggest loan your rent can support. Built for foreign nationals and U.S. expats buying U.S. rental property: no U.S. credit, no personal income docs, LLC vesting welcome.

Reviewed by America Mortgages Closing DeskLast updated 6 July 2026

Property & loan

Monthly gross rent

Loan amount

Interest rate

% / yr

Indicative — your quoted rate may differ. We never pre-fill a rate.

Term

years

Monthly property tax

Monthly insurance

Monthly HOA dues

Target DSCR

Most FN programs want 1.0–1.25+.

Short-term rental (Airbnb / STR)Applies the standard 20% haircut to gross rent before the ratio.

Interest-only loanQualifies on the IO payment; we still show the amortizing stress row.

Enter rent, loan amount and your rate

DSCR, qualifying payment and your max loan at the target DSCR appear instantly. Figures stay in your browser.

How this calculator works

DSCR = monthly gross rent ÷ monthly PITIA

PITIA is your all-in monthly obligation: Principal + interest, property taxes, insurance and association (HOA) dues. The principal-and-interest part uses the standard amortizing payment M = P·r(1+r)ⁿ/((1+r)ⁿ−1), where P is the loan amount, r the monthly rate (annual % ÷ 12 ÷ 100) and n the number of months. A DSCR of 1.00 means the rent exactly covers the payment; 1.25+ is what most programs price best.

Two conventions matter and are locked into this tool. First, the ratio uses gross rent — not net operating income — because that is how 1–4-unit non-QM DSCR programs underwrite. Second, short-term-rental income takes a 20% haircut before the ratio, and interest-only loans qualify on the IO payment (M = P·r) while we display the amortizing stress ratio for honesty. The max-loan solver inverts the formula: max P&I = rent ÷ target DSCR − taxes/insurance/HOA, converted back into a principal at your rate and term.

Worked example

A foreign investor is buying a single-family rental that should lease long-term for $3,000 a month, borrowing $250,000 over 30 years at a user-entered 7% rate, with $300 monthly property tax, $150 insurance and $150 HOA.

Example inputs

Monthly gross rent: $3,000
Loan amount: $250,000
Rate (user-entered): 7.00% / yr
Term: 30 years (amortizing)
Tax + insurance + HOA: $300 + $150 + $150 = $600/mo
Target DSCR: 1.25

Computed results

Monthly P&I: $1,663.26
Monthly PITIA: $2,263.26
DSCR: 1.33
Tier: Strong (≥ 1.25)
Max loan at 1.25 DSCR: $270,553.62

The amortizing payment on $250,000 at 7% over 30 years is $1,663.26; adding $600 of tax, insurance and HOA gives a $2,263.26 PITIA. Dividing the $3,000 rent by that PITIA yields a DSCR of 1.33 — above the 1.25 threshold most programs price best — and at a 1.25 target the same rent could support a loan of up to $270,553.62.

Example figures are fixed sample numbers computed by the same engine that powers the calculator above — illustrative only, not a quote.

FAQ

DSCR loan questions, answered

What DSCR do I need to qualify as a foreign national?

Most non-QM DSCR programs want a ratio of at least 1 — the rent fully covers the payment — and price best at 1.25 or higher. Foreign nationals typically pair that with 25–30% down. Some programs accept sub-1.0 ratios at lower leverage, which is exactly what the max-loan solver in this calculator shows you.

Is DSCR calculated on gross rent or net operating income?

For 1–4 unit residential DSCR loans — the kind foreign nationals use — lenders divide monthly GROSS rent by monthly PITIA (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, association dues). The NOI-based version you may see elsewhere is a commercial-lending convention. This calculator uses the residential gross-rent form because that is how these loans are actually underwritten.

How does short-term rental (Airbnb) income change the math?

Lenders discount short-term-rental income for seasonality and vacancy — the standard treatment is a 20% haircut on gross STR income before the ratio. Toggle STR mode on and the calculator applies it automatically. A property that clears 1.25 on a long-term lease can drop below 1.0 as an STR, so always check both.

Why does the interest-only mode show a second 'stress' DSCR?

Interest-only DSCR loans qualify on the lower IO payment, which flatters the ratio. We show the amortizing 'stress' DSCR alongside so you can see whether the deal still works when the IO period ends or rates reset — the transparency most calculators skip.

Do I need U.S. credit or U.S. income for a DSCR loan?

No. DSCR programs qualify the PROPERTY, not your payslip: no U.S. credit history, no U.S. tax returns, and LLC vesting is fine. That is why they are the workhorse loan for foreign investors — America Mortgages arranges them across all 50 states.

What is the 'max loan at target DSCR' figure?

It back-solves the largest loan the rent can support at your chosen ratio: maximum P&I = qualifying rent ÷ target DSCR − monthly taxes/insurance/HOA, then converts that payment into a principal at your rate and term. Use it to set your property-search budget before you fall in love with a listing.

Keep going: related calculators & guides

Foreign-Currency Mortgage Impact

Shows a USD mortgage payment and total cost in your home currency at a user-entered FX rate, with ±10/20% scenario bands, an optional annual-drift projection and the break-even FX move.

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AM Premier+ DSCR Loan Program

Qualify on the property's cash flow alone — up to 80% LTV, $100k–$3M, 30-year terms.

Foreign National Mortgages

U.S. property loans with no U.S. citizenship, residency or credit history required.

Important information

Illustrative and educational only. Results are indicative estimates, not a quote, an offer of credit, or a commitment to lend.
DSCR shown uses gross rent ÷ PITIA as most non-QM investor programs do; individual lenders may apply different rent haircuts, vacancy factors or reserve requirements.

America Mortgages, Inc. — NMLS 2810389 (America Mortgages Nationwide). Methodology last reviewed 6 July 2026. This tool never quotes a rate: every interest and FX rate is entered by you, and every output is an indicative estimate, not an offer or commitment to lend.