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Comparing Ohio DSCR lenders: the nine terms that actually differ

We match you with lenders, so read this knowing that. Here's the checklist we'd use if we were on your side of the table — because on this page, we are.

UPDATED 24 AUG 2026 · 9 MIN READ

The nine terms that actually differ between DSCR lenders

Two lenders quoting what sounds like the same deal can hand you very different economics once you look past the headline rate. These are the nine terms worth comparing on every quote:

1. Rate. The obvious one, and the least complete one on its own — see the rest of this list.
2. Points. Origination points paid at closing to buy down the rate. A lower rate with more points can cost more than a slightly higher rate with none, depending on your hold period.
3. Prepayment penalty structure. 5/4/3/2/1 step-down, 3/2/1, or none — this changes what it costs you to sell or refinance early, and it's often the least-discussed term on a term sheet.
4. Minimum loan amount. Commonly $75,000–$100,000 across DSCR programs. This alone can rule a lender out on a lower-priced Ohio property before rate ever enters the conversation.
5. Minimum DSCR. Some programs hold a hard 1.00 floor; others go below it with more down payment or reserves. Know which one you're talking to before you get attached to a property.
6. Max LTV by scenario. Purchase, rate-term refinance, and cash-out refinance each carry their own max LTV, and they're not the same number.
7. Interest-only availability. Available on some programs, not others, and it changes both your monthly payment and your DSCR calculation.
8. Entity/LLC policy. Most DSCR lenders permit closing in an LLC; a few require it or restrict which entity structures qualify.
9. Seasoning requirement on cash-out. How long you have to own a property before a cash-out refinance can use its after-repair value instead of its purchase price — directly relevant to a BRRRR exit.

Lender types, and what each means for you

Knowing which type you're talking to tells you what to expect: a portfolio lender can often make a judgment call on an edge case; a correspondent lender is usually working from a fixed rate sheet; a broker's incentive is to place your loan somewhere, which is usually — but not always — aligned with getting you the best terms.

None of these four types is inherently the "right" one — a portfolio lender's flexibility doesn't help you if their pricing is uncompetitive, and a broker's wider reach doesn't matter if they route you to the same three lenders every time. The point of asking is to calibrate your expectations, not to rule anyone out on category alone.

The 12 questions to ask every lender

Copy this list. Send it to every lender who quotes you, and compare the answers side by side — not just the headline rate.

1. What's my rate at 0 points, 1 point, and 2 points?
2. What prepayment penalty structures are available, and what does each cost in rate?
3. What's the minimum loan amount on this program?
4. What's the minimum DSCR you'll lend on, and what happens if my property comes in below it?
5. What's the max LTV for a purchase, a rate-term refinance, and a cash-out refinance, respectively?
6. Is interest-only available, and does choosing it change my rate?
7. What's your seasoning requirement for a cash-out refinance using after-repair value?
8. Can I close in an LLC? Are there restrictions on entity structure?
9. What reserves do you require, and does that number change with additional financed properties?
10. What documentation do you need beyond the appraisal, lease, and reserve statements?
11. Is this rate locked, and for how long? What happens if we don't close in that window?
12. Is there a fee to lock, and is it refundable if the deal doesn't close?

Red flags

Walk away, or at minimum slow down, if you see any of these:

• Upfront fees before a term sheet. A legitimate lender doesn't need money from you before they've told you what they're actually offering.
• A rate quoted before anyone has seen the property or your credit. A real rate is a function of your file. A number given before underwriting has looked at anything is a marketing number, not a quote.
• Pressure to lock before the appraisal is back. Locking blind, before you know the property will appraise at the value the deal needs, shifts risk onto you.
• No written term sheet. If the terms won't put themselves in writing, don't rely on the verbal version.
• Vague prepayment language. "We'll work with you" is not a prepayment structure. Get the actual step-down schedule in writing.
• A minimum loan amount that only surfaces after you've submitted paperwork. If your Ohio property is priced under $150,000, ask about minimum loan size in the first conversation — a lender who waits until you've provided documents to mention it is wasting your time, if not doing it on purpose.

None of these, on their own, means a lender is dishonest — some are just how a particular program is built. The point is to get the answer in writing, early, rather than discover it at the closing table.

What we do and don't do

We collect your scenario, verify your phone number, and pass it to lenders in our network. They contact you directly. We are not a party to your loan, we don't underwrite it, and we don't set its terms. There is no cost to you anywhere in this process — lenders and lending partners pay us for the introduction. We think that's worth saying plainly rather than burying it, because it's exactly the kind of thing a buyer's guide should tell you about the guide itself.

FAQ

1. 01Do you vet or approve the lenders in your network?+

   We work with lenders and lending partners who fund Ohio rental property; we don't independently audit or certify their underwriting, and nothing on this site should be read as an endorsement of any specific lender's terms over another's.
2. 02Will I always get multiple quotes?+

   You may hear from one lender or several, depending on how your scenario matches lender criteria at the time you submit. There's no minimum number guaranteed.
3. 03Is it normal for DSCR lenders' rates to vary this much from each other?+

   Yes — more so than conventional lending, because DSCR programs vary widely in minimum DSCR, minimum loan size, and reserve requirements, and each of those shifts where a given lender prices a file. That's exactly why comparing the nine terms in section 01, not just the rate, matters.

Ready to see what lenders in our network quote on your property? Compare DSCR quotes →

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Last updated: 24 Aug 2026.