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Ridgecrest sits in the Mojave Desert, anchored by Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. That federal presence creates steady rental demand from contractors and military personnel.
Investors looking at Ridgecrest often find lower entry prices than coastal California. That lower purchase price can work in your favor on DSCR calculations.
620–660 typical
Min Credit Score
1.0 (some lenders lower)
Min DSCR Ratio
20–25% minimum
Down Payment
None — rent covers it
Income Docs Required
30-year fixed options
Loan Terms Available
DSCR Loans in Ridgecrest
DSCR stands for Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Lenders divide the monthly rent by the monthly mortgage payment. A ratio of 1.0 means the rent covers the payment exactly.
Most lenders want a DSCR of 1.0 or higher. Some non-QM lenders will go below 1.0 with a stronger down payment. Expect a minimum 620-660 credit score and 20-25% down.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect dscr loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Ridgecrest.
Ridgecrest sits in the Mojave Desert, anchored by Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. That federal presence creates steady rental demand from contractors and military personnel.
Investors looking at Ridgecrest often find lower entry prices than coastal California. That lower purchase price can work in your favor on DSCR calculations.
DSCR stands for Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Lenders divide the monthly rent by the monthly mortgage payment. A ratio of 1.0 means the rent covers the payment exactly.
DSCR loans are non-QM products. You won't find them at your local bank or credit union. Wholesale lenders who specialize in investor financing are where these programs live.
We work with 200+ wholesale lenders at SRK CAPITAL. That matters here — DSCR guidelines vary significantly from lender to lender. Rate, DSCR floor, and reserve requirements all shift.
Ridgecrest rents are driven by the China Lake base. If a property is near the base and priced right, it can hit a 1.1 or 1.2 DSCR without much trouble.
One thing investors miss: lenders use the appraiser's market rent estimate, not your existing lease. If your tenant is underpaying, that could hurt your DSCR on paper.
Bank Statement Loans verify income too — just through deposits instead of pay stubs. DSCR skips your income entirely. For investors with complex tax returns, DSCR is usually the cleaner path.
Hard Money Loans close faster but cost more and have short terms. DSCR loans offer 30-year fixed options. For a buy-and-hold rental, DSCR almost always wins on long-term cost.
Kern County property taxes run roughly 1.1-1.2% of assessed value. Factor that into your cash flow math before running your DSCR with a lender.
Ridgecrest is a smaller market. Some lenders apply rural or thin-market overlays that tighten guidelines. We know which wholesale lenders are comfortable with Kern County investment properties.
Most lenders want 1.0 or above. Some go lower if you put more down. The appraiser's rent estimate for the area determines your ratio.
Some lenders allow it using platforms like AirDNA for income estimates. Fewer lenders offer this, and guidelines are stricter.
No. DSCR loans are available to out-of-state investors. The property income qualifies you, not your residency.
Plan for 20-25% minimum. Some lenders require more for lower DSCR ratios or thinner markets like Ridgecrest.
Yes. DSCR loans work for purchases and refinances. The lender uses the appraiser's market rent, not an existing lease.
Yes, typically. DSCR is a non-QM product, so pricing reflects that. Rates vary by borrower profile and market conditions.