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San Diego County just completed its biggest year of low-income housing construction, signaling sustained investment in the region. Santee sits in this active market where investor-focused buyers are looking for cash-flowing properties.
DSCR loans let investors qualify based on the property's income, not personal income. This matters when rental income is strong but W-2 wages are modest or variable.
620
Minimum FICO
20–25%
Down Payment Range
1.0–1.25
DSCR Ratio Floor
30–45 days
Underwriting Timeline
DSCR Loans in Santee
DSCR loans require a minimum FICO score of 620 and typically 20% to 25% down. The property's debt-service coverage ratio—annual rental income divided by annual debt service—must usually exceed 1.0 to 1.25.
San Diego County's median household income of $102,285 gives context to rental rates here. A property generating $2,000 monthly rent must cover its mortgage, taxes, and insurance to qualify.
Local decision guide
Use this guide to connect dscr loans eligibility, lender expectations, and local market factors before comparing payment options in Santee.
San Diego County just completed its biggest year of low-income housing construction, signaling sustained investment in the region. Santee sits in this active market where investor-focused buyers are looking for cash-flowing properties.
DSCR loans let investors qualify based on the property's income, not personal income. This matters when rental income is strong but W-2 wages are modest or variable.
DSCR loans require a minimum FICO score of 620 and typically 20% to 25% down. The property's debt-service coverage ratio—annual rental income divided by annual debt service—must usually exceed 1.0 to 1.25.
DSCR lending in California is dominated by portfolio lenders and private banks rather than Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. These lenders hold loans on their books and have more flexibility on documentation.
Underwriting timelines for DSCR loans typically run 30 to 45 days. Lenders focus heavily on the property's lease agreement, rental history, and local market comparables.
DSCR loans make sense in Santee when you own a rental property with solid cash flow. Your personal income doesn't need to reflect the property's earning power—the building's numbers carry the application.
They don't work if the property is barely cash-flowing or if you're buying owner-occupied. DSCR is purely for investors who want the lender to look at the building's numbers, not the borrower's tax returns.
Conventional investment loans require 20% to 25% down and strong personal income documentation. DSCR skips the personal income requirement but demands a higher FICO floor and tighter cash-flow ratios.
A rental property with $2,500 monthly income might not qualify on conventional if your W-2 income is low. DSCR lets that property's cash flow carry the application instead.
Galū Cafe, a popular Chula Vista spot, is opening a sister location in City Heights this fall with expanded menu options. That kind of neighborhood investment signals growing foot traffic and commercial activity near Santee.
San Diego is working through state requirements for high-rise housing near transit stops. Long-term, that means more density and rental demand in areas like Santee that sit near transit corridors.
A minimum FICO of 620 is typical for DSCR loans. Lenders may offer better rates and terms at 640 and above.
Yes, but only if you treat it as an investment property. Owner-occupied purchases require conventional or FHA financing instead.
Most DSCR lenders require 20% to 25% down. Some portfolio lenders may go as low as 15% for strong cash-flow properties.
If the property's annual rental income doesn't cover the debt service by the required ratio (usually 1.0 to 1.25), the loan won't qualify. You'd need to lower the purchase price or find a stronger cash-flowing property.
Expect 30 to 45 days for DSCR underwriting. Lenders need time to verify the lease, confirm rental history, and pull local market comparables.