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Santa Rosa is Sonoma County's largest city. Strong rental demand here makes it a real target for income property investors.
DSCR loans — which qualify you on the property's rent, not your tax returns — are built for this market.
680 typical
Min Credit Score
1.1 preferred
Min DSCR Ratio
20-25%
Down Payment
Not required
Income Docs
30-year fixed available
Loan Term
Lenders calculate your DSCR by dividing monthly rent by the mortgage payment. A ratio of 1.0 means rent covers the payment exactly.
Most lenders want a DSCR of 1.1 or higher. Credit scores typically need to hit 680, and you'll need 20-25% down.
DSCR is a non-QM product. Banks don't offer it — you need wholesale lenders who specialize in investor loans.
We work with 200+ wholesale lenders. That means we can shop DSCR programs and find one that fits your property's numbers.
The most common mistake I see: investors buy before running the DSCR math. Get a rent estimate first. Then back into what purchase price works.
Short-term rentals in Sonoma County can boost your income number — but some lenders won't use Airbnb income. Know which ones will before you apply.
Conventional investor loans cap out at 10 financed properties and require full income docs. DSCR has no such cap and skips your personal finances entirely.
Hard money is faster but short-term and expensive. DSCR gives you a 30-year fixed rate with no income scrutiny. That's a better hold strategy.
Santa Rosa's rental market benefits from Sonoma County's wine and tourism economy. Long-term tenants are common in the core neighborhoods.
Post-wildfire rebuilding shifted some of the housing stock. Newer construction properties often pencil better on DSCR due to lower maintenance costs.
Most lenders want 1.1 or higher. Some programs go down to 1.0, but expect a higher rate.
Some lenders accept short-term rental income in Sonoma County. Not all do — lender selection matters here.
No. They qualify the loan on rent versus payment. Your tax returns stay out of it.
Most programs start at 680. Higher scores get better rates — the spread can be significant.
Plan for 20-25% down. Some programs allow less, but pricing gets worse quickly below 25%.
Yes. Two-to-four unit properties qualify. Some lenders also do 5+ unit commercial DSCR deals.
DSCR Loans in Santa Rosa