Kiavi DSCR Loans, Explained
Kiavi's 30-year rental loan qualifies on the property's rent, not your personal income. Here's how the DSCR math works, what it costs, and when it beats a conventional investor mortgage.
What a DSCR loan is
DSCR stands for debt-service-coverage ratio: monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA dues). A DSCR of 1.25 means the rent covers the payment with 25% to spare. Kiavi underwrites the property on that ratio — no W-2s, no tax returns, no DTI — which is why DSCR loans are the standard takeout for BRRRR investors and self-employed landlords.
Kiavi's DSCR loan at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | 30 years — fixed, ARM, and interest-only options |
| Rates | Roughly 6.4%–9.5%; Kiavi has advertised promo pricing as low as 5.75% |
| LTV | Up to ~80% on purchases and rate-and-term refis; less on cash-out |
| Minimum DSCR | ~1.0–1.1; 1.2+ improves pricing |
| Credit | ~660 minimum FICO |
| Property | 1–4 unit non-owner-occupied; long-term and (case-by-case) short-term rentals |
| Prepayment | Step-down penalty typical (e.g., 5-4-3-2-1); can often be bought down — details |
The flip-to-rental pipeline
The strongest reason to run a BRRRR through Kiavi is continuity: buy and rehab on a Kiavi bridge loan, then refinance into the DSCR loan with a lender that already has your file, your entity docs, and your draw history. One underwriting relationship, no re-explaining the deal, and the payoff timing is coordinated internally — see how payoffs work.
DSCR vs. conventional investor mortgage
- DSCR wins when you're self-employed, already have 10 financed properties (Fannie's limit), close in an LLC, or can't document income cleanly.
- Conventional wins on pure rate if you W-2 qualify easily and are under the property limit — typically 0.5–1.5 points cheaper.
- Check the DSCR before you apply: our deal calculator includes the rent-coverage math.
Getting a quote
Kiavi's DSCR quote is a soft pull and takes minutes. Start through the partner link and the $350 new-customer bonus pays out after closing — DSCR loans qualify for it the same as bridge loans. How the bonus works.