DSCR HELOC: Qualifying on Rental Income Without Personal Income

DSCR — debt-service coverage ratio — is a qualification method that uses a rental property's own income to qualify for a loan, rather than the borrower's personal income. Among the five digital HELOC programs, only Deephaven currently offers a DSCR qualification path.

What Is DSCR?

DSCR measures whether a property's rental income covers its debt obligations. A DSCR of 1.0 means rental income exactly equals debt payments. A DSCR above 1.0 means the property generates more income than its debt costs. Deephaven currently requires a minimum DSCR of approximately 1.10x — meaning the property's rental income must be at least 110% of the qualifying debt payment.

How Deephaven's DSCR Path Works

Deephaven calculates DSCR using the property's rental income against a qualifying payment. The qualifying payment for Deephaven is calculated as a fully amortizing payment at approximately the start rate plus 2% on the total credit line — which is meaningfully higher than the actual interest-only draw payment. This means the DSCR bar is set against a conservative qualifying payment, not the actual payment the borrower will make during the draw period. DSCR qualification is available for investment properties. The maximum CLTV for DSCR investment is generally around 70% at 740 FICO and 70% at 720 FICO for lines up to $500,000.

When DSCR Qualification Makes Sense

DSCR qualification is most useful when the borrower's personal income is limited, irregular, or difficult to document — but the rental property itself generates consistent income. Self-employed borrowers, retirees with rental income, and investors with multiple properties may find DSCR qualification more straightforward than full-doc personal income analysis. It is also useful when the borrower's personal DTI would be too high under standard qualification but the property's own income is strong.

What About the Other Programs?

None of the other four digital HELOC programs — Aven, Figure, NFTYDoor, or REMN HELIX — currently offer a DSCR qualification path. They require standard personal income documentation (W-2, tax returns, or linked bank accounts). If DSCR qualification is the primary need, Deephaven is currently the only option among the programs Morgan shops.

See Which Programs Fit Your Situation

Morgan Hardy shops all five programs. Send him the basics once and he'll identify which are relevant for your property, income, and situation.

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Program information last reviewed: August 2026

HELOC guidelines change frequently. DSCR requirements, CLTV limits, and program availability may change without notice. This information is educational and is not a loan approval, commitment or guarantee.