Question 1

Can I use short-term rental income on an Orlando DSCR loan?

Accepted Answer

Only if the parcel sits in a jurisdiction that allows it, and in metro Orlando that answer changes block by block. Whole-home short-term rental is not permitted in the City of Orlando: the city's own fact sheet says an individual homeowner may not rent an entire home for 1 to 29 days, and the only whole-unit path is a Commercial Dwelling Unit renting 7 to 29 days with a Business Tax Receipt and zoning that allows it. Unincorporated Orange County prohibits short-term rentals in single-family residential zones outright, with narrow exceptions near Disney. Osceola County and the City of Kissimmee are the permissive side of the map, but only inside mapped overlay districts and STRPD zoning along the W US 192 corridor, not in ordinary residential subdivisions. Before we underwrite nightly income on a DSCR file, tell us the county, the zoning district, and whether the property already holds its local STR license and the state DBPR vacation rental license. See the DSCR program terms for how we structure STR income once that's confirmed.

Question 2

Why are Orlando rents at a record high while home values are falling?

Accepted Answer

Because the two series are answering different questions right now, and DSCR math cares about both. Zillow's single-family rent index for the Orlando metro hit $2,491 a month in June 2026, up 2.0% year over year and an all-time high for the series, while the metro's mid-tier home value fell 2.7% year over year to $404,098 over the same stretch. A softer purchase price against a firmer rent line is what expands the ratio on a new loan; it does not do anything for a deal you already own at last year's price. Run the specific address through the DSCR calculator with a rent figure you can defend, not the metro average, since the submarket spread is wide (as of mid-2026).

Question 3

What should I budget for insurance on an Orlando-area rental?

Accepted Answer

Less than the coasts, but the county still moves the number. As of March 2026, the average homeowners premium including wind coverage ran $2,650 in Lake County, $2,767 in Polk (the Davenport corridor), $2,940 in Osceola, $3,545 in Seminole, and $3,610 in Orange, all below coastal Pinellas at $4,063 and well under Broward and Miami-Dade. Inland Central Florida is the cheap end of an expensive state market, with no coastal wind pool exposure and flood zones that are parcel-specific rather than metro-wide. On a thin DSCR file, though, the roughly $960-a-year spread between Lake and Orange is itself worth building into the pro forma, and we want a bound quote on the actual address before we lock the ratio.

Question 4

What does the property tax bill actually look like on an Orlando rental?

Accepted Answer

Three layers, and the seller's bill only shows you one of them. Millage alone runs roughly 18 to 19 mills as an investor in the City of Orlando, 17.41 in Kissimmee, and about 13.85 in unincorporated Osceola as of the 2025 final rolls. In master-planned and resort communities across Osceola, Lake, and the Davenport corridor, a Community Development District assessment under Florida Statutes section 190.021 rides on the same county tax bill as debt service for the neighborhood's infrastructure bonds, and it does not go away at closing. On top of both, Florida's 10% non-homestead assessment cap resets when the property sells, so an investor's first-year bill is typically higher than what the current owner is paying. We escrow to the go-forward bill, not the seller's, and CDD parcels need that assessment pulled before we size the loan. Talk to your CPA about your own tax position.

Question 5

Does Airbnb or VRBO handle my tourist tax if I hold in Osceola County?

Accepted Answer

No, and assuming otherwise overstates your net operating income on every booked night. The Osceola County Tax Collector states plainly that the county is not contracted with Airbnb, VRBO, or Evolve for its 6% tourist development tax: the person receiving the rent has to register and remit it directly, regardless of which platform books the stay. Orange County's tourist development tax is also 6%, on stays of six months or less. If a seller's STR pro forma doesn't carry a line for this, the trailing income is overstated before we ever get to the rent roll. We size the loan off what the property actually nets after the tax is paid.

Question 6

What is a DSCR loan, and how do I qualify without tax returns?

Accepted Answer

A DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loan qualifies on the property's rental income instead of your personal income, so there are no W-2s or tax returns required. We compare the rent, from a signed lease or the appraiser's market-rent estimate, against the monthly payment. A DSCR of 1.00 means the rent covers the payment, and we lend with a DSCR as low as 0.75.

Question 7

What rate and terms can I get on a rental loan?

Accepted Answer

Our rental program starts around 5.50% interest-only, with 30-year fixed and 5/7/10-year ARM options, for a single property or a whole portfolio. The lowest pricing goes to strong credit, lower leverage, and a DSCR above 1.20; your quote depends on the file and is subject to underwriting.

Question 8

How much can I borrow, and what is the maximum LTV?

Accepted Answer

We finance up to 80% loan-to-value on a purchase, with rate-and-term and cash-out refinances available, on loan amounts from $100K to $3M. Cash-out leverage is typically a little lower than purchase. The property's cash flow and your credit set your final leverage.

Question 9

What credit score do I need for a DSCR loan?

Accepted Answer

We start at 640, and the best pricing goes to strong credit. Because the loan qualifies on the asset, your score affects your rate and leverage more than whether you are approved.

Question 10

Can I get a DSCR loan on a short-term rental (Airbnb)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, short-term rentals are considered. We can underwrite using market or projected rents, and the property still needs to meet our DSCR. Tell us how the property is operated so we can structure it correctly.

Question 11

Is there a prepayment penalty?

Accepted Answer

Long-term rental loans usually carry a prepayment penalty, commonly a step-down such as 5/4/3/2/1. We offer flexible prepay structures, including buying down to a shorter penalty for a slightly higher rate, and we will lay out the options on your term sheet.

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