If you own several rentals, a lot of your net worth is probably sitting in their equity. Rates are higher than they were a few years ago, and a large wave of loans is coming due. Many investors feel stuck.
A DSCR portfolio loan is one of the fastest ways out. It lets you refinance one or many rental properties based on the rent they bring in, not your tax returns. You can pull cash out and put it into your next property.
Below are straight answers to the questions investors ask most, plus how CR Equity AI’s patent-pending AI underwriting closes DSCR loans in 1–2 weeks.
The basics
What is a DSCR portfolio loan?
It is an investment-property loan that qualifies you on the property’s cash flow instead of your personal income. “Portfolio” means it covers more than one rental. That can be one blanket loan across several properties, or several DSCR loans closed together. No W-2s, pay stubs or tax returns are used to qualify.
How is DSCR calculated?
DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) compares a property’s rent to its monthly payment.
\text{DSCR} = \frac{\text{Monthly gross rent}}{\text{Monthly PITIA}}PITIA is principal, interest, taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. Example: $3,000 rent ÷ $2,400 PITIA = 1.25 DSCR. A ratio of 1.0 means the rent exactly covers the payment. Higher ratios usually earn better pricing and more leverage.
What DSCR do I need?
Most DSCR lenders look for 1.0 or higher, and pricing usually improves at 1.20 and above. On a portfolio, the combined cash flow of all the properties matters, so a strong property can help carry a weaker one. CR Equity AI’s current program limits are listed on the programs page.
Who qualifies for a DSCR portfolio loan?
- Real estate investors buying or holding non-owner-occupied rentals
- Borrowers closing in an LLC or other entity (typical for portfolios)
- Self-employed investors whose tax returns don’t show their real income
- SSN and ITIN borrowers (ITIN and foreign national rules are on the ITIN program page)
These are business-purpose loans. Your primary residence does not qualify.
What properties are eligible?
Single-family rentals, 2–4 unit properties, townhomes and condos are the core. Short-term rentals can qualify using rental income history or market data. Ask about 5+ unit and mixed-use properties before you apply.
Cash-out, structure and rates
How much cash can I pull out with a DSCR portfolio refinance?
Cash-out DSCR loans commonly go up to about 70–75% of appraised value, depending on the DSCR, your credit and the property type. Your cash-out is the new loan amount minus existing payoffs and closing costs. Example: a $1,000,000 portfolio at 75% gives a $750,000 loan. With $400,000 in existing debt, you net roughly $350,000 before costs.
Should I use one blanket loan or separate DSCR loans?
Blanket portfolio loan
Separate DSCR loans
Closings
One loan, one closing
One loan per property
Payments
One monthly payment
One payment per property
Selling one property
Needs a release clause
Simple, the others are untouched
Cash flow
Strong properties carry weaker ones
Each property must qualify alone
Best for
Consolidating and simplifying
Flexibility to sell or refi one at a time
We size both options and show you which nets more cash and better terms.
How many properties can I finance?
DSCR lending has no personal cap like the 10-loan limit on conventional mortgages. Portfolio size depends on the program and total loan amount. CR Equity AI lends up to $5M per loan in all 50 states.
Is a cash-out refi still worth it with higher rates?
Often yes, if the cash goes to work. The question is not “is the rate low?” It is “does the cash earn more than it costs?” If pulled equity funds a down payment on a cash-flowing rental or a profitable flip, the return can outrun the extra interest. Refinancing before a loan matures also takes away the risk of being forced to refinance on someone else’s timeline.
Is there a prepayment penalty?
Most DSCR loans have one. CR Equity AI’s default is a 5-4-3-2-1 step-down (5% in year one, falling 1% a year). The shortest option is 12 months at 1.5%. A shorter penalty usually means a slightly higher rate, so pick based on how long you plan to hold.
Speed, documents and next steps
How fast can a DSCR portfolio loan close?
With CR Equity AI, borrowers are closing DSCR loans in 1–2 weeks. Many lenders take much longer because files sit in manual review queues. Our patent-pending AI underwriting platform, AIVAA™, reads documents, sizes the loan and flags open items right away. That cuts out the back-and-forth that usually stalls a refi.
How does AI underwriting get me more cash out?
AIVAA analyzes every property in the portfolio together. It tests different loan structures to find the one that maximizes your proceeds within program limits. Faster closings also mean your cash is ready while the next deal is still available.
What documents do I need?
- Photo ID and credit authorization for each guarantor
- Entity documents (articles, operating agreement, EIN letter)
- Leases and a rent roll for each property
- Current mortgage statements for any loans being paid off
- Insurance declarations for each property
- Recent bank statements showing reserves
No tax returns, W-2s or pay stubs.
What credit score do I need?
Credit minimums depend on the program and the leverage you want. Higher scores unlock more cash-out and better pricing. See the programs page or call us for your options.
How do I get started?
- Submit your deal at crequity.ai/submit-deal. List each property’s value, rent and current loan balance.
- Get your terms. AIVAA sizes your loan and cash-out quickly.
- Upload documents through the secure portal.
- Appraisals are ordered and the file goes to final approval.
- Close and fund, typically within 1–2 weeks.
Call to action
Your equity is working for the bank. Put it to work for you.
See how much cash your rentals can unlock and get terms fast. Submit your deal →
Call or text 949-328-6622, or book a 15-minute call. More answers are on our FAQ page. Ask about our referral and client rewards programs at crequity.ai/programs.
CR Equity AI, Inc. · NMLS #2797309. Business-purpose loans only; not available for owner-occupied properties. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to underwriting, credit approval and program guidelines, which may change without notice. Examples are for illustration only.