What is the lowest credit score for a DSCR loan?

Most DSCR lenders floor between 660 and 680. Some go to 640, and a few to 620, but a lower score comes with a larger required down payment, a higher rate, and more reserves. Below 620 the options thin out quickly.

How can you offset a low credit score on a DSCR loan?

Bring a stronger ratio, a larger down payment, and more reserves. Each one reduces the lender's risk and can pull a thin-credit file across the line, though usually at a higher rate than a strong-credit borrower would pay.

Lender guide

Best DSCR Lenders for Bad Credit (2026)

A lower credit score does not lock you out of a DSCR loan, but it narrows the field and raises the price. Some lenders go to 620 with more down and a higher rate. Here is how to choose.

By Owen Brandt, Research Editor. Updated June 13, 2026.

Most "bad credit lender" lists are written by a lender or an affiliate paid to rank one. We do the opposite: we show you how a lower score actually changes the deal so you can judge a lender yourself. Where we link to a lender, we say so. See our disclosure.

How a lower score changes a DSCR loan

DSCR loans qualify on the property's cash flow, not your income, which is why they are friendlier to imperfect borrowers than conventional loans. But credit still sets the price and the leverage. Most lenders floor between 660 and 680; some reach 620. For the full tiers, read DSCR loan credit score requirements and can you get a DSCR loan with bad credit.

What a lower score costs you

A higher rate. The single clearest effect. Expect to pay more than a 740 borrower on the same property.
A lower maximum LTV. The lender offers less leverage, so you bring a larger down payment.
More reserves. A thinner credit profile often means more months of payments held back.
A narrower lender field. Fewer lenders go below 660, so shopping matters more.

How to offset a low score

The three levers that pull a thin-credit file across the line are a stronger DSCR, a larger down payment, and more reserves. If your score is close to a tier break, a small improvement before you apply can move you into better pricing. If a lender declines, see why a DSCR loan gets denied for the common fixes.

Established lenders to research

These national investor lenders publish lower minimum-score programs. We list them as starting points, not endorsements, and you should confirm the actual minimum and the pricing for your tier directly.

Compare lower-score options. Confirm terms on each lender's site. Some links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.

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Before you apply with a lower score

Check where you stand with the pre-qualifier, and see whether a stronger ratio offsets the score on the DSCR calculator.