Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Loans

Short-Term Rental Financing, Done Right

A standard DSCR loan uses long-term rent comps — which usually understate what a vacation rental can earn. STR-specific programs use projected short-term rental income from market data (AirDNA and equivalents) or an appraiser’s STR-rent schedule. The result: more accurate underwriting and access to better leverage on properties that perform well as STRs.

How STR Loans Work

Two paths to qualify a short-term rental:

• Projected STR income — market data (AirDNA) or an appraiser STR-rent addendum is used in place of standard long-term rent comps.
• Trailing 12-month performance — if you (or the seller) already operate the property as an STR, the actual 12-month gross can qualify the loan.

This often unlocks 10–40% more qualifying income than a long-term-rent DSCR loan on the same property, especially in vacation markets.

Eligible Property Types

• Single-family vacation homes
• 2–4 unit short-term rental properties
• Condotels and resort condos (program-dependent)
• Cabin/lake/beach properties in destination markets

Local STR regulations matter — we’ll help you flag jurisdictions where short-term rentals are restricted before you go under contract.

Why UWL for STR Loans

STR-specific programs are a fast-evolving corner of non-QM. Some lenders use AirDNA, some require trailing performance, some won’t do STR at all. We track which lenders are taking STR files this month and what their guidelines look like — so your offer doesn’t fall through at the appraisal stage.