Florida continues to attract significant capital from investors across the country. The state ranks among the top destinations for real estate investment in the U.S., driven by steady population growth, a strong rental market and no state income tax. As investment activity picks up, more buyers are turning to DSCR loans as their preferred financing path. For agents working with investor clients, knowing which lenders operate in Florida and what sets them apart is one of the most practical tools in your toolkit.

As a leading resource for Florida’s real estate community, South Florida Agent Magazine covers the market trends, financing products and lending partners that matter most to agents and their investor clients. We reviewed each lender’s programs and evaluated them against the criteria that Florida investors most commonly run into. The result is a curated list of the best DSCR lenders active in Florida today, with enough detail to help you make a confident referral on your next investor deal.

2026 Best DSCR Lenders in Florida 

• Ridge Street Capital

Based in: Miami | Specialty: DSCR loans in Florida

Ridge Street Capital is our top recommendation on this list. They are a Miami-based private lender that finances investment properties. That focus matters. When your client calls Ridge Street, they are talking to a team that spends every day working through the same deal types: DSCR rentals, fix-and-flips and ground-up construction. They know how to read a deal, and they are direct about whether the numbers work. For investors who are penciling a property and want a lender that will actually engage with the economics rather than just run a checklist, that is a meaningful difference.

Their DSCR program covers both long-term and short-term rentals, including Airbnb and VRBO properties, and one area where they stand out is how they handle short-term rental income. For a property without a rental history, most lenders will either decline or use conservative long-term lease estimates that don’t reflect what the property can actually earn. Ridge Street uses AirDNA projected income instead, which lets investors qualify based on realistic STR performance rather than a number that undersells the deal. Add to that a 0% origination fee option, a loan minimum as low as $55,000 and a team that can turn around a term sheet the same day, and you have a lender set up for clients who need to move quickly without giving up on terms. For agents who regularly work with rental investors, Ridge Street is a referral that tends to make the process easier, not harder.

Best for: Buy-and-hold, long-term rental and short-term rental (Airbnb) investors — from first-time to experienced.

• Fidelity Home Group

Based in: Florida (multiple locations) | Specialty: Mortgage lender, broad product portfolio

Fidelity Home Group is a full-service Florida mortgage lender offering a wide range of products, including conventional, FHA, VA and non-QM loans, alongside their DSCR program. Their DSCR offering is notable for its higher maximum loan amount ($5 million), no limit on the number of properties financed and acceptance of non-warrantable condos. No lease is required to qualify, and the loan can be closed in an LLC’s name on request. Minimum 20% down for single-family homes and standard condos.

Best for: With loans up to $5 million, Fidelity is a strong fit for investors building larger portfolios or working in markets where standard lenders struggle with property type.

• First Florida Financial

Based in: Fort Myers | Specialty: Mortgage broker, investor and non-QM products

First Florida Financial is a mortgage broker operating in Florida, focused on non-conventional financing including DSCR and no-income-verification investor loans. They stand out for a lower minimum credit score threshold (620) and a higher maximum LTV of 85%, which reduces the required down payment. They finance up to eight-unit residential properties and mixed-use buildings, with no limit on the number of properties in a client’s portfolio.

Best for: Investors with lower credit scores (620 minimum — one of the most accessible terms on this list) or those who need to stretch their leverage further. Their coverage of multi-unit and mixed-use properties makes them a useful option for buyers whose deal types others decline.

• Perfecto Capital

Based in: Miami | Specialty: Private lender, investment properties only

Perfecto Capital is a Miami-based private lender that works exclusively with investment properties in Florida. All loans are made to business entities, meaning LLCs, corporations or land trusts, rather than individuals. They do not run a hard credit pull during the initial application process, which is useful for investors who are evaluating multiple deals at once. Their focus is entirely on investment real estate, which keeps the process straightforward for experienced operators who do not need hand-holding through a multi-product mortgage process.

Best for: Experienced investors operating through various entity types who want a lending partner across multiple loan programs and property types throughout the investment cycle.

• LendingOne

Based in: Boca Raton | Specialty: Investment property loans, broad product range

LendingOne is a national private lender with significant Florida activity and a team focused specifically on the state’s investment market. Their DSCR program accepts deals with a DSCR as low as 0.75, which is one of the more flexible thresholds on this list and a useful option for deals where the income is close but not quite at breakeven. Loan amounts start at $70,000, and they offer 30-year fixed, ARM and interest-only structures. Short-term rentals are accepted. They have originated over $6 billion in loans nationally.

Best for: Investors with properties across multiple states, including West Coast markets, who need a lender with national reach. Also a strong fit for portfolio investors looking to consolidate up to 20 properties under a single loan.

• LendZ Financial

Based in: Fort Lauderdale | Specialty: Non-QM lending, flexible DSCR programs

LendZ Financial offers one of the most flexible DSCR structures on this list. There is no minimum DSCR required for loans up to 75% LTV, making it an option for properties that do not yet cash flow at a 1.0 ratio. They accept AirDNA and STR income projections, allow vacant properties and finance rural properties up to 20 acres, which makes them a practical fit for Florida investors pursuing less conventional acquisitions. Loan amounts go up to $3.5 million, and preferred broker relationships can access up to $5 million.

Best for: Non-standard acquisitions, including vacant properties, rural land and deals that don’t yet cash flow. When the property type falls outside what most lenders will touch, LendZ is one of the few options that can still get the deal done.

Why working with a Florida DSCR lender matters

Florida’s real estate market has regulatory layers that out-of-state lenders may not fully account for. Short-term rental regulations, in particular, vary significantly by county and municipality. Some cities require specific operating licenses; others have imposed restrictions or outright moratoriums on new STR permits. As a real estate agent working with investor clients, this is where local knowledge pays off. If your client is purchasing a property with the intent to operate it as a short-term rental, a lender unfamiliar with Florida’s local ordinances may approve financing on a property that cannot legally be listed on Airbnb or VRBO. That is a serious problem to discover after closing.

Beyond regulation, property insurance in Florida is complex and location-specific. Insurance premiums are factored directly into the DSCR calculation, so inaccurate estimates can cause a deal to underperform on paper or fail underwriting late in the process. Lenders with active experience in Florida markets understand how to work with realistic insurance figures from the start.

For real estate agents, the practical implication is straightforward. Making the lender introduction early, before your client has a signed contract, gives everyone time to catch issues before they become deal-killers. A Florida-experienced DSCR lender will ask the right questions about rental income projections, local regulations and insurance during the pre-qualification conversation.

What to look for in a Florida DSCR lender

Not all DSCR lenders are built the same. Here are the five criteria that matter most when recommending a lender to your investor clients.

1. Do they accept short-term rental income? If an investor is buying an Airbnb or vacation rental, this is the first question to ask. Many DSCR lenders only underwrite based on long-term lease rates, which are typically lower than STR income and can make the deal appear less viable than it actually is. Look for lenders that use projected STR income from tools like AirDNA and do not require 12 months of rental history before approving the loan.
2. What is the minimum DSCR they require? A DSCR of 1.0 means the property’s rental income exactly covers its monthly costs. Some lenders require 1.25 or higher, which can disqualify deals.
3. How much does the client need to put down? Most DSCR lenders lend up to 80% of the purchase price, requiring a 20% down payment. Some lenders require more, depending on the property type. This number determines how much capital an investor needs at the closing.
4. What are the total financing costs? The interest rate matters, but so do origination fees, which can range from 0% to 3% across different lenders. On a $500,000 loan, a 2% origination fee adds $10,000 to the cost of the deal.
5. What property types do they finance? Some DSCR lenders will not finance condos, multi-unit properties above four units or smaller loan amounts. Before referring a lender, confirm they will actually close your client’s specific deal type.
6. Do they have a local presence in the state of Florida with a track record of successfully funded rental property loans? A lender who has closed deals in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami will navigate Florida’s appraisal timelines, insurance requirements, and local market nuances differently than one who is technically licensed in the state but rarely active here.

These questions are a practical starting point for any agent evaluating a DSCR lender referral.

How to apply for a DSCR loan in Florida

The process is simpler than a conventional mortgage and typically moves faster. Here is what an investor should expect:

Step 1: Identify the property. DSCR lenders underwrite based on a specific deal. The buyer needs the property address, purchase price and estimated monthly rental income before requesting a term sheet. For short-term rentals, an AirDNA report for the area adds credibility to the income projection.

Step 2: Request a term sheet. Most lenders on this list provide a term sheet within 24 to 48 hours online or by phone. This is not a full application and does not affect credit. It shows the proposed rate, loan amount and fees so your client can evaluate the deal economics before moving forward.

Step 3: Complete the application. Once your client selects a lender, the standard requirements include a credit pull, LLC or entity documents if the loan is in a business name, proof of funds for the down payment and a property appraisal arranged through the lender.

Step 4: Close. DSCR loans typically close in two to four weeks, significantly faster than conventional mortgages. Dedicated investment property lenders, which do not carry the processing overhead of a full retail mortgage operation, tend to be on the faster end of that range.

For real estate agents whose clients are actively building rental portfolios in Florida, a strong DSCR lender referral is one of the most tangible ways to demonstrate value beyond the transaction. The right lender does not just process the loan. They help your client make a sound investment decision from the start.