I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. I place DSCR Airbnb loans across California’s top short-term rental markets — from Big Bear to Lake Tahoe to Joshua Tree. Call (800) 239-1103.
Airbnb income is real income — and DSCR lenders know it. With a DSCR loan for Airbnb in California, your property’s short-term rental revenue replaces your pay stub. No W-2 required. AirDNA provides the income estimate; the appraiser confirms market feasibility; and you close.
How STR Income Is Calculated for DSCR
Lenders don’t use your actual Airbnb earnings history (which fluctuates and may be new). They use AirDNA market data — the same platform professional Airbnb investors use to underwrite acquisitions.
AirDNA pulls comparable active STR listings in your market. It projects annual gross revenue based on occupancy and ADR for your property type. The lender uses 75–80% of AirDNA gross as qualifying monthly income. That figure is divided by PITIA to get your DSCR.
Illustrative Example: Big Bear Cabin
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $620,000 |
| Down (25%) | $155,000 |
| Loan amount | $465,000 |
| Rate (DSCR 30-yr, illustrative) | example rate |
| PITIA total | ~$4,100/mo |
| AirDNA gross annual | $72,000/yr |
| Lender qualifying income (75%) | $4,500/mo |
| DSCR | 1.10 ✅ |
Note: PITIA includes principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and association fees. Rate varies — contact me for current DSCR pricing.
Best California Airbnb Markets for DSCR Loans
Big Bear Lake — high occupancy year-round (snow season plus summer hiking); relatively affordable acquisition price. Lake Tahoe — premium ADR; winter occupancy is exceptional; higher purchase price offset by higher revenue. Joshua Tree — high demand from LA visitors; unique, instagram-worthy properties command premium rates. Palm Springs — festival season (Coachella, Stagecoach) drives peaks; warm weather extends the season to near year-round. Mammoth Lakes — ski-season powerhouse; limited inventory keeps occupancy elevated.
What About Properties With No Airbnb History?
No history required. DSCR lenders underwrite on AirDNA projections, not past performance. You can purchase a property that has never been listed on Airbnb and still qualify using projected STR income. The appraiser validates market feasibility, and AirDNA provides the income estimate. That’s all that’s needed.
Frequently Asked Questions — DSCR Airbnb Loans California
How does a DSCR lender calculate Airbnb income in California?
DSCR lenders use AirDNA market data — not your personal Airbnb earnings history — to calculate qualifying income for short-term rental properties. AirDNA analyzes comparable active STR listings in your market and projects annual gross revenue based on occupancy rates and average daily rate (ADR) for properties similar to yours. The lender then applies a 75–80% factor to that gross projection (the “effective gross income”) and divides by 12 to get monthly qualifying income. That figure divided by your total PITIA (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and association fees) produces your DSCR. A DSCR of 1.0 or above qualifies under most standard programs; some lenders accept 0.75+ with higher down payment and reserves.
Can I get a DSCR loan for an Airbnb property with no rental history?
Yes — DSCR lenders underwrite STR properties on AirDNA income projections, not past rental history. You can purchase a property that has never been listed on Airbnb and qualify using projected STR income from AirDNA. The appraiser validates that the STR market is active and the revenue projections are supported by comparable listings in the area. This is categorically different from conventional investment property financing, which requires 12–24 months of actual rental history to count rental income toward qualification.
Which California markets have the strongest DSCR ratios for Airbnb properties?
The California STR markets with the strongest DSCR ratios tend to be those where AirDNA gross revenue is high relative to purchase price. Big Bear Lake and Mammoth Lakes have relatively affordable purchase prices combined with high year-round demand, producing strong DSCR ratios. Joshua Tree is particularly strong — quirky, photogenic properties command premium ADR well above what the purchase price would suggest. Lake Tahoe and Palm Springs have higher purchase prices but also higher gross revenue; they work well at 25–30% down. Coastal California markets (Malibu, Santa Cruz, Carmel) often have weaker DSCR due to very high purchase prices relative to achievable STR revenue — they’re appreciation plays, not cash flow plays.
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
