Florida is the short-term rental capital of America — Orlando alone hosts tens of millions of visitors a year, and a well-run vacation rental near the parks or the beach can gross two or three times what a long-term lease would. The catch has always been the financing: traditional lenders don't know what to do with Airbnb income. The wholesale market does.
The Three Financing Lanes
| Lane | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DSCR for STR | Qualifies on the property's rental income — including short-term revenue — not yours. ~20–25% down. | Pure investment purchases, LLC ownership, portfolio builders |
| Second-home loan | 10% down, near-primary rates — if the home is genuinely for your use, with rental when you're away. | A vacation home you'll actually use that also earns |
| Foreign national + DSCR | No SSN or U.S. credit needed; property income qualifies the deal. | Buyers living abroad wanting U.S. vacation-rental income |
How Lenders Count Airbnb Income
On a DSCR loan, the property must cover its own payment. For short-term rentals, lenders establish income from:
- Existing STRs: 12 months of actual revenue (Airbnb/VRBO statements) — usually averaged, sometimes with a haircut
- New purchases: the appraiser's market-rent figure, or third-party projection data (e.g., AirDNA) with lenders that accept it — often the long-term market rent sets the floor
Because rules differ sharply by lender — some average 12 months, some cap at long-term rent, some take AirDNA outright — the same property can qualify at one shop and fail at another. This is broker territory.
The Non-Financing Homework (Do This First)
- Local rules. Some Florida cities and HOAs restrict or license short-term rentals; metro Atlanta rules vary block by block. Verify the address is STR-legal before contract — zoning kills more deals than financing does.
- Real expense math. STRs gross more but spend more: management (20–30% if outsourced), cleaning, utilities, furnishing, platform fees, insurance riders. Model the net, not the Airbnb screenshot.
- Seasonality. Orlando and beach markets swing hard by season — reserves matter more than with a 12-month tenant.
- Taxes. STR income has its own tax personality (lodging taxes, and different IRS treatment for short average stays). A CPA who knows STRs is part of the team.
Start with the Address
Send us the listing before you offer. We'll check which lenders' STR rules fit it, what the DSCR math looks like under each, and whether second-home or foreign-national structures apply to your situation — in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Airbnb income qualify me for a loan?
On DSCR loans, yes — existing STRs use 12 months of actual revenue; new purchases use the appraiser’s rent or, with some lenders, projection data like AirDNA.
Can I use a second-home loan for an Airbnb?
Only if the home is genuinely for your personal use with rental on the side — misrepresenting occupancy is fraud. Pure investments belong in the DSCR lane.
What kills STR deals most often?
Local rules — city ordinances and HOA restrictions. Verify the address is STR-legal before you go under contract.
Prepared by the Alvorada Mortgage, LLC team — a mortgage broker licensed in Georgia (#2137907) and Florida (#MBR5158). NMLS #2137907. Educational content; not a commitment to lend.