The short answer: yes — you can get a DSCR loan with a 620 credit score in 2026. 620 is the floor for our DSCR program, and we close loans at this credit tier every month for investors buying their first rental, refinancing out of hard money, or pulling cash out to fund the next deal.
What changes at 620 isn't whether you qualify — it's the LTV cap, the rate, and the reserve requirement. This guide walks through exactly what to expect, what compensating factors matter most, and the small moves you can make to either improve pricing now or jump to a better tier within 60–90 days.
The 2026 DSCR Loan Credit Tier Map
| FICO Tier | Max LTV | Typical Rate | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 740+ | 85% | 5.75 – 6.50% | 3 months |
| 720 – 739 | 80% | 6.50 – 7.00% | 3 months |
| 700 – 719 | 80% | 7.00 – 7.50% | 3 months |
| 680 – 699 | 75 – 80% | 7.25 – 7.75% | 6 months |
| 660 – 679 | 75% | 7.50 – 8.00% | 6 months |
| 620 – 659 | 75% | 7.75 – 8.50% | 6 months |
Rates above are illustrative for a typical 1.10+ DSCR file in 2026. The full price impact at 620 vs 740 is roughly 1.5 to 2.5 percentage points and 10 LTV points.
What 620 Actually Looks Like in Underwriting
The middle of your three FICO scores is what counts. So a borrower with FICO scores of 615 / 622 / 638 has a qualifying score of 622 — they qualify. A borrower with 612 / 619 / 645 has a qualifying score of 619 — they don't (under standard pricing).
Beyond the score itself, underwriting at the 620 tier looks closely at:
- Tradeline depth. At least 3 open tradelines reporting for 12+ months. Authorized-user accounts don't count.
- Recent delinquencies. No 30-day lates in the last 12 months. Two or more 30-day lates in 24 months will tighten pricing further.
- Bankruptcies and foreclosures. Generally need to be 4+ years seasoned for chapter 7; 2+ years for chapter 13 with on-time discharge. Foreclosures and short sales generally need 3+ years seasoning.
- Collections and judgments. Medical collections under $5,000 are usually ignored. Open non-medical collections often need to be paid at or before closing.
Compensating Factors That Help at 620
The 620 tier is the most reactive to file strength. Each of these moves your pricing in your favor:
- Strong DSCR. A 1.30+ DSCR is the single most powerful offset. The property carries the file.
- Lower LTV. Stepping down from 75% to 70% LTV typically saves 0.25–0.50% in rate.
- Larger reserves. 9 or 12 months of PITIA in liquid funds opens slightly better pricing tiers.
- Owned-property history. Borrowers with 24+ months of an existing rental track record on a credit report or rent roll often see preferential pricing within the 620 tier.
- Clean recent credit. Even at 620, no lates in 12 months is meaningfully better than the same score with two recent lates.
Quick Wins to Move Above 620 in 60–90 Days
If you can move from 620 to 660+ in two months, the rate savings often pays for itself many times over the life of the loan. Highest-yield credit moves:
- Pay down revolving balances below 30% utilization. Then below 10%. This is the single fastest score lever — often 20–40 points within one statement cycle.
- Pay down past-due accounts to current. "Current" status is a binary that affects the score immediately on the next report.
- Don't close old accounts. Length of history is part of the score; closing your oldest card is the worst move.
- Become an authorized user on a long-history, low-utilization card. A spouse's or family member's card can help, though authorized-user tradelines are not used for tradeline depth in DSCR underwriting — only for score.
- Dispute genuine errors. A single incorrect collection or late can swing 30+ points. Pull all three reports and review.
Real-World 620 Scenario
A first-time investor with a 622 middle FICO is buying a $320,000 single-family rental in Atlanta. The property will rent for $2,500/month. PITIA at 75% LTV ($240,000 loan) and a 8.0% rate is approximately $2,090/month — DSCR of 1.20.
Sample 620 DSCR File — Atlanta SFR
- Purchase price: $320,000
- Down payment (25%): $80,000
- Loan amount: $240,000
- Rate: ~8.00%
- PITIA: ~$2,090/month
- Rent: $2,500/month
- DSCR: 1.20 — approved
- Reserves required: $12,540 (6 months PITIA)
This file closes. The investor can refinance into a better rate tier 12–24 months later once the credit profile improves.
620 Credit Score? You Still Qualify.
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Get My Quote →What If My Score Is Below 620?
Below 620, your options narrow. A few paths still exist:
- Co-borrower with stronger credit. A higher-FICO co-borrower can lift the qualifying score to the lender's middle/lower-of-two requirement.
- Hard money short-term. Acquire with hard money, season the property and your credit for 6–12 months, then refinance into DSCR once you cross 620.
- Larger down payment. Some investor-tailored portfolio products will go below 620 with 35–40% down. Pricing reflects the risk.
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- 2026 DSCR Loan Requirements
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- DSCR Loan vs. Hard Money
- DSCR Loans for Foreign Nationals
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DSCR Capital Partners is a brand of UTM Financial, LLC (NMLS #2591548), a licensed mortgage broker. Informational only; not a loan commitment. Equal Housing Lender.