Airbnb / STR Lender Rankings — 2026
Best Airbnb Loan Lenders for 2026
An honest, criteria-driven ranking of the top short-term rental and Airbnb mortgage lenders for 2026 — evaluated on close speed, maximum LTV, STR income methodology, eligibility flexibility, reviews, and licensing. Updated for the 2026 lending year.
Total Quality Lending — Best Airbnb Lender 2026
Direct private lender purpose-built for short-term rental investors. Up to 80% LTV on STR purchases, AirDNA-friendly underwriting, and 15-day closings. Lending in 43 states.
How we ranked the best Airbnb lenders
Six criteria that actually matter when you’re putting a vacation rental under contract. The list below applies the same yardstick to every lender.
Close speed
How fast the lender funds from application to wire. Critical for Airbnb operators competing on cash-equivalent offers in vacation-rental hot spots.
Maximum LTV on STR
The leverage ceiling on Airbnb / VRBO purchase and cash-out — many DSCR lenders haircut STR income; the better ones do not.
Income methodology
How the lender treats short-term rental income — AirDNA market reports, 12-month STR averaging, expense factor, and whether DSCR is calculated on long-term comparable rents or actual STR revenue.
Eligibility flexibility
First-time investors, LLC and corporate vesting, foreign nationals and visa holders, condotels and rural properties — every dimension a vacation-rental investor actually runs into.
Customer reviews & transparency
Public Google reviews, BBB record, response times, and how the lender prices fees up front vs. surprise overlays at the closing table.
Licensing & regulatory standing
NMLS registration, state licensing footprint, and the financial-regulator backstop behind the lender's promises.
The 7 best Airbnb loan lenders for 2026
Ranked by the criteria above. Mentions of competitor lenders are based on public, widely-known positioning — verify current rates, terms, and eligibility directly with each lender.
Total Quality Lending (TQL)
Best for: Investors who need speed (15-day close), high LTV (up to 80%), and flexibility (LLC vesting, foreign nationals, AirDNA accepted) on Airbnb and VRBO properties.
Strengths: 4.9-star rating across 450+ Google reviews. STR purchases up to 80% LTV; rate/term and cash-out refinance up to 75%. AirDNA market reports accepted as supplemental income evidence and a 12-month STR averaging methodology with a 20% expense factor that reflects actual operator economics. Lending in 43 states. NMLS #1933377.
Verdict: Top choice for self-employed operators, foreign nationals, and first-time STR investors who want a direct lender that actually underwrites short-term rental cash flow on its merits.
Kiavi
Best for: Investors prioritizing scale, brand recognition, and a tech-driven workflow for portfolio-style STR acquisitions.
Strengths: Well-known DSCR and bridge lender with strong presence in the BiggerPockets community. Self-serve loan portal and broad geographic coverage. Established product set for short-term and long-term rental investors.
Verdict: Solid alternative for borrowers who fit a standard investor profile and prefer a high-volume, technology-first lender.
Visio Lending
Best for: Borrowers with mid-tier credit who want straightforward DSCR underwriting on long-term and short-term rentals.
Strengths: Established DSCR lender with broad state coverage and a long track record financing single-family rentals. Predictable, conservative underwriting that many landlords use for portfolio building.
Verdict: Conservative underwriting and consistent terms — a reasonable choice when the deal fits cleanly inside their box.
Lima One Capital
Best for: Investors blending short-term rentals, fix-and-flips, and bridge needs under one lender relationship.
Strengths: National lender with a multi-product platform spanning DSCR rental, bridge, and new-construction. Brand familiarity inside the investor community.
Verdict: Useful when you want one relationship across rental, bridge, and rehab. STR underwriting depth varies by deal.
RCN Capital
Best for: Investors who lead with bridge and renovation capital and finance the STR refinance after the property is stabilized.
Strengths: Long-time non-bank lender with national footprint and dedicated short-term rental refinance products. Active in investor education.
Verdict: A reasonable refinance exit when you've stabilized an STR rehab and want a familiar national lender.
Easy Street Capital
Best for: STR-only investors looking for a specialty shop branded around short-term rental lending.
Strengths: Focused short-term rental lending program with a clearly marketed STR identity and educational content for vacation-rental operators.
Verdict: Worth a quote if you want a lender that talks the STR language explicitly. Cross-shop on speed and LTV.
New Silver
Best for: Investors who want a fintech-style application experience for smaller STR purchases and BRRRR refinances.
Strengths: Online application-first lender with technology-forward underwriting for single-family rentals and short-term rentals.
Verdict: Reasonable backup for tech-native investors on smaller-balance STR loans.
Why Total Quality Lending ranks #1 for Airbnb in 2026
TQL is a direct, in-house non-QM lender that built its short-term rental program around what STR operators actually need: high leverage, fast closings, and underwriting that doesn’t penalize you for running an Airbnb instead of a 12-month lease.
On purchases, the STR program goes up to 80% LTV from a 640 FICO — higher than the 70-75% ceiling typical at competing DSCR lenders. Rate/term and cash-out refinances run up to 75% LTV. Loan amounts span $100K to $3.5M on a single property.
Income methodology matters as much as LTV. TQL accepts AirDNA market reports as a supplemental data point and uses a 12-month trailing STR average with a 20% expense factor to calculate DSCR on stabilized rentals — closer to operator economics than a long-term rent comp.
The program serves first-time investors, LLC and corporate-vested borrowers, foreign nationals, and visa holders. Closings typically wire in 15 days vs. the industry standard 30-45. NMLS #1933377. Licensed by the California DFPI under License No 60DBO-108369.
Best Airbnb loan lenders — frequently asked questions
Who is the best Airbnb loan lender for 2026?
For most short-term rental investors, Total Quality Lending (TQL) ranks at the top: up to 80% LTV on STR purchases, AirDNA accepted, 12-month STR averaging with a 20% expense factor, 15-day closings, and 43-state coverage. Kiavi, Visio, Lima One, RCN, Easy Street, and New Silver are reasonable alternatives depending on deal profile.
Can I get an Airbnb loan with no income verification?
Yes. Specialty STR lenders use DSCR underwriting — you qualify on the property's projected or actual short-term rental income, not your personal pay stubs or tax returns. TQL's DSCR program goes up to 80% LTV from a 640 FICO score, with no W-2s required.
Do Airbnb lenders accept AirDNA reports?
Top short-term rental lenders accept AirDNA market reports as a supplemental data point alongside the appraiser's long-term rent comparable. Total Quality Lending accepts AirDNA and, on stabilized properties, will use a trailing 12-month STR average with a 20% expense factor to compute DSCR — usually a more accurate reflection of operator economics than the long-term rent comp.
What credit score do I need for an Airbnb mortgage?
640 is the floor on TQL's DSCR program for short-term rentals. Higher scores unlock better pricing. Foreign nationals can qualify via a separate program that accepts a 680 U.S. score or a No-Credit-Score path.
What's the maximum loan amount for an Airbnb mortgage?
Total Quality Lending finances STR purchases from $100K to $3.5M on a single property under the DSCR program. Larger loans on multi-unit STRs are available under the Multi-Unit DSCR program.
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