LLC Mortgage Lenders and Loan Requirements for Rental Property
You closed on a two-flat under your LLC last month. Now the lender wants two years of the LLC's tax returns. Banks treat a company borrower differently than a person.
Yes, an LLC can qualify for a mortgage. The loan is a commercial loan, and the LLC is the borrower. The property sits in the LLC's name. Lenders check the LLC's credit, its income, and the property's rent. As of August 2026, most LLC lenders want a credit score of 660 to 680, and some accept 620. Plan on 20% down. Expect to sign a personal guarantee. Rates run about 0.25 to 1.5 points above a home loan. A score above 720 and a record of closed deals earn better rates.
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Can an LLC Qualify for a Mortgage?
Yes. Lenders write mortgages to LLCs every day. The loan has a different name and a different shape. Lenders call it an entity loan or a commercial rental mortgage. The LLC is the borrower and the owner. Investors use these loans to purchase, renovate, or refinance rental property.
What an LLC Is
An LLC, or limited liability company, is a business structure with personal liability protection for its owners. The LLC separates the business debts from your personal assets.
LLCs do not pay taxes like other businesses. An LLC is a "pass through" business. The profits and losses pass directly to each member. The members report those gains on Schedule D of Form 1040. The IRS then taxes the gains at each member's individual rate. This normally saves 2% to 4% each year from double taxation.
Why Investors Use LLC Mortgages
- Limited liability protection. The property sits in the LLC's name. The LLC answers for the debts tied to the property. Your personal assets stay protected.
- Asset protection. Hold each property in a separate LLC. Trouble at one property then cannot reach the others.
- Easier financing. The lender evaluates the LLC's financial health, not your personal financial history. This helps investors without a high credit score or a steady income.
Choose an LLC mortgage when you buy a rental to hold. Choose a loan in your own name when you will live in the property. The affidavit you sign at closing enforces this line.
Get the answers to your rental property LLC. Free Help with LLCs for Rental Property.
Which Lenders Offer LLC Mortgages for Rental Property?
No single lender fits every deal. The market splits into categories. Match the category to your project.
Commercial and Investor Lenders
These lenders write entity loans as their normal business. They underwrite the LLC and the property. As of August 2026, most of these lenders want a credit score of 660 to 680. Some accept a score of 620. Plan on 20% down, which means an 80% LTV ceiling. Cash-out refinances top out near 75% LTV. A few lenders allow 15% down, but only with a 740 score or better. Most lenders start giving better rates when your score passes 720. A record of closed deals also improves your terms.
Portfolio Lenders: Community Banks and Credit Unions
A portfolio lender keeps its loans on its own books. Community banks and credit unions lend this way. They set their own rules, so the terms vary bank to bank. They are also the lenders most likely to enforce a due-on-sale clause after a title transfer. I cover that risk in my guide to moving property into an LLC.
Hard Money Lenders
Hard money loans are short-term loans for deals like fix-and-flips or bridge loans. The lender bases the loan on the property's value, not on your creditworthiness. One example is Finance of America Commercial. Finance of America sold its investor lending arm to Roc360 in March 2023. The brand now writes fix-and-flip loans under Roc360. It funds up to 100% of renovation costs, not 100% of the purchase price. These loans are a useful part of your investment strategy if you buy homes at auction.
Expect stringent terms:
- Interest rates run from 8% to 15% or more.
- The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is typically 65% to 75% of the property's value.
- The repayment period runs from a few months to a few years. You must repay the loan in full at the end of the term.
- Origination points vary by lender. The fee may be due upfront or rolled into the loan.
- The property secures the loan. The lender can foreclose if you default.
Have an attorney help you get approved for a hard money loan. Free Help with Hard Money Loans.
DSCR and Non-QM Lenders
A DSCR loan is a 30-year rental loan priced on the property's rent. DSCR means debt service coverage ratio. The ratio compares the monthly rent to the monthly loan payment. A ratio of 1.0x means the rent covers the payment. Most lenders set 1.0x as the floor. A ratio of 1.2x to 1.25x earns the best pricing. Some programs go lower.
In my files, I have never seen a DSCR loan skip the personal guarantee. The only exception is a borrower who has already closed 25 or more deals. In 2026, I qualified an investor for a 6.85% DSCR loan against $400,000 in property value. He had a 720 credit score and 10 prior flips. The lender skipped the extensive underwriting a conventional buyer faces. He qualified by sending in his ALTA settlement statements from past deals. I have also underwritten terms for a private equity lender on fix-and-flip loans. They fund the deal if you are not holding the property longer than a year. Pricing runs 3 to 6 points plus a point a month on carry.
As of August 2026, the conventional 30-year average is about 6.67% per Freddie Mac. DSCR loans run about 6.5% to 8.5%. That is roughly 0.25 to 1.5 points above conventional.
Six national DSCR lenders lend to LLCs on 1 to 4 unit rentals as of August 2026:
- Kiavi lends up to 80% LTV and accepts a DSCR down to 0.8x.
- Lima One Capital requires an entity borrower, wants a 660 credit score, and lends to 80% LTV.
- Visio Lending writes entity loans with a personal guarantor and wants a 680 credit score.
- Griffin Funding accepts a 620 credit score, offers a no-ratio program, and closes through an LLC.
- Angel Oak runs an Investor Cash Flow program through brokers, and title can vest in an LLC.
- CoreVest writes 30-year DSCR loans to 80% LTV, plus portfolio loans with non-recourse options.
Treat this list as proof the market exists, not as a referral. Lists like this age, and rates move. My office does not sell loans.
Expect a personal guarantee on an LLC DSCR loan. Visio Lending underwrites the guarantor's credit. Griffin Funding closes through the LLC with a personal guarantee. CoreVest portfolio loans are the notable non-recourse exception.
Traditional Mortgages in Your Own Name
A traditional mortgage goes to a person, not to a company. These loans are harder to get for investment property. They offer lower interest rates and longer terms in exchange. The exact terms depend on the lender, the property, and the borrower's credit score and financial history. Typical terms for an investment property mortgage:
- The LTV ratio is around 70% to 80%. Lenders want more of your money in an investment deal.
- Interest rates run higher than on owner-occupied homes. The rate may be fixed or variable.
- The down payment is around 20% to 25% of the purchase price.
- The repayment period runs from 5 to 30 years.
- Qualification is stricter. Lenders want a higher credit score, a lower debt-to-income ratio, and a strong financial history.
Cash
Cash is not an option for every investor. It avoids all borrowing costs, and it lets you move on an opportunity quickly. Cash is always king for businesses.
| Loan Type | Down Payment / LTV | Interest | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC / commercial rental mortgage (DSCR) | 20% down standard; 80% LTV ceiling, 75% on cash-out | About 6.5% to 8.5% as of August 2026 | 30 years on DSCR programs |
| Traditional investment mortgage (your name) | 20% to 25% down; 70% to 80% LTV | Lower than an LLC loan; the conventional 30-year average is about 6.67% as of August 2026 | 5 to 30 years |
| Hard money loan | 65% to 75% LTV; some fund 100% of renovation costs | 8% to 15% for hard money, plus origination points that vary | A few months to a few years |
Take a traditional mortgage when you will live in the property. Take one when you need the lowest rate and the longest term. Personal ownership also lets you represent yourself in court. An LLC must hire an attorney for every case.
Shop around. Compare rates and terms from several lenders. Then pick the best mortgage option for your investment strategy.
The Biggest Exposure: Personal Guarantees and Due-on-Sale
Expect to sign a personal guarantee. Nearly every mortgage for an LLC rental property requires one. The guarantee makes you personally responsible if the LLC defaults on the loan. The LLC still shields your personal assets from other claims, such as a tenant lawsuit. It does not shield you from the loan you guaranteed.
In my closings, I have almost never seen an LLC rental loan without personal recourse. DSCR underwriting does not change that.
The protection has other limits. A court can hold the owners personally liable for fraudulent or illegal activities. Interest rates also run higher than rates on traditional mortgages. Some LLC loans secure multiple properties at once. Lenders call that a Bridge Loan.
Many landlords buy in their own name first. They form the LLC later. The deed transfer then raises the due-on-sale clause in the mortgage. Lenders used to treat any LLC transfer as grounds to call the loan due. Today, most lenders let a single-member LLC transfer go through, under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac servicer guidance. A portfolio lender is the exception. It can still call the loan due.
Do not deed a mortgaged property to your LLC without checking your loan first. An LLC transfer is not one of the nine Garn-St. Germain exemptions. Most lenders still allow a transfer to your own single-member LLC. Portfolio lenders are the exception, and they can call the loan due.
I sequence these transfers for $100 per deed. Read the full guide to transferring property into an LLC. Start with my guide to LLCs for rental property if you have not formed the company yet.
LLC Mortgage Loan Requirements: What Lenders Actually Ask For
Lenders check three things. They check the LLC's finances, its track record, and the property.
- Strong financials. The LLC needs a solid credit score and steady income. The lender reviews the LLC's financial history and creditworthiness.
- Real estate experience. The lender may count the properties the LLC has owned or managed. More closed deals brings better terms.
- Property valuation. The lender values the property to set the loan amount and terms. The lender uses current market value, not after-repair value. I explain what counts as a good cap rate in Chicago by asset class. Do not get sucked in by derelict homes with great ARVs if you plan to finance.
The Documents You Need
First, you need an LLC for your rental property. That guide walks you through each step. It covers Articles of Organization, Operating Agreements, FEIN, State Tax Disclosures, and the other legalities. Partners in the LLC need a partnership agreement. Skip it and things will get ugly within a few deals.
Then gather these items:
- Your employer identification number (EIN). National security and financial protection laws require the lender to collect it. Get it free from the IRS online. If you lose the number, call my office. The IRS will fax it to me.
- A business checking account for the LLC, plus a debit card and a credit card. These show that the LLC has financial history and credit.
How to Apply, Step by Step
Choose a lender.
Pick a lender that offers LLC mortgages. Compare the rates and the terms.
Gather the documents.
Collect the financial and real estate documents for the LLC and the property.
Fill out the application.
The form is the 1003, the standard mortgage loan application. An LLC borrower adds more information:
- Business information: the LLC's name, address, and tax identification number.
- Ownership information: each owner's name, Social Security number, and ownership percentage.
- Financial statements: profit and loss statements and balance sheets. These show that the LLC can repay the loan.
- Business tax returns for the past two years.
- A copy of the operating agreement. It shows the ownership structure and the management policies.
Wait for the decision.
The lender reviews the application. The lender then issues a loan decision.
The Non-Owner Occupant Affidavit
You sign this document when you close on an investment property. It states that you will not live in the property. A loan is a commercial mortgage when the borrower does not live in the property. A loan is a residential mortgage when the borrower does live there. Only commercial mortgages carry the terms that rental LLC mortgages usually carry.
Get the answers about your rental property LLC. Free Help with LLCs for Rental Property.
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Rental Property Loans for Illinois LLCs
Illinois adds three wrinkles for LLC landlords. Plan for them before you close.
Your LLC Needs an Attorney in Court
Own the property in an LLC and you must act in the business's name, with its attorney of record. You get added privacy. The tradeoff is that an attorney must appear for the LLC. Own the property yourself and you can represent yourself in court for evictions, violations, zoning, taxes, and similar issues. Own it as a business and you must have an attorney.
Moving a Mortgaged Property into the LLC
Many landlords buy in their own name first and move the property into the LLC later. I cover the due-on-sale risk on that move above, under The Biggest Exposure.
Wholesaling Does Not Require an LLC
An LLC offers asset protection and limited liability. You do not need one for wholesale real estate deals. The law on wholesaling is the same for an LLC and an individual. You must be licensed, and you must follow the Real Estate Advertising guidelines. Consult a legal professional about your specific situation.
Call before you sign a personal guarantee. I'll tell you what your lender is actually asking you to promise.
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