Choosing a DSCR lender is a five- or six-figure decision — over the life of a 30-year loan, the difference between two lenders quoting rates 0.50% apart on a $400K loan is roughly $45,000 in interest. Worth shopping carefully.
This is an independent, head-to-head comparison of DSCR Capital Partners and Kiavi — what each one specializes in, where pricing differs, who underwrites which file types best, and which scenarios favor each lender. We are obviously biased toward our own product, but we'll be straightforward about where Kiavi wins.
The 30-Second Summary
Kiavi is tech-forward dscr + fix-and-flip lender. Polished online experience and competitive on small-loan files. Pricier on jumbo and 5+ unit. Doesn't do foreign national. No CA bridge.
DSCR Capital Partners is a wholesale-broker-style DSCR shop with direct access to multiple non-QM lender programs. Our model: shop the file across our wholesale partners and route to whichever investor pricing wins for your specific scenario. We close DSCR, foreign national, ITIN, and $1M+ California bridge files weekly.
Side-by-Side: 2026 Program Comparison
| Feature | DSCR Capital Partners | Kiavi |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Rate Range (DSCR purchase) | 6.50–7.75% | 7.25–8.50% |
| Max LTV (purchase) | 80% | 80% |
| Min FICO | 620 | 660 |
| Loan Amount Range | $100K–$15M | – |
| Typical Close Time | 21–30 days | 20–28 days |
| Foreign National | ✓ Yes (70% LTV) | Varies |
| ITIN Borrowers | ✓ Yes (75% LTV) | Varies |
| Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) | ✓ AirDNA accepted | Varies |
| 5+ Unit Multifamily | ✓ Yes (70–75% LTV) | Varies |
| Condotel | ✓ Yes (70% LTV) | Limited |
| California Bridge $1M+ | ✓ 8.5% IO, 14–21d close | Generally no |
| LLC / Entity Lending | ✓ Standard | ✓ Standard |
| Interest-Only Option | ✓ 5/10-yr IO available | Varies |
| Direct Lender vs Broker | Wholesale broker (multi-lender) | Direct lender (single program) |
Where Kiavi Wins
Honest take: Kiavi is a strong lender in their lane and a real competitor. Specifically:
- Brand recognition. Kiavi has been in market longer than most non-QM shops and has built deep brand awareness, particularly with experienced investors. If you're already familiar with them, the trust factor is real.
- Direct-lender simplicity. Working with one underwriting team end-to-end has appeal for borrowers who want a single point of accountability and predictable program rules.
- Specific program strengths. Polished online experience and competitive on small-loan files. Pricier on jumbo and 5+ unit. Doesn't do foreign national. No CA bridge.
Where DSCR Capital Partners Wins
- Multi-lender pricing competition. Because we route every file through a panel of 8–12 wholesale DSCR investors, we can find the lender whose specific overlay matches your file. Single-lender shops can only quote their one program.
- Tougher file scenarios. Sub-1.0 DSCR, no-ratio programs, condotel, foreign national from non-Tier-1 country, ITIN, 5+ unit multifamily — we have multiple programs that handle each. Single-lender shops often decline these.
- California bridge financing. Our $1M–$20M California bridge program (8.5% IO, 14–21 day close) is a fully different product most DSCR-only lenders don't offer at all.
- Foreign national + ITIN strength. We close these files weekly. Many competitors limit foreign-national to specific countries or don't offer ITIN at all.
- Personalized service. Single loan officer per file, direct cell-phone communication, no call-center handoffs.
Which Lender Should You Choose?
Choose Kiavi if:
- You're an experienced investor with a clean file (720+ FICO, 1.20+ DSCR, SFR property)
- You prefer working with a direct lender for a single-program experience
- You're already in their underwriting pipeline and want to avoid switching
Choose DSCR Capital Partners if:
- Your file has any complexity — sub-1.0 DSCR, condotel, foreign national, ITIN, 5+ unit, or California jumbo bridge
- You want multi-lender shopping for the best rate/LTV combo
- You're closing on a tight timeline (we close in 21–30 days standard, 14–21 on bridge)
- You want a single loan officer for the entire file (no call center)
Get a Quote and Compare
30-second eligibility check. No credit pull. We'll quote against any Kiavi offer.
Check My Eligibility →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — Kiavi is a legitimate, established lender in the non-QM space. Whether they're the right lender for your specific file depends on the scenario. For complex files (foreign national, condotel, sub-1.0 DSCR, jumbo bridge), shopping multiple lenders typically wins.
Kiavi's 2026 DSCR rates run roughly 7.25–8.50%. DSCR Capital Partners typically prices in the 6.50–7.75% range on standard files. Comparable on the strongest-tier files; we tend to win on complex scenarios where multi-lender shopping uncovers a better fit.
Yes. Up until the day before closing you can switch lenders. The new lender will need to re-pull credit and re-order the appraisal (which the borrower typically pays for again). Most switches happen within the first 7–10 days when pricing or terms come back disappointing.
Yes — we run a dedicated California Bridge Loan program for $1M to $20M jumbo files (8.5% interest-only, 60% LTV, 14–21 day close). This is a CA-only program through our wholesale partner.
Related Resources
- 2026 DSCR Loan Requirements
- DSCR Loan Credit Score Matrix
- DSCR LTV Limits
- California Bridge Loans
- DSCR Glossary
DSCR Capital Partners is a brand of UTM Financial, LLC (NMLS #2591548). Kiavi is a separate company — trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison reflects publicly available information as of May 2026 and our experience competing against Kiavi on shared deal flow. Rates and program terms are subject to change. Equal Housing Lender. Not a loan commitment.