DTI (Debt-to-Income)
The ratio of monthly debt payments to gross monthly income, used in conventional QM mortgage underwriting. DSCR loans do NOT use DTI — they qualify on property cash flow instead. This is the key reason DSCR loans suit self-employed and high-DTI investors.
Why it matters on a DSCR loan
DTI is the wall most scaling investors eventually hit with conventional lenders: each new mortgage payment stacks onto the ratio until you stop qualifying, regardless of how well the properties perform. DSCR loans sidestep this entirely, which is why investors with strong portfolios but ugly DTI move to them. If a conventional lender has declined you on DTI grounds, that's a signal to price a DSCR alternative rather than a verdict on the deal itself.
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DSCR Calculator Get a QuoteReviewed by Arin Baghermian, Broker Owner — NMLS #1220456 · Last reviewed July 2, 2026 · DSCR Capital Partners is a brand of UTM Financial, LLC (NMLS #2591548).