A duplex, triplex or fourplex is still residential property, but it does not lend like a single-family home. The rent comes from several leases, the expenses are shared across units, and the right lender looks at the whole building rather than one unit at a time.
In short: Our top pick for 2-4 unit rental loans is LendingStreet. We qualify duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on the combined rent of all units, with no W-2s or tax returns, LLC borrowers as standard and 30-year terms available. Purchases go up to 80% LTV, cash-out refinances up to 75%, and loans start at $150,000 with no stated maximum, in all 50 states and DC. Get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
LendingStreet is a business-purpose lender for real estate investors, and small multifamily is a core part of what we finance. A DSCR loan on a 2-4 unit building asks one main question: does the total rent from every unit cover the monthly payment, taxes, insurance and any HOA dues?
If the answer is yes at 1.0x or better, the file starts strong. Sub-1.0 programs exist for buildings that come in a little short, minimum credit is 620, and you can buy or refinance in your LLC. We finance purchases, rate-and-term refinances and cash-out refinances on duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes from coast to coast.
Ready to run a building? Get a quote with the form below and include the rent for each unit.
Investors searching for 2-4 unit rental lenders often compare national names like Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One, New Silver and RCN Capital. Here is how LendingStreet stacks up on the scenarios that matter most. In every scenario below, LendingStreet is the best fit.
Figures for other lenders are as stated on each lender's own website as of November 2026. Lender terms change, so verify current terms with any lender before you apply. Ready to see your numbers? Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
| Scenario | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rental loan above $2M | LendingStreet | Our DSCR loans have no stated maximum. LendingOne states DSCR loans up to $2,000,000 and RCN Capital states long-term rental loans up to $1.5M. |
| Credit score in the 620s | LendingStreet | Our DSCR minimum is 620. RCN Capital and New Silver state 660 minimums, and Dominion Financial states 680, with exceptions to 660. |
| Property in any state, including DC | LendingStreet | We lend in all 50 states and DC. Lima One states it lends across 46 states, and Dominion Financial lists 49 states plus DC. |
Small multifamily sits between single-family rentals and commercial apartment buildings. Many lenders treat it awkwardly. Some want the investor's full tax returns and count only part of the rent. Others treat it as a short-term flip product. An investor lender that underwrites the building on its rent is usually the cleanest fit.
Here is how LendingStreet compares with the usual alternatives for a duplex, triplex or fourplex.
| What investors need | LendingStreet | Conventional or agency mortgage | Typical bank | Typical hard money lender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you qualify | Combined rent of all units (DSCR) | Personal income, tax returns and debt ratios | Often tax returns and global cash flow | Mostly property value |
| Borrow in an LLC | Standard | Usually personal name only | Varies | Common |
| Income documents | No W-2s or tax returns | W-2s or tax returns required | Often required | Usually not required |
| Term | 30-year terms available | 30-year terms | Often a balloon | Short-term only |
| Purchase leverage | Up to 80% LTV | Varies by program | Varies | Varies; short-term |
| Where they lend | All 50 states and DC | Nationwide | Usually local | Usually local or regional |
DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the monthly payment, where the payment includes principal and interest, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. On a multi-unit building, the rent figure is the total of all units, using leases in place, market rent from the appraisal, or both, depending on the program.
That has two practical effects. First, a building with one below-market lease can still qualify if the other units carry it. Second, a vacant unit at closing can lower the rent figure, so lease-up status matters when you time a refinance.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a triplex for $420,000. The three units rent for $1,400 each, or $4,200 a month combined. With 80% LTV, the loan is $336,000 and the down payment is $84,000.
Estimated principal and interest on a 30-year term is about $2,321 a month. Taxes of $525 and insurance of $225 bring the total payment to about $3,071. At $4,200 of combined rent, DSCR is about 1.37x.
If one tenant is on an older lease at $1,100, the combined rent drops to $3,900 and DSCR is about 1.27x. The building still clears 1.0x because the other two units carry it, which is the advantage of qualifying on combined rent.
| Item | All units at $1,400 | One unit at $1,100 |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $420,000 | $420,000 |
| Loan at 80% LTV | $336,000 | $336,000 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $2,321 | $2,321 |
| Taxes and insurance | $750 | $750 |
| Total payment | $3,071 | $3,071 |
| Combined rent | $4,200 | $3,900 |
| DSCR | About 1.37x | About 1.27x |
A duplex is the easiest step up from single-family, with two leases and often a side-by-side or up-and-down layout. A triplex adds a third income stream, which spreads vacancy risk. A fourplex is the largest residential building, and it often has the strongest rent-to-price ratio of the three. Five to eight units can still be financed as residential DSCR with LendingStreet; nine or more units moves to our commercial loan program.
Each building type has its own guide on our site, linked below.
A small multifamily file moves fastest when the rent story is easy to follow. Lenders and appraisers want to see what each unit earns today and what it could earn at market, so organize the paperwork unit by unit.
On a purchase, ask the seller early for leases and a rent roll, because those often take the longest to collect. On a refinance, pull your own records first. If a unit is between tenants, note when it will be leased and at what rent.
Ask every lender these questions before you commit:
Purchases go up to 80% LTV, cash-out up to 75%, and rate-and-term up to 80% on some programs. The standard minimum DSCR is 1.0x on the combined rent of every unit, with sub-1.0 programs available. Cash-out seasoning varies by program. LLC borrowers are standard, and loans start at $150,000 with no stated maximum.
Send us the rent roll, current leases and the property address, and we will size the loan on the whole building. Call (877) 298-1001 or get a quote with the form below.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. We qualify duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on the combined rent of all units, with no tax returns, LLC borrowers as standard, 30-year terms and purchase loans up to 80% LTV in all 50 states and DC.
Yes. LendingStreet lends in all 50 states and DC on non-owner-occupied duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.
A fourplex is residential. LendingStreet treats 1-8 unit buildings as residential DSCR, and 9 or more units as commercial.
Yes. We qualify on the combined rent of all units, using leases, market rent from the appraisal, or both, depending on the program.
Yes. LLC borrowers are standard on LendingStreet DSCR loans.
A vacant unit can lower the rent figure on some programs. Share the lease status of each unit when you apply, and call (877) 298-1001 to talk through timing.
The minimum credit score is 620 on our DSCR programs.
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