Ohio is one of the few places where an eight-unit building can still trade for less than a single house in many coastal suburbs. That price per door is the draw, and it also means the tax bill and the building's age often matter more to the loan than the purchase price does.
In short: For 5-8 unit rentals in Ohio, our top pick is LendingStreet. We finance five- to eight-unit buildings as residential DSCR loans that qualify on rent, with no W-2s or tax returns, LLC borrowers as standard and 30-year terms available. Loans start at $150,000 with no stated maximum and max LTV on 5-8 units varies by program. We lend in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron, Toledo and every other Ohio market.
Ohio investors often scale fast, moving from a few doubles into six- and eight-unit buildings within a couple of years. LendingStreet keeps those buildings in our residential DSCR program, so each one qualifies on its own rent roll. There is no need to show a growing personal income every time you add a building. Properties with 9 or more units are handled through /commercial.html.
The program suits LLC owners, out-of-state investors buying in Ohio for the cash flow, and anyone refinancing a building that was bought or renovated with short-term money. Get a quote with the form below, or call (877) 298-1001.
Investors searching for 5-8 unit rental lenders often compare national names like CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One, New Silver and RCN Capital. Here is how LendingStreet stacks up on the scenarios that matter most for investors in Ohio. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5-8 unit building | LendingStreet | We treat 1-8 units as residential DSCR. Lima One and CoreVest state 1-4 unit eligibility for their rental loans. |
| 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. |
Columbus has small apartment buildings in Clintonville, the University District, Old North, Franklinton and the near east side, plus older suburban stock in Whitehall and Reynoldsburg. Greater Cleveland has brick walk-ups and converted houses in Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, Ohio City, Tremont and Detroit Shoreway. Cincinnati's hillside neighborhoods, including Northside, Clifton, Walnut Hills and Price Hill, are full of three-story brick buildings with six to eight apartments.
Dayton, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown and Canton offer lower prices still, with older housing that needs careful inspection. Many Ohio buildings date from before 1950, so heating systems, roofs and lead paint all deserve a look.
Ohio's college towns add another kind of small building. Near Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University in Athens, Kent State and Miami University in Oxford, many five- to eight-unit buildings lease to students on a school-year cycle. They can work well on a DSCR loan when the leases are signed and the unit count is legal, but expect questions about turnover timing and occupancy limits.
A general comparison of the options Ohio investors usually weigh:
| What matters on 5-8 units | LendingStreet | Typical bank | National online DSCR lender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five to eight units | Residential DSCR | Often commercial underwriting | Varies; some cap at 4 units |
| Qualifies on | Building rent | Often income plus property | Usually rent |
| Tax returns | Not required | Often required | Usually not required |
| Term | 30-year terms available | Often shorter terms or resets | Varies |
| Lower-priced buildings | Loans from $150,000 | Varies | Minimums vary |
| Coverage | All 88 counties, plus all 50 states and DC | Often regional | Varies |
This example is illustrative and not a quote. Investor one buys an eight-unit brick building in Lakewood for $760,000, with rents of $1,050 per unit, or $8,400 a month. Cuyahoga County taxes are budgeted at $1,460 a month and insurance at $450. Investor two buys a six-unit in Clintonville for $870,000, with rents of $1,300 per unit, or $7,800. Taxes are $1,380 and insurance $420.
Both loans are at 75% LTV. The Lakewood loan is $570,000 with estimated principal and interest of about $3,792, a total payment of about $5,702 and DSCR of about 1.47x. The Columbus loan is $652,500 with principal and interest of about $4,341, a payment of about $6,141 and DSCR of about 1.27x. The cheaper building carries the stronger ratio, even with a heavier tax bill per dollar of value.
| Item | Lakewood eight-unit | Columbus six-unit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $760,000 | $870,000 |
| Loan amount (75% LTV) | $570,000 | $652,500 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $3,792 | $4,341 |
| Property taxes | $1,460 | $1,380 |
| Insurance | $450 | $420 |
| Total monthly payment | $5,702 | $6,141 |
| Gross rent | $8,400 | $7,800 |
| DSCR | About 1.47x | About 1.27x |
Ohio counties reappraise on a six-year cycle with an update in between, and recent updates raised values sharply in many areas. Combined rates differ by school district and city, so the same price can carry very different tax bills a few miles apart. Investment property does not receive owner-occupancy credits. Check the county auditor record for the parcel.
Counties charge a conveyance fee on the deed, which varies by county. Cleveland requires rental registration and lead-safe certification for older rentals, Toledo has its own lead-safe rental rules, and other cities have registration or inspection programs. Confirm what applies before closing.
These questions work with any lender:
Max LTV on 5-8 units varies by program, with up to 80% on a purchase and up to 75% on cash-out at the top of our range. Standard DSCR minimum is 1.0x, and sub-1.0 programs exist (/sub-1-dscr-loan.html). Seasoning varies by program (/dscr-cash-out-refinance-seasoning.html). LLC borrowers are standard.
Closing time depends mostly on the appraisal, title and file completeness. Loans start at $150,000 with no stated maximum, which fits Ohio's lower-priced buildings as well as larger ones. If you own five or more Ohio rentals, a blanket portfolio loan can combine them under one loan (/blanket-portfolio-loans-ohio.html).
Send the address, price, rent roll, county tax figure and an insurance quote. We will show you the ratio at more than one loan size and tell you what the file needs. Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
Our top pick is LendingStreet. We finance 5-8 unit buildings as residential DSCR loans on rent, with no tax returns, LLC borrowing standard, 30-year terms and loans starting at $150,000.
Yes. We lend in all 88 Ohio counties, including Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron and Toledo, and in all 50 states and DC.
Yes. Loans start at $150,000, so many lower-priced Ohio buildings fit, as long as the rent covers the payment at the program minimum.
They can raise taxes, which raises the payment in the ratio. Budget on the current bill and test a higher figure if a reappraisal or update is coming.
Yes. We qualify the building on its rent, so where you live does not matter, and LLC borrowers are standard.
Yes. Once it is leased, a rate-and-term or cash-out DSCR refinance can replace the short-term loan, subject to seasoning.
Not on the residential DSCR program, which covers 1-8 units. A nine-unit building is commercial and goes to our commercial team.
No. These are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied investment property.
2-3 competing quotes from 30+ capital sources. No credit pull. No commitment.
By clicking, you provide express written consent to be contacted by LendingStreet (NMLS #1734316) via SMS, phone, or email, possibly using automated technology, regarding your loan inquiry. Reply STOP to opt out. Consent is not required to obtain services. See our Privacy Policy and Terms.