Boston rentals are expensive to buy and rarely sit empty. That combination rewards investors who can qualify on the building's rent instead of their personal income, and who can borrow at the larger balances that a triple-decker or a South End condo now requires.
In short: LendingStreet is our top pick for DSCR loans in Boston. We qualify on the property's rent with no W-2s or tax returns, lend to LLCs as standard and have no stated maximum loan size, which matters in a market where a three-family can pass $1 million. Purchases go up to 80% LTV and cash-out refinances up to 75%, with leverage that varies by program on larger balances and 5-8 unit buildings.
LendingStreet finances business-purpose DSCR loans on 1 to 8 unit rentals across Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk counties, from Dorchester and Jamaica Plain to Somerville, Quincy, Malden and Revere.
Our loans start at $150,000 with no stated maximum, use a 1.0x standard minimum DSCR with sub-1.0 programs for some files, and require a 620 minimum credit score. Thirty-year terms are available, which keeps the payment manageable on a large Boston balance.
To see what a specific building can support, get a quote with the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
If you are weighing CoreVest, Dominion Financial, LendingOne, Lima One, New Silver and RCN Capital for a DSCR loan for investors in Boston, MA, this is the short version: LendingStreet wins the scenarios below, and you can get a quote with the form below.
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
The triple-decker is the classic Boston-area investment: three stacked units, usually built between about 1880 and 1930, found throughout Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, East Boston, Somerville, Chelsea and Worcester's older neighborhoods. Each floor rents separately, and the combined rent often makes the ratio work where a single condo would not.
Condos in Back Bay, the South End, Charlestown and Fenway carry high prices and HOA dues that cut into cash flow. Student and young-professional rentals cluster in Allston, Brighton and Mission Hill near the area's universities and hospitals, with leases that commonly turn over on September 1.
Just outside the city, Quincy, Malden, Medford, Everett and Revere offer two- and three-family homes at lower prices with Orange Line, Red Line or Blue Line access. Each city sets its own tax rate and some have their own owner-occupant exemptions, so check the specific city before you budget.
Boston investors often start with a local bank or credit union, then find that income documentation and limits on the number of financed properties slow them down. Here is how the options compare.
| Question | LendingStreet | Local bank | Local hard money lender |
|---|---|---|---|
| How is income verified? | The property's rent; no W-2s or tax returns | Usually personal income documents | Mostly the property and the plan |
| Can an LLC borrow? | Yes, it is standard | Sometimes | Often |
| Is a long-term fixed option offered? | Yes, 30-year terms | Varies | Rarely; loans are short-term |
| Max LTV on a purchase | Up to 80% | Varies | Varies |
| Max LTV on a cash-out | Up to 75% | Varies | Not a typical product |
| Minimum credit score | 620 | Varies | Varies |
| Help below 1.0x DSCR? | Sub-1.0 programs exist | Uncommon | Not applicable |
Boston and several nearby cities offer a residential exemption that lowers the tax bill for owner-occupants. A non-owner-occupied rental does not get it, so the bill after an investor buys can be noticeably higher than the seller's if the seller lived in the building.
Massachusetts also charges a deeds excise tax when a property sells, plus recording and title costs. Budget on the full tax figure with no exemption, and confirm current amounts with the city assessor and your closing attorney, since Massachusetts closings are typically handled by attorneys.
Most Boston-area housing was built before 1978, and the Massachusetts Lead Law requires deleading or interim control when a child under six lives in a rental. Budget for a lead inspection and possible abatement on older buildings.
Boston also requires landlords to register rental units and allows periodic inspections. Short-term rentals are tightly limited: the city's ordinance generally confines them to owner-occupied units, so a non-owner-occupied investment unit should be underwritten on a 12-month lease. Check current rules with the city before you buy.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a Dorchester triple-decker for $1,250,000. The three units lease for $3,000, $3,100 and $3,200, for $9,300 a month. With no residential exemption, taxes are budgeted at $1,210 a month, and insurance is $450.
At 75% LTV the loan is $937,500 and estimated principal and interest on a 30-year term is about $6,395. The full payment is about $8,055 and DSCR is about 1.15x. If the program sets a lower maximum on this balance, a 70% loan of $875,000 brings the payment to about $7,629 and DSCR to about 1.22x.
| Item | 75% LTV | 70% LTV |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $937,500 | $875,000 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $6,395 | $5,969 |
| Property taxes | $1,210 | $1,210 |
| Insurance | $450 | $450 |
| Total payment | $8,055 | $7,629 |
| Rent, three units | $9,300 | $9,300 |
| DSCR | About 1.15x | About 1.22x |
Massachusetts ended rent control statewide by a 1994 ballot vote, and proposals to bring it back come up regularly, so watch for changes. Security deposit and last month's rent rules are strict and technical, which is one more reason many owners use a property manager.
Winter adds costs too. Heating, snow removal and ice-dam repairs fall on the owner in many older buildings, especially where utilities are not separately metered. Parts of East Boston, Charlestown and the waterfront sit in mapped flood zones, where flood insurance is generally required.
Ask each lender these questions, in writing if you can:
Our top pick is LendingStreet. We qualify Boston rentals on rent with no tax returns, lend to LLCs, have no stated maximum loan size and offer up to 80% LTV on purchases.
Yes. We lend across Boston and the surrounding cities, and in all 50 states and DC.
Yes. Residential DSCR loans cover 1 to 8 units, and the combined rent from all three units is used for the ratio.
Often because the seller had the residential exemption. Investors do not receive it, so budget on the full tax bill.
Generally no. Boston limits short-term rentals to owner-occupied units, so investment units are underwritten on long-term leases.
There is no stated maximum. Larger balances get more review, and max LTV can be lower, which varies by program.
Indirectly. Deleading costs and timing affect your budget and lease-up on pre-1978 buildings, so get a lead inspection early and include any work in your plan.
Yes, up to 75% LTV, as long as the rent covers the new payment. Seasoning varies by program; call (877) 298-1001 to check yours.
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