Dayton's short-term rental calendar is built around an Air Force base, a university arena and a handful of weekends that sell out every hotel in the region. Investors who understand that rhythm underwrite Dayton STRs very differently from vacation homes.
In short: LendingStreet finances short-term and mid-term rentals in Dayton, Beavercreek, Fairborn, Kettering, Huber Heights and nearby Miami Valley towns with DSCR loans that qualify on the property's income, not your personal tax returns. On some programs the ratio can use projected short-term revenue from a third-party projection. Rules differ across the City of Dayton and each suburb and township, so confirm zoning, any local registration and lodging tax filing for the exact address before you buy.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the region's largest employer, and it brings a steady flow of contractors, temporary duty personnel, families relocating on orders and visitors to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Many of those stays run weeks or months rather than nights, which makes furnished mid-term rentals in Fairborn, Beavercreek, Riverside and Huber Heights a natural fit.
Event weekends add spikes. Hamvention, the large amateur radio convention held each May at the Greene County fairgrounds in Xenia, fills rooms across the region. The NCAA First Four games at UD Arena each March, the Dayton Air Show in summer, and University of Dayton move-in, family weekends and graduation do the same. Downtown, the Oregon District and St. Anne's Hill draw leisure guests who want walkable blocks and restaurants.
| Area | Main guest type | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Fairborn, Riverside, Huber Heights | Base contractors, relocating families | Weeks to months |
| Beavercreek | Business travelers, Hamvention and museum visitors | Nights to weeks |
| Oregon District, St. Anne's Hill, South Park | Leisure, events, UD families | Weekends |
| Kettering, Oakwood | Hospital visitors, UD families | Nights to weeks |
| Yellow Springs area | Leisure and parks visitors | Weekends |
The Miami Valley is a patchwork of cities, villages and townships, and each one sets its own zoning. The City of Dayton, Kettering, Beavercreek and the others may treat short-term rentals differently by zoning district, and some require registration or a permit. Ask the planning or zoning office for the exact parcel, and keep a copy of the answer for your file.
Ohio law requires owners of residential rental property to file contact information with the county auditor, and Montgomery and Greene counties maintain those registrations. Subdivisions built in the last few decades in Beavercreek, Centerville and Huber Heights often carry HOA covenants with minimum lease terms, which can rule out nightly stays even where the city allows them.
Short stays in Ohio are generally subject to state and county sales tax and to county and sometimes city lodging taxes. Booking platforms collect some of these automatically but not always all, and mid-term stays past a certain length may be treated differently. Confirm with the county and the Ohio Department of Taxation what you need to register for and file yourself.
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a furnished four-bedroom in Beavercreek, a short drive from the base and the Air Force museum, for $268,000. A third-party projection estimates $33,600 a year in revenue, about $2,800 a month, from a mix of nightly and multi-week stays.
At 75% LTV the loan is $201,000. Estimated principal and interest on a 30-year term is about $1,371 a month. Taxes are budgeted at $410 and STR insurance at $160, for a total payment of about $1,941. The DSCR on projected revenue is about 1.44x.
As a check, a long-term lease on the same home might bring about $1,750 a month, a DSCR of about 0.90x. Knowing both numbers tells you how much cushion you have if nightly demand softens.
Many Dayton investors run a hybrid: 30-to-90-day furnished stays for base and hospital travelers, with nightly bookings filling the gaps around event weekends. Underwriting can use a revenue projection, booking history or long-term market rent depending on the program and the property's track record.
If most of your income will come from 30-day-plus stays, tell us up front. It can affect which program fits and how local rules and lodging taxes apply.
Montgomery and Greene county auditors reappraise property every six years with an update in between, and recent updates raised values sharply in much of the region. Owner-occupancy tax credits do not apply to investors, so the bill after you buy can be higher than the seller's. Look up the full tax history on the auditor's site, and budget on the bill without owner credits.
Insurance is the other line to price early. The 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes damaged homes in Trotwood, Old North Dayton, Harrison Township and Beavercreek, and wind exposure is part of how carriers price the region.
If a Dayton address will not work for nightly stays, look at leisure markets nearby. Yellow Springs, next to Glen Helen, John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge, draws weekend visitors to its village shops and trails. Waynesville and the Caesar Creek State Park area to the south attract antique shoppers and boaters, and the Kings Island area in Mason pulls summer family traffic. Each town has its own rules, so confirm them before you buy.
Our Ohio short-term rental page covers other markets in the state, including lake and park areas.
Send the address, price, revenue projection or booking history, and whether you plan nightly, mid-term or both. Use the form below or call (877) 298-1001. We will show you the ratio on projected revenue and on long-term rent.
It depends on the city or township, the zoning district and any HOA covenants. Confirm with the local zoning office for the exact parcel before you rely on nightly income.
Yes, they can. Depending on the program, the loan may use a revenue projection, booking history or long-term market rent.
On some programs. The DSCR can be calculated from a third-party revenue projection, and some programs discount it, so leave room in the ratio.
Short stays are generally subject to sales tax and county or city lodging taxes. Platforms collect some of these. Check with the county and the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Ohio requires residential rental owners to file contact information with the county auditor. Local registration or permits may also apply.
DSCR loans start at $150,000 with a 620 minimum credit score. LLC borrowers are standard.
Yes. With booking history, a refinance can often use actual revenue. Cash-out goes up to 75% LTV, and seasoning varies by program.
No. Our investor loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property.
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