St. Louis nightly demand runs on baseball, soccer, hospitals, universities and conventions. A brick two-story in Soulard or a renovated flat near Tower Grove Park can book well, but which side of the city-county line it sits on changes the rules completely.
In short: LendingStreet finances St. Louis short-term rentals with DSCR loans that can qualify on projected short-term rental revenue on some programs, rather than a long-term lease. Loans start at $150,000, purchases go up to 80% LTV and LLC borrowers are standard. Because the City of St. Louis and the dozens of municipalities in St. Louis County each set their own STR rules, confirm the specific address can legally operate as a nightly rental before you rely on that income.
St. Louis is unusual: the City of St. Louis is an independent city, separate from St. Louis County, and the county itself contains roughly 88 municipalities plus unincorporated areas. Each can regulate short-term rentals through zoning, business licenses, occupancy permits and lodging taxes. A house in Maplewood, one in Clayton and one in Tower Grove South can face three different answers.
The City of St. Louis has debated and moved toward registration and permit requirements for short-term rentals, and several suburban municipalities restrict rentals under 30 days in residential districts. Rules have been changing, so call the city or municipality, check the zoning district and ask about any permit, inspection and tax registration before you make an offer. If the core city or a given suburb does not allow investor-owned nightly rentals at that address, look elsewhere in the region or plan for long-term or mid-term rent.
The Cardinals at Busch Stadium carry the spring and summer, and St. Louis CITY SC games at CITYPARK, west of downtown, add crowds from late winter through fall. The Blues at Enterprise Center, concerts, and conventions at America's Center fill weekends year round.
Forest Park is a draw on its own, with the Saint Louis Zoo, Art Museum, Science Center and Muny summer musicals. Weekday demand comes from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Washington University Medical Campus, SLU, traveling nurses and visiting families. Mid-term furnished stays of 30 days or more for medical staff are a common strategy near the Central West End and The Grove.
Within the city, investors gravitate to Soulard and Lafayette Square near downtown and the stadiums, Benton Park and Fox Park for brick rowhouses, Tower Grove South and Shaw near Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Central West End, Forest Park Southeast and Dogtown for proximity to Forest Park and the hospitals.
In the county, inner-ring suburbs such as Maplewood, Richmond Heights and Webster Groves draw guests who want a neighborhood feel, but each has its own rules. St. Charles, with its historic Main Street on the Missouri River, has a separate regulatory system and its own tourism base.
| Area | Guest draw | Housing type | First check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soulard / Lafayette Square | Stadiums, downtown, Mardi Gras | Brick rowhouses, flats | City zoning and permit |
| Tower Grove South / Shaw | Tower Grove Park, Botanical Garden | Two-family flats, bungalows | City zoning and permit |
| Central West End / The Grove | Hospitals, Forest Park | Condos, two-families | Condo bylaws, mid-term demand |
| Maplewood / Webster Groves | Neighborhood feel, dining | Bungalows, cottages | Municipal ordinance |
| St. Charles | Historic Main Street, river | Older homes, townhomes | City rules and tax |
This example is illustrative and not a quote. An investor buys a renovated three-bedroom brick home in Tower Grove South for $289,000, after confirming the address can be rented nightly. A third-party projection shows about $39,000 a year in gross revenue. The example qualifies on a more conservative $2,900 a month to allow for slow winter weeks.
At 75% LTV the loan is $216,750. Estimated principal and interest on a 30-year term is about $1,479 a month. Property taxes are budgeted at $330 and STR insurance at $160, for a total payment of about $1,969. DSCR is about 1.47x. The cushion is there because brick homes in south city are priced low relative to what they can earn, but the deal only works if the use is allowed.
| Item | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price | $289,000 |
| Loan at 75% LTV | $216,750 |
| Estimated principal and interest | $1,479 |
| Property taxes | $330 |
| STR insurance | $160 |
| Total payment | $1,969 |
| Qualifying STR income | $2,900 |
| DSCR | About 1.47x |
Missouri assesses residential property at a 19% assessment ratio and reassesses in odd-numbered years, so a recent purchase or renovation can move the next bill. The City of St. Louis Assessor and the St. Louis County Assessor are separate offices with separate records. Budget using the bill that will apply after your purchase, not the seller's older figure.
Missouri has no real estate transfer tax, which keeps closing costs lower than in many states. Nightly stays are generally subject to state and local sales and lodging taxes; register with the Missouri Department of Revenue and ask the city or county about local tourism taxes.
If you want a true vacation STR, most Missouri investors look beyond the metro. Lake of the Ozarks, about two and a half to three hours southwest, is the state's biggest lake market, with summer-heavy demand and HOA and county rules that vary by cove and subdivision. Branson draws families and shows year round. Closer in, wine country around Augusta, Washington and Hermann attracts weekend guests.
These markets have different seasonality, insurance needs and local rules. The Missouri STR page covers them in more detail.
St. Louis is famous for its brick housing, which holds up well but often comes with century-old plumbing, mortar joints that need repair, slate or flat roofs and older electrical service. Guests notice drafts and noise in older flats, and insurers ask about roof age and wiring.
Get an STR-specific insurance quote and an inspection that covers masonry and roofs. Budget for furnishing, cleaning, supplies and platform fees, which do not show up in DSCR but decide whether the property actually makes money.
Bring these items when you request terms.
Our investor loans are business-purpose loans on non-owner-occupied property. We review the projection, the local rules and the long-term rent as a backstop, then size a loan that works on realistic income. Send your address through the form below or call (877) 298-1001.
It depends on whether the address is in the City of St. Louis or one of the St. Louis County municipalities, and on the zoning district. Rules have been changing, so confirm with the specific city before you buy.
On some programs, yes. A third-party projection can replace a long-term lease. Conservative projections that include winter weeks hold up best.
Soulard, Lafayette Square, Benton Park, Tower Grove South, Shaw, the Central West End and Forest Park Southeast see the most interest, because of the stadiums, parks and hospitals nearby.
No. Missouri has no real estate transfer tax. You still pay title, recording and other closing costs.
Yes, if the property is non-owner-occupied and local and HOA rules allow nightly rentals. Our Missouri STR page covers lake and Branson markets.
Mid-term rentals near Barnes-Jewish and the medical campus are common. They can be underwritten on market rent or, on some programs, on projected income.
Yes, up to 75% LTV with booking history supporting the income. Seasoning varies by program.
No. We lend only on non-owner-occupied investment property under business-purpose loans.
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