What Do Lenders Look for in Rental Properties Today?

Question

For those growing rental portfolios:

What factors seem to matter most right now?

• Cash flow strength
• Tenant stability
• Property condition
• Location

Interested to hear how others are positioning their deals.

Hasan Gabareen · Answer

I love that you brought this up because it honestly doesn’t get enough attention, and it’s critical that investors think about this more.

Lenders look at multiple factors when deciding whether they want to provide financing for a rental property. The three biggest ones that stand out to me are:

• Cash Flow Strength – Lenders want to know how well the property’s rent can cover the mortgage and operating costs. This is where DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) becomes really important.
• Location – Location is highly prized because it can signal things like vacancy risk, crime levels, tenant demand, and even long-term appreciation potential. If a lender feels uneasy about the area, it can absolutely affect the deal.
• Property Condition – A property’s condition can impact long-term risk, including future CapEx, vacancy, maintenance costs, and rental upside. Properties with major deferred maintenance usually create more hesitation from lenders.

I’d also say lenders today seem a lot more focused on risk and downside protection than they were a few years ago.