Quick answer
Some DSCR lenders qualify short-term rentals using 12 months of booking history, others use third-party market-data estimates, and some only use long-term market rent. City ordinances, HOA rules, and hotel occupancy taxes all affect whether an STR deal works in Texas.
Who this fits
- Hosts with a track record of bookings to document
- Investors buying in established vacation and event markets
- Owners converting a long-term rental to a short-term rental
How STR income gets counted
There is no single method. One lender wants a year of platform statements. Another accepts a projection from a recognized short-term rental data provider. A third ignores nightly income entirely and qualifies the property on long-term rent. The same property can look strong under one method and weak under another.
Bring what you have — booking history, platform payout reports, a management agreement — and we will steer the file to the lenders whose method fits your situation.
Check the rules before you close
Several Texas cities regulate short-term rentals with permits, registration, or zoning limits, and HOAs can prohibit them outright. Hotel occupancy taxes apply to short stays at the state and often local level. None of that is lender trivia; a property you cannot legally operate as an STR will not support STR income.
The Texas angle. Texas STR demand tends to be seasonal and event-driven — think spring in the Hill Country, summer on the coast, and big weekends in the metros. Lenders using booking history want a full year so the slow months show up too.
Common questions
Can I use projected Airbnb income on a property I have not bought yet?
Some lenders accept market-data projections for purchases. Others require history or use long-term rent. It depends on the program, which is exactly why we shop more than one.
Do I need a city permit before applying?
Requirements depend on the city and the lender. Where the city requires a permit or registration, expect the lender to ask about it. Check local rules before you go under contract.
Program availability, eligibility, and terms vary by lender and are subject to underwriting and lender/investor approval. Business-purpose, non-owner-occupied investment property only.