Michigan DSCR Loans

Yes. Unlike traditional banks or even many other DSCR Lenders that require 12 months of operating history, Harpoon Capital allows you to qualify using 100% of AirDNA projected revenue. This is ideal for investors buying new short-term rental properties in Michigan markets like Traverse City or Saginaw Bay where there is no trailing income history.

Absolutely. Short-term rentals (STRs) are one of the most common uses for DSCR financing in Michigan. Harpoon Capital specializes in STR loans, using advanced STR Narrative Analysis and short-term rental data to qualify the property's cash flow rather than relying on traditional long-term lease appraisals.

No. DSCR loans are based primarily on the income-generating potential of the property rather than the borrower's personal income. We do not require tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs, or income or employment verification. Your Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio is not calculated and we have options available for borrowers with credit scores down to just a 600 minimum.

Potentially, Yes. Many traditional lenders and banks deny investment loans for rural properties, seasonal lake homes, or homes on large acreage. Harpoon Capital lends on Michigan lakefront vacation rentals, including Traverse City and the surrounding Northern Michigan lake towns, offering DSCR loans specifically designed for short-term rentals. While true log homes are off limits, Harpoon Capital can typically make loans work for the lake cottages and lake homes that make up the majority of profitable Northern Michigan STR investments.

You can still get a DSCR loan on a vacant property. Harpoon Capital will use the appraiser's estimate of market rent (Form 1007) or short-term rental data platforms like AirDNA to project the income. The property does not need to be currently leased to close the loan.

Harpoon Capital offers some of the highest leverage in the industry, allowing for up to 85% Loan-to-Value (LTV) on purchase loans. This means the minimum down payment for a Michigan DSCR loan is just 15%, allowing real estate investors to keep more capital on hand to scale their portfolios.

No, out-of-state investors are highly encouraged to invest in Michigan. Affordable entry prices and strong cash flow markets make Michigan a popular destination for out-of-state capital. You can live anywhere in the United States and use a DSCR loan to purchase or refinance Michigan real estate.

While a standard target DSCR is 1.00x (meaning the rent exactly covers the mortgage, taxes, and insurance), Harpoon Capital has flexible programs that allow for ratios below 1.00x. We offer No-Ratio or Negative Cash Flow loans for investors with strong credit and sufficient liquid reserves, a common structure on lakefront vacation rentals.

Normally, the minimum FICO score required is 660-680, but Harpoon Capital goes all the way down to 600! Higher scores unlock better pricing and our maximum LTV programs. Because we do not look at personal income, your credit score and the property's cash flow are the primary qualifying factors.

No. Michigan bans local rent control at the state level (MCL § 123.411). Cities, villages, townships and counties in Michigan cannot dictate how much a landlord can charge for rent. This makes Michigan an attractive, free-market state for real estate investors.

No prior landlord or real estate experience is required. First-time investors can leverage Harpoon Capital's DSCR loan programs to purchase their very first long-term rental or Airbnb property, a rare "first-time homebuyer" option in the investor lending space.

Yes, closing in an LLC or corporate entity is highly encouraged and is the standard for Harpoon Capital DSCR loans. This provides you with personal liability protection and helps separate your business assets from your personal assets. Conventional Fannie Mae loans typically do not allow you to close in an LLC.

Harpoon Capital lends statewide across Michigan. High-frequency markets include Grand Rapids, Lansing/East Lansing, Kalamazoo and Saginaw for long-term and multifamily rentals, Ann Arbor for student and single family rentals, and Northern Michigan (Traverse City) for vacation rentals.

A conventional loan requires personal tax returns, W-2s, a strict Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio, and must close in your personal name. A DSCR loan uses the property's rental income as the primary qualifying factor instead of your personal income, allows you to close in an LLC, and permits underwriting approaches like projected short-term rental revenue. Credit, reserves, and experience still factor into your terms.

Yes, but they're limited. Michigan caps prepayment penalties on DSCR loans at 1% of the unpaid balance and only allows them within the first 3 years of the loan. Harpoon Capital offers flexible options within those limits, including buying down or completely waiving the prepayment penalty if you plan to sell or refinance the property quickly.

DSCR loan rates are generally 1% higher than conventional mortgages for many real estate investors. However, real estate investors gladly accept this slight premium to gain the ability to close in an LLC, utilize projected revenue, skip tax return requirements, and scale their portfolios without DTI limits.

Unlike conventional loans that require personal tax returns, W-2s, strict debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and closing in your individual name, a DSCR loan uses the property's rental cash flow as the primary qualifying factor. This allows you to close under an LLC and leverage flexible underwriting including projected short-term rental revenue. Because personal income verification is bypassed, DSCR loans typically close much faster than traditional financing, generally taking 15 to 30 days depending on third-party appraisal and title timelines. Credit score, liquid reserves, and investor experience still shape your specific loan terms.

Yes. DSCR loans are available for multifamily properties, including duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes, with programs extending up to 9-unit buildings. Small multifamily is a common way for Michigan investors to add units without adding separate loans for each property.

Yes, the BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategy pairs perfectly with our loans. DSCR is our bread and butter, but we also offer RTL financing for the acquisition and rehab side, so we can support the full cycle. Once your rehab is complete and the property is leased or listed on Airbnb, you can use a DSCR cash-out refinance to pull your initial capital back out based on the new After Repair Value (ARV).

Harpoon Capital offers flexible seasoning requirements, including no-seasoning cash-out options. If you have completed documented improvements to the property, you can often use the new, higher appraised value for a cash-out refinance right away, rather than waiting the 12 months many lenders require.