Foreign National Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Loan Program
About the Foreign National Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Loan
Qualify using projected or market-supported short-term rental income rather than relying only on a traditional long-term lease. This option is built for vacation-rental investors purchasing properties intended for platforms such as Airbnb or similar rental models, especially in high-demand tourist and seasonal markets.
Short-term rental income is typically supported by documentation such as a market or rental analysis, an appraisal that includes a short-term rental income estimate, or the property's actual rental history. The lender may apply adjustments to reflect seasonality, vacancy, and operating costs, and qualification is often based on the property's cash flow, similar to a DSCR loan.
This option is well suited for investors buying vacation homes, condos, or other properties in destination markets where nightly or weekly rentals may produce higher income than long-term leases. Borrowers should confirm that local regulations, homeowner or condo association rules, and licensing or tax requirements allow short-term rentals before purchasing, since these can affect both eligibility and returns.
How This Program Works
How short-term rental income is underwritten
Without a 12-month lease, lenders rely on other evidence of income. The three most common sources are a third-party market analysis, such as an AirDNA report showing projected revenue and occupancy for comparable listings; an appraisal that includes a short-term rental income estimate; and, for existing rentals, the property's actual booking history from platform statements.
The lender then applies the result in a DSCR-style calculation: adjusted STR income compared with PITIA.
Seasonality, vacancy, and expense haircuts
Short-term rental income varies by season and is less predictable than a lease. Lenders typically apply adjustments, often called haircuts, for vacancy, seasonality, platform fees, cleaning, utilities, and management costs. As a result, the qualifying income is usually lower than the gross revenue figure in a market report.
Your duty to verify local rules
Before you buy, confirm that short-term rentals are legal at the property. Many cities and counties restrict or license STRs, limit minimum stay length, or restrict them to certain zones. Condo and homeowner associations may prohibit rentals under a set number of days. You may also need to register for state and local tourist development and sales taxes. These rules can affect both loan eligibility and your returns.
Florida destination markets
Central Florida's theme-park corridor around Orlando and Kissimmee has many communities zoned specifically for short-term rentals, while beach markets on both coasts have strong seasonal demand. Rules vary significantly by city, county, and community, so verify them address by address.
Strategic trade-offs
STR income can exceed long-term rent, but it requires more active management, furnishing, and compliance, and lenders may require larger down payments or reserves. Some investors underwrite on long-term market rent for a more conservative qualification and treat STR income as upside.
Key Benefits & Ideal Borrower
Qualify on nightly income
Use projected or historical STR revenue instead of a lease.
No personal income docs
DSCR-style qualification focused on the property.
Destination market focus
Experience with Orlando-area vacation homes and coastal rentals.
Furnished property friendly
Designed for turnkey vacation rentals.
Scale your rental business
Each property qualifies on its own performance.
Eligibility & Documentation Checklist
Borrower & Financial Documentation
- Passport, plus international credit references where the program requires them
- Verified down payment and reserves (often higher for STR)
- Booking history and platform statements for existing rentals
- LLC documents if vesting in an entity
- Certified translations (full-doc and lite-doc files) and USD conversion
- Plan for local property management (recommended)
Property & Transaction Requirements
- Property located where short-term rentals are legally permitted
- AirDNA or similar market report, or appraisal with STR income estimate
- HOA or condo documents confirming STR is allowed
- Local STR license or registration and tax registration as required
- Insurance suited to short-term rental use
- Adjusted STR income meeting the program's minimum coverage ratio
Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) FAQs
Program disclaimer: Final eligibility, documentation requirements, rental income requirements, and terms vary by program and are subject to lender review.
Disclaimer
Legal & Licensing Disclosure: All loans are subject to credit approval and property qualification. Foreign national programs are non-QM portfolio loans with lender-specific overlays; down payment, LTV, reserves, and documentation requirements vary by borrower category, program, and property. Government-backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA) are not available to true foreign nationals. Rates and programs subject to change without notice. Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 1st Florida Lending Corp. All rights reserved.