By Commercial Capital Investor Group · October 2026 · 2 min read
Every lender is answering the same question: if something goes wrong, will we get our money back? Where lenders differ is in what they look at to answer it.
Two ways to evaluate a loan
Borrower-based lenders, like most banks, focus on you: your income, your debts, and your credit history. Asset-based lenders, like CCIG, focus on the property: its value, its income potential, and how much equity is in the deal.
| What they look at | Typical bank | CCIG |
|---|
| Income and tax returns | Primary factor | Not required |
| Debt-to-income ratio | Primary factor | Not used |
| Credit score | Minimum required | Reviewed, no minimum |
| Debt service ratio (DSCR) | Often required | Not required |
| Property value | Important | Primary factor |
| Equity / loan-to-value | Important | Primary factor |
The factors explained
- Income and tax returns. Banks usually want two years of returns. Write-offs that lower your taxes also lower the income they can count.
- Debt-to-income ratio. Your monthly debt payments compared with your income. Investors with several properties can hit a bank’s limit quickly.
- Credit score. Banks often require higher scores for investment properties than for a home you live in. More on credit scores.
- Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR). The property’s rent compared with its loan payment. A DSCR under 1.0 means the rent doesn’t cover the payment.
- Property value. Set by the appraisal, and the foundation for how much you can borrow.
- Loan-to-value (LTV). The loan amount divided by the property’s value. Lower LTV means more of your own money in the deal and less risk for the lender. How LTV limits what you can borrow.
How to strengthen your application
- Bring equity. A larger down payment or more existing equity is the strongest signal to an asset-based lender.
- Know the property. Current rents, leases, condition, and any planned improvements.
- Be upfront about credit issues. Explaining a past problem early beats a surprise in underwriting.
- Pick the right lender for your situation. If your returns show low income, a borrower-based lender will keep saying no no matter how good the deal is.
Real example: A self-employed borrower in Westbrook, ME couldn’t get a two-family purchase financed through traditional lenders. Evaluated on the property instead of his tax returns, the deal worked, and CCIG closed it.
Have a deal in mind?
Tell us about the property and a CCIG loan specialist will walk you through your options.
Related: Private lender or bank? · Investment property loan FAQ · Loan programs and terms
