Airbnb Financing: A Complete Guide For A Host

Updated : Feb 27, 2025

Airbnb investment is lucrative. Hosts have been said to earn approximately $14,000 in supplemental income in 2022 according to official data from Airbnb. Airbnb financing, however, isn’t as straightforward as taking out a traditional mortgage. 

Lenders have different requirements for short-term rental properties, and securing funding often involves exploring multiple Airbnb financing options. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through the various ways to Airbnb financing, discuss key considerations, and answer frequently asked questions. 

What Is Airbnb Financing?

Airbnb financing refers to the different funding options available to individuals who want to buy, renovate, or expand their Airbnb rental business. Unlike traditional mortgages, which primarily assess your personal income and creditworthiness, some Airbnb financing options consider the rental income potential of your property.

The right Airbnb financing option depends on various factors such as your credit score, existing real estate holdings, and the profitability of your intended rental. Some lenders also offer specialized loans tailored to short-term rentals. While others require hosts such as you to meet stricter lending criteria due to the perceived risk of fluctuations in Airbnb income. 

Also read: How to Buy Airbnb Property? Find the Best One

What Are the Top Airbnb Financing Options

Airbnb financing is not the same for everybody! The approach you need to take should depend on your financial situation, goals, and experience level as a host. 

We’ll present different Airbnb financing options you can choose the right approach for you.

1. Conventional Mortgages

The first thing that came to your mind when thinking about Airbnb financing would’ve been a conventional mortgage. These kind of loans typically offer competitive interest rates and long repayment terms, making them a good choice if you meet the requirements that most lenders have. 

With this, you would’ve to prove to the bank that you can cover the monthly mortgage payments every month with or without rental income.

How would this work?

Home value: $350,000

Down payment: 20%; $70,000

A 30-year mortgage at a 6% interest rate:

Your monthly mortgage payment: $1,678

You should be able to prove that you can pay $1,678 every month with or without a rental income.

Pros:

1. Lower interest rates
2. Stable repayment schedule
3. High borrowing limits

Cons:

1. Requires a really strong credit score
2. May demand a 20%-25% down payment
3. Some lenders restrict loans for short-term rentals

2. Home Equity Loans & HELOCs

If you already own a home and have built up substantial equity, you can tap into that equity to finance your Airbnb property through a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). 

📌 Note: 
Equity is the difference between the value of your home and the balance to be paid on your mortgage. 

Home worth: $100,000; Mortgage balance: $50,000

You have $50,000 in equity

What Is A Home Equity Loan?

Based on the equity you’ve built on your home, you can borrow the money required for your property – this is a home equity loan. It is similar to a second mortgage where you receive a fixed amount and repay it with interest over time. 

If your home is worth $300,000 and you have an equity of $150,000. If the fixed interest rate for your loan is 6% for the period of 15 years, your monthly payment would be: $1,266  

Pros:

1. Fixed interest rate
2. Predictable payments

Cons:

1. Requires substantial home equity
2. Risk foreclosure of your home
3. Higher monthly payments

What is HELOC?

A HELOC works like a credit card. Instead of receiving a huge amount of money, you receive a credit line based on your home’s equity allowing you to borrow and repay as and when required within a set period. 

Once the draw period is over, you would repay with interest. 

Let’s say your home is worth $500,000 and have an equity $250,000. Let’s say you are allowed to borrow 80% of your equity; you could qualify for a HELOC of upto $200,000.

Pros:

1. Flexible borrowing
2. Lower interest rates
3. Interest-only payments within the draw period

Cons:

1. Variable interest rates can increase payments over time
2. Potential for overspending
3. Risk of foreclosure of your home

3. Short-Term Rental Loans

If you have a strong rental history or if you are planning on investing in a high-demand location, you might qualify for a larger loan compared to a standard mortgage.

If the property price is $400,000 and the down payment is 10% which would be $40,000, and the loan term is 30 years with an interest rate of 7.5%, your monthly payment would be $2,800. 

This would be applicable if you are able to show a projected rental income of $5,000.

Pros:

1. Tailored for Airbnb hosts
2. Lower down payment
3. Faster approval period

Cons:

1. Higher interest rates
2. Requires an established Airbnb history
3. Limited lender options

4. Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) Loans

DSCR loans would assess the ability of your property to generate rental income to cover your monthly payments. DSCR is calculated by dividing your property’s monthly rental income by the mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance).

If you are able to generate $5,000 monthly income, and your mortgage payment is $3500, your DSCR would be 1.42. 

Most lenders require your DSCR to be atleast 1.25 which means that your property should generate atleast 25% more income than your monthly mortgage payment. 

The higher the DSCR, the higher your chances of getting the loan. 

Pros:

1. Income-based approval
2. No personal income verification for loan approval
3. You can qualify for more loans if you meet the DSCR requirements

Cons:

1. Higher interest rates
2. Requires a strong DSCR
3. Requires a 20-25% down payment 

Calculate Your Property’s Rental Potential With Revenue Estimator Pro

Revenue Estimator Pro will help you estimate a property’s potential income by providing instant revenue reports, including monthly revenue, average daily rate, and occupancy rates.

Revenue Estimator Pro is designed for hosts in the short-term rental industry. It helps estimate the potential income a new property can generate before making a significant decision. It gives you an idea of the revenue of similar properties in the area and lets you compare similar properties in your locality with our compset. 

The tool will provide instant reports that include:

1. Monthly project revenue
2. Average daily rate (ADR)
3. Occupancy rate

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Airbnb Be Paid in Installments?

Yes, Airbnb offers a pay-over-time feature in some locations. This allows guests to split their booking costs into multiple payments rather than paying everything upfront. However, this does not affect when hosts receive their payouts—Airbnb still follows its regular payout schedule.

2. How Much Money is Airbnb Funding?

Airbnb itself does not directly fund hosts, but it has partnered with lenders and organizations to provide funding options. The amount you might receive would depend on the financing option you choose and your property’s rental income potential.

Final Thoughts on Airbnb Financing Options

Whether you opt for a conventional housing mortgage, a home equity loan, or a DSCR loan, understanding your current financial position and future income potential is key. Only wheny ou understand that will you be able to accurately understand if you can or can not repay your payments. 

Before committing to a financing option, calculate potential Airbnb earnings, factor in maintenance costs, and consider the demand in the market for your property. 

When you take a well-informed data-driven decision, you can maximize your Airbnb investment and build a sustainable rental business.