Investment Property Loans in Hershey, PA

Buying a rental in Hershey, Pennsylvania usually comes down to four loan families: a conventional investment loan underwritten on your full income, a DSCR loan that leans on the property's rent, a portfolio loan from a lender that keeps its own loans, and short-term hard money. Which one fits depends on how you earn, how many properties you own, the home's condition and how fast you need to move.

Have a question about your situation?

Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about investment property loans for a property in Hershey. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.

Call (888) 865-8230 Apply Online Now

Investment property lending in Dauphin County

700Loans on investment properties in Dauphin County (2024)

11.4%Share of all home loans

$145,000Median investor purchase loan (2024)

$1,300Median gross rent

Investment properties accounted for 11.4% of 2024 home lending in Dauphin County, 700 loans in all. The median rent in Hershey is about $1,300 a month. Whether a conventional investment loan, a DSCR loan or a portfolio loan fits usually comes down to how you document income and how many properties you already finance.

Matching the loan type to your situation

Start with how you document income. If your tax returns show steady wages or business income that covers your debts, a conventional investment loan following Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac rules is often the first place to look. If your returns show heavy write-offs, a DSCR loan that qualifies mainly on the property's rent may fit better.

Next, look at the property and your count of financed homes. A rental that needs major work, or an investor who has passed agency limits, may point toward a portfolio lender or a short-term loan with a plan to refinance later. A Hershey loan officer can map your facts to these options in one conversation.

Start hereApply Online Now

Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.

Takes a few minutes
Reviewed by a licensed loan officer
No obligation to proceed

Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 865-8230. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.

Investment, second home or primary residence: getting the label right

Lenders sort every home by how you will use it. A primary residence is where you live most of the time. A second home is one you use yourself for part of the time, that is not rented full time and is not a timeshare. An investment property is rented out or held for income.

The label drives the loan type, the pricing and the documents. Pick the one that matches your real plan for the Hershey property. Misrepresenting occupancy on a loan application is mortgage fraud, and lenders verify it after closing. If your plans may change, explain them to the loan officer before you apply.

Who this tends to fit

You want to understand how rental income shows up on an application
You need to decide whether a home is a second home or a rental
The home you want needs work before it can be rented
You are buying your first rental and want to compare every route
You are weighing a conventional loan against a DSCR loan

Hershey offices and Pennsylvania rules for investors

Deed and mortgage recording: Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.

Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law: The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951. Pennsylvania's main landlord-tenant statute, covering leases, recovery of rent, security deposit (escrow) rules, and recovery of possession. Leases you show a lender should follow it.

How lenders in Hershey count rental income

How rent is counted depends on the loan type. On a conventional investment loan, lenders often use the rent shown on your tax returns for homes you already own and, for the home you are buying, a signed lease or an appraiser's market rent estimate on Fannie Mae Form 1007. Only part of that rent may be counted, to allow for vacancy and upkeep.

On a DSCR loan, the rent is compared with the full housing payment instead of being added to your personal income. Short-term rental income may be treated differently from a standard lease, depending on the program. Ask the loan officer exactly which rent figure each option will use.

Before you call

The property listing, with notes on condition and expected rent
Your preference for buying in your own name or an LLC
Recent pay stubs or business records showing income
A clear statement of how you will use the property
Leases on any rentals you already own

Questions Hershey investors ask about investment property loans

Do investment property loans need a bigger down payment?

Yes, in general. Lenders typically ask for a larger down payment on a rental than on an owner-occupied home, because investment loans carry more risk. The exact amount depends on the loan type, your credit, the property and the lender. A loan officer can tell you what to expect for your file after reviewing it.

What counts as an investment property for a loan?

A home you rent out or hold for income rather than live in. Lenders separate it from a primary residence, where you live, and a second home, which you use some of the time and do not rent full time. The category affects pricing, documents and the down payment. Be accurate: misrepresenting occupancy on a loan application is mortgage fraud.

Can I buy a rental in an LLC?

Many DSCR, portfolio and hard money lenders lend to LLCs, often with a personal guaranty. Conventional agency loans generally expect an individual borrower. Loans made to an LLC for rental property are usually business-purpose loans with different rules and disclosures, so ask which apply. Talk to a tax professional or attorney about whether an LLC suits you.

When does hard money make sense for a rental purchase?

Hard money is short-term, asset-based financing, usually used when a home needs work or a deal has to move faster than a bank can. It costs more in exchange for speed and flexibility and is usually a business-purpose loan. Most investors use it as a bridge, planning to refinance into a longer-term loan or sell.

Talk to a licensed loan officer

Get answers about investment property loans for a property in or around Hershey. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.