There are several ways to finance a rental home in Virginia, and they are not interchangeable. Conventional investment loans lean on your full income, DSCR loans lean on the property's rent, portfolio lenders write their own guidelines and hard money covers short-term needs. Comparing them side by side, with the same property and the same down payment, is the clearest way to see which one fits your own situation and goals in Virginia.
Call to talk with a licensed loan officer. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Virginia landlord-tenant law: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. The VRLTA (Code of Virginia Title 55.1, Chapter 12) covers most residential rentals in Virginia; DHCD publishes the required Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities and a landlord-tenant handbook. Leases you show a lender should follow it.
Where the numbers point in Virginia
Counties with the most loans on investment properties (2024):
| County | Loans on investment properties (2024) |
|---|---|
| Fairfax County | 950 |
| the City of Virginia Beach | 667 |
| the City of Richmond | 598 |
| Henrico County | 558 |
| the City of Norfolk | 491 |
| Chesterfield County | 469 |
| Prince William County | 455 |
| Loudoun County | 377 |
| the City of Roanoke | 342 |
| the City of Newport News | 328 |
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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 Property Loans by city in Virginia
- Abingdon
- Alexandria
- Annandale
- Aquia Harbour
- Arlington
- Ashburn
- Ashland
- Bailey's Crossroads
- Bedford
- Belle Haven
- Bellwood
- Belmont
- Bensley
- Big Stone Gap
- Blacksburg
- Bon Air
- Brambleton
- Brandermill
- Bridgewater
- Bristol
- Broadlands
- Broadway
- Buckhall
- Buena Vista
- Bull Run
- Burke
- Burke Centre
- Carrollton
- Cascades
- Cave Spring
- Centreville
- Chamberlayne
- Chantilly
- Charlottesville
- Cherry Hill
- Chesapeake
- Chester
- Christiansburg
- Collinsville
- Colonial Heights
- Countryside
- Covington
- Crosspointe
- Crozet
- Culpeper
- Dale City
- Danville
- Dranesville
- Dulles Town Center
- Dumbarton
- Dumfries
- Dunn Loring
- East Highland Park
- Emporia
- Ettrick
- Fair Lakes
- Fair Oaks
- Fairfax
- Fairfax Station
- Falls Church
- Farmville
- Fishersville
- Floris
- Forest
- Fort Belvoir
- Fort Hunt
- Fort Lee
- Franconia
- Franklin
- Franklin Farm
- Fredericksburg
- Front Royal
- Gainesville
- Galax
- George Mason
- Glen Allen
- Gloucester Point
- Great Falls
- Greenbriar
- Groveton
- Hampton
- Harrisonburg
- Herndon
- Highland Springs
- Hollins
- Hollymead
- Hopewell
- Huntington
- Hybla Valley
- Idylwood
- Independent Hill
- Innsbrook
- Kings Park
- Kings Park West
- Kingstowne
- Lake Barcroft
- Lake Monticello
- Lake Ridge
- Lake of the Woods
- Lakeside
- Lansdowne
- Laurel
- Laurel Hill
- Leesburg
- Lexington
- Lincolnia
- Linton Hall
- Long Branch
- Lorton
- Loudoun Valley Estates
- Lowes Island
- Lynchburg
- Madison Heights
- Manassas
- Manassas Park
- Manchester
- Mantua
- Marion
- Martinsville
- Massanetta Springs
- McLean
- McNair
- Meadowbrook
- Mechanicsville
- Merrifield
- Montclair
- Montrose
- Mount Vernon
- Neabsco
- New Baltimore
- Newington
- Newington Forest
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- North Springfield
- Norton
- Oakton
- Orange
- Petersburg
- Pimmit Hills
- Poquoson
- Portsmouth
- Potomac Mills
- Pulaski
- Purcellville
- Quantico Base
- Radford
- Reston
- Richlands
- Richmond
- Roanoke
- Rockwood
- Rocky Mount
- Rose Hill
- Salem
- Sandston
- Seven Corners
- Short Pump
- Smithfield
- South Boston
- South Riding
- South Run
- Springfield
- Staunton
- Sterling
- Stone Ridge
- Strasburg
- Stuarts Draft
- Sudley
- Suffolk
- Sugarland Run
- Timberlake
- Triangle
- Tuckahoe
- Tysons
- University of Virginia
- Vienna
- Vinton
- Virginia Beach
- Wakefield
- Warrenton
- Waynesboro
- West Falls Church
- West Springfield
- Williamsburg
- Winchester
- Wolf Trap
- Woodburn
- Woodlake
- Woodlawn
- Woodstock
- Wyndham
- Wytheville
- Yorkshire
Common questions
Can I use expected rent to qualify for my first rental?
Some programs let you count rent from the home you are buying, using a lease or an appraiser's market rent estimate, and some limit how first-time landlords may use it. DSCR loans rely on the property's rent by design. Ask each lender how it treats rent for someone without a history of managing rentals.
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.
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.
Other investor loans in Virginia
DSCR loansDSCR requirementsDSCR down paymentAirbnb / STR loansHard money lendersHard money for a primary homeFix and flip loansInvestor bridge loansPortfolio lendersBlanket mortgagesHELOC on a rentalInvestor cash-out refiSecond home loansInterest-only investor loansPrivate money lenders
Related guides
- DSCR Loan vs Conventional Investment Property Loan
- What Is a DSCR Loan? Meaning, the Ratio, and How It Works
- How to Compare DSCR Lenders and Loan Offers
Investment Property Loans overview · Virginia investor loan overview
- 2024 HMDA data