Start with the loan amount and down payment
Ask The Mortgage Calculator to review the property price, expected value, rental income and borrower scenario before choosing a down payment. The available loan-to-value ratio depends on the selected program and underwriting review. General domestic DSCR limits should not be assumed to apply to a foreign national transaction.
For planning, purchase price minus loan amount is the buyer's equity contribution before other adjustments. The final cash required can change with deposits already paid, permitted credits, transaction charges and the settlement statement. A headline loan-to-value figure is not a complete cash-to-close estimate.
Separate the main cash categories
Build your own worksheet with a line for each category. Ask the lender and settlement agent for scenario-specific estimates as soon as the location, property and loan structure are known. Identify which amounts are estimates and which have been confirmed.
- Down payment: your equity contribution toward the purchase.
- Loan and settlement charges: applicable lender, valuation, title, recording and closing expenses.
- Prepaid items and escrow funding: amounts collected for items such as insurance, taxes or interest, where applicable.
- Required reserves: eligible assets the lender may require to remain available after closing.
- Operating funds: your own budget for repairs, furnishings, vacancy and property management.
Ask how funds must be documented
Funds for closing must come from a U.S.-based account. Before moving money, ask about acceptable account ownership, source documentation and any required history. Keep records linking the original account, transfers, currency conversions and receipt in the U.S. account. The loan team will confirm the records needed to verify those funds.
If a business, another person or an asset sale will provide funds, explain that early. Do not assume that a contribution, gift, loan or recent transfer is acceptable for the chosen program. Obtain specific guidance before making the transaction depend on it.
Allow for currency and settlement timing
Allow enough time to move funds into the U.S.-based account and document the transfer before settlement. Consider how exchange-rate changes affect the home-currency amount needed. Ask your transfer provider about charges, processing time and receiving-bank requirements, then coordinate the schedule with your loan officer and settlement agent.
Verify final payment instructions using independently confirmed contact information for the settlement agent. Reconcile the final cash figure with your deposits and agreed credits before initiating the transfer. Keep the transfer record for the closing file.
Compare more than the initial interest rate
When comparing proposals, ask about lender charges, payment structure, any prepayment terms, reserves and the total cash required. Request an explanation when one quote uses different assumptions from another. Confirm which disclosures and settlement documents apply to your particular loan.
A useful first review begins with the property state, target purchase price, rental strategy, approximate funds available and country of residence. You do not need a U.S. credit score, U.S. visa or U.S. company for the available foreign national DSCR options. Your down payment, costs and required reserves will be established for the actual scenario.
Sources & further reading
Program references checked November 11, 2026. The selected lender’s current guidelines and your individual review determine eligibility.