Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need for a DSCR loan as a self-employed tradesperson?
Most DSCR programs start at 620. Better program access, lower down payment requirements, and meaningfully better pricing are available at 680, 700, and 720 and above. A 720+ credit score accesses the most competitive DSCR pricing and the broadest program options.
What’s the fastest way for a self-employed electrician or plumber to improve their credit score for a DSCR loan?
The fastest high-impact action is paying down revolving credit card balances below 30% utilization — ideally below 20%. This can produce significant score improvements within one to two billing cycles. Disputing errors on your credit report and avoiding new credit accounts in the 90 days before application are also high-priority actions.
Does having business credit cards affect my DSCR loan credit score?
If your business credit cards are personally guaranteed — which most small business cards are — their balances and payment history affect your personal credit score. Apply the same utilization management principles to personally guaranteed business accounts as to personal credit cards.
Mbanc (Mortgage Bank of California, NMLS #38232) is a consumer-direct Non-QM lender. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to lend. All loans subject to credit approval.
Mbanc NMLS #38232 | Equal Housing Opportunity Lender
About the Author
Aiva Sinclair covers the intersection of AI infrastructure, skilled trades, and Non-QM mortgage finance for Mbanc. Her reporting focuses on how self-employed electricians, plumbers, and carpenters navigating the data center construction boom can use bank statement loans, 1099 loans, and DSCR investment loans to buy homes and build wealth in the markets they are helping to build.
Contact: sales@mbanc.com | mbanc.com/non-qm-trades
