Defy Mortgage vs Lima One Capital
What each lender publishes about financing short-term rentals, side by side. Defy Mortgage: all except ak, az, id, mi, mn, nv, nd, or, sd, ut, vt. Lima One Capital: all except ak, nd, sd, vt.
The short version
- Defy Mortgage accepts STR history or a projection; Lima One Capital qualifies STR income on a projection.
- Defy Mortgage has the lower minimum credit score (640 vs 700).
- Defy Mortgage has the higher max purchase LTV (85% vs 75%).
- Defy Mortgage has the higher max cash-out LTV (80% vs 70%).
- Both publish a $75K minimum loan.
- Defy Mortgage has the lower minimum DSCR (0.75 vs 1.30).
- Defy Mortgage allows first-time investors; Lima One Capital does not publish a policy on them.
Based only on published figures, checked Oct 19, 2026. Published maximums usually need top credit. Confirm with the lender.
| Term | Defy MortgageDirect lender | Lima One CapitalDirect lender |
|---|---|---|
| STR income method | Either defytpo.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | Projection Lender sources · checked Oct 18, 2026 |
| STR income details | 12-month history: 12-month operating history accepted; factor not published. Projection: Purchase: AirDNA, 80% of annual revenue ÷ 12; operator experience in the last 12 months required. STR min DSCR 1.15. STR max LTV 75%. defytpo.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | Dedicated STR loan underwritten using AirDNA and other STR market data. See lender sources |
| Min credit score | 640 defymortgage.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | 700 limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Min DSCR | 0.75 defymortgage.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | 1.30 limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| DSCR below 1.0 | Yes Lender sources · checked Oct 18, 2026 | No Lender sources · checked Oct 18, 2026 |
| No-ratio option | Not published | No limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Max LTV (purchase) | 85% defymortgage.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | 75% limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Max LTV (cash-out/refi) | 80% defymortgage.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | 70% limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Min loan | $75K defymortgage.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | $75K limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Max loan | Not published | $2.5M limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| Prepayment | Standard 5-year step-down (5/4/3/2/1); flat 5% also available defymortgage.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 | Flexible; a low or no prepayment penalty option is available for a higher fee and/or rate limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| States served | All except AK, AZ, ID, MI, MN, NV, ND, OR, SD, UT, VT Lender sources · checked Oct 18, 2026 | All except AK, ND, SD, VT Does not lend in AK, ND, SD or VT; 46 states + DC. limaone.com · checked Oct 19, 2026 |
| First-time investors | Yes Lender sources · checked Oct 18, 2026 | Not published |
| Channel | Direct lender | Direct lender |
| Last verified |
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Not a lender or broker. No referral fees. For education only. Figures come from each lender's public pages on the date shown and can change without notice, so verify them with the lender. Rates are estimates, not quotes. How we source data.