DSCR Loans for Condotels Near Disney
Condotels near Disney are popular with investors — but they're financed differently than a standard condo or single-family rental.
By Ryan Kennedy, NMLS #1434300 · Orlando Mortgage Broker, Icon Mortgage Group
Condotels near Disney are popular with investors — but they're financed differently than a standard condo or single-family rental.
By Ryan Kennedy, NMLS #1434300 · Orlando Mortgage Broker, Icon Mortgage Group
The Orlando/Disney area has a meaningful supply of condotel-style properties — condo units inside a hotel-operated building, often with on-site rental management and hotel amenities. They're attractive to investors, but they come with financing considerations that don't apply to a standard house or townhome.
Condotels typically feature hotel-style operations: a shared rental management/front desk program, daily housekeeping options, and amenities like a lobby, restaurant, or resort pool shared across the building. Because of this hybrid hotel/residential structure, condotels don't meet Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac's standard condo eligibility requirements.
Since DSCR loans aren't sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, DSCR lenders can set their own eligibility rules for condotels rather than being bound by agency restrictions — which is why DSCR financing is one of the more accessible paths to financing a condotel purchase.
Expect a smaller pool of lenders willing to finance condotels, typically higher down payment requirements than a standard condo or house, and closer review of the building's rental management agreement, HOA/condo association financials, and rental history data.
Because many condotels operate through a mandatory or optional rental management program, actual historical rental income through that program (when available) is often used, alongside or instead of a third-party projection.
Condotels can offer a more hands-off ownership experience since a management company typically handles bookings and turnover, but they can also carry higher HOA/resort fees and different resale dynamics than a standalone home — worth weighing against a traditional single-family STR property before you commit.