The Industrial Strength of Visio
If Easy Street Capital is the “speedboat” of the Texas market, the research identifies Visio Lending as the “ocean liner.” Based in Austin, Visio operates with the scale and power of a major institution.
The numbers illustrate this difference clearly. Visio has financed over $3.5 billion in loans, with nearly $1 billion specifically dedicated to vacation rentals. This is not a small, boutique operation. The data suggests that Visio has “industrialized” the DSCR process, creating a standardized, reliable machine for funding rental properties.
Stability Over Speed
While other lenders focus on quick flips, Visio’s product architecture is built for the long haul.
- 30-Year Fixed Rates: The research highlights that Visio offers fully amortized 30-year fixed loans. In a market where interest rates can jump around, this offers a safety net. It protects the investor from the risk of rising rates or the “balloon payments” often found with shorter-term loans.
- The “Rent-Ready” Requirement: Visio has strict quality controls. They generally require properties to be “rent-ready.” This indicates they are less focused on heavy renovation projects and more focused on stabilized assets—homes that are already in good condition and ready to generate cash.
Solving the “Self-Employed” Problem
For many Texans, proving income is difficult. Business owners often write off expenses to lower their taxes, which makes their income look lower to a bank.
Visio solves this by ignoring the tax return entirely.
- The Method: They qualify the loan based on the property’s gross rental income.
- The Benefit: This allows self-employed investors to qualify for loans based on the business of the rental, rather than their personal paperwork.
A Unique Tool: Converting Your Home
The research uncovers a very specific tool in Visio’s belt: the Primary-to-Rental Conversion.
Many homeowners in Texas are “locked in” to low interest rates on the house they currently live in. They want to move, but selling that house would mean giving up a great rate. Visio offers a bridge that helps homeowners turn their current primary residence into a compliant investment property. This frees the owner to go buy a new home while keeping the old one as a rental asset.
Eligibility and Standards
Because Visio operates like a big institution, they have stricter rules than some private lenders. The data lists these specific thresholds:
- Credit Score: A minimum score of 680 is required.
- Property Value: The property must be worth at least $150,000.
- Entity Lending: Borrowers often must close in the name of an LLC or corporation. This provides a “corporate veil,” offering liability protection which is essential for anyone running a short-term rental business.
Summary of Strategic Fit
Visio Lending is the logical partner for the Stabilized Portfolio Investor. Once you have finished the messy work of fixing up a house, moving the loan to Visio creates a permanent, stable foundation. Their size provides reliability, ensuring that capital is available even when the market gets tough.
Finding the right financial partner is about matching their strengths to your specific plan. If this lender’s program does not fit your current strategy—whether you need more speed, higher leverage, or different terms—you have other options. We have analyzed the entire market for you. Review our full guide to the Top 10 Texas DSCR Lenders to compare every option side-by-side.