DSCR calculator for San Diego rentals
See if a San Diego rental covers its loan the way a DSCR lender will. We prefilled the tax rate a new buyer typically pays in California. Swap in your own numbers.
Your San Diego deal
Example numbers. Type over any of them.
- Principal and interest
- Property taxes
- Insurance and HOA
- Cash flow before repairs
Estimates assume a 30-year fixed loan. Not a loan offer.
Why California's average tax rate misleads buyers
Prop 13 resets the assessed value to the purchase price when a property sells. Long-time owners pay on old values, so the statewide average is far below what you'll pay on this San Diego example.
| Tax basis | Rate | Taxes per month | DSCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide average paid by current owners | 0.70% | $467 | 0.86 |
| What a new buyer pays (this page) | 1.15% | $767 | 0.81 |
Statewide average from Tax Foundation 2026 data on owner-occupied homes. New buyers pay the 1% Prop 13 base plus local voter-approved bonds, typically 1.1% to 1.25% of the purchase price. Example: $800,000 price, $4,200 rent, 25% down, 7.50% rate, $200 a month for insurance and HOA.
What to check on a San Diego DSCR deal
- A sale resets the assessed value to the purchase price under Prop 13, so the seller's tax bill means little. Expect a supplemental tax bill after you close.
- Newer subdivisions often carry Mello-Roos special taxes on top of the regular rate. Check the listing or title report and add it to the payment.
- High prices mean many California rentals don't reach 1.00 at 25% down. Investors often put more down, or use programs that allow lower ratios at higher rates.
- In wildfire-prone areas, insurance can be hard to get or expensive. Get a landlord insurance quote before you make an offer.
- Statewide rent caps limit yearly increases on many rentals older than 15 years, which matters if your plan depends on raising rent.
- San Diego limits whole-home short-term rentals with a license system. This calculator assumes a long-term lease.
Want it checked for you? The $29 report pulls comparable San Diego rentals, the real taxes and insurance, and flags what a lender would. See a sample.