DSCR | DSCR Loan Setup in ARIVE

Created by Roma Caraher, Modified on Fri, 10 Apr at 3:54 PM by Rick Reach

Updated February 2026

DSCR Loan Setup in ARIVE

This guide walks you through creating a DSCR loan in the ARIVE LOS. Follow the steps in order — the whole process takes just a few minutes once you know where each field lives.

⚠ MCR REPORTING REQUIREMENT

As a mortgage broker, we are required to submit quarterly Mortgage Call Report (MCR) data. DSCR loans must be correctly identified as non-QM with the doc type set to DSCR – Debt-Service Coverage Ratio. Incorrect classification will affect your MCR filing. Double-check these two fields before saving the loan file.

STEP 1 — OPEN OR CREATE THE LOAN FILE

Navigate to Loan & Property Info

Open your loan in ARIVE and click the Loan Info tab. Confirm you are in the Loan & Property Info section. You will see the tabs: Loan Info | Property Info | Title Info.

STEP 2 — SET MORTGAGE TYPE TO NON-QM

Locate the "Mortgage Type" field

Scroll down to the Mortgage Type * dropdown (required field, marked with an asterisk). Click the dropdown — you will see options including Conventional, VA, FHA, USDA, Non-QM, HELOC, and more.

Select non-QM

Choose non-QM from the list (highlighted in the screenshot below). Lien Position should remain First Lien unless the loan structure requires otherwise.

Screenshot 1 — Mortgage Type dropdown: select non-QM (highlighted in yellow)

Fig. 1 — Mortgage Type dropdown. Select non-QM. Lien Position = First Lien.

✓ QUICK CHECK

After selecting non-QM, the page header may update. The Mortgage Type field is what drives MCR classification — confirm it reads non-QM before moving on.

STEP 3 — ENABLE ALTERNATE DOC LOAN

Check the "Alternate Doc Loan" box

On the right side of the Loan Info screen, locate the Alternate Doc Loan checkbox and check it. This unlocks the Select Doc Type * dropdown that is required for DSCR.

Screenshot 2 — Alternate Doc Loan checked; Doc Type dropdown now active

Fig. 2 — Check Alternate Doc Loan, then open the Doc Type dropdown.

STEP 4 — SELECT DSCR AS THE DOC TYPE

Open the "Select Doc Type" dropdown

Click the Select Doc Type * dropdown. You will see the full list of alternate doc types including Full Doc 24mo, CPA Prepared Doc, 1099, Asset Qualifier, VOE Only, and more.

Select DSCR – Debt-Service Coverage Ratio

Scroll down the list and select DSCR – Debt-Service Coverage Ratio. It is near the bottom of the list, just above VOE Only. The adjacent field will default to Full Doc 24mo — leave this or adjust per program guidelines.

Screenshot 3 — DSCR – Debt-Service Coverage Ratio selected (highlighted);

Prepay Penalty visible below

Fig. 3 — DSCR – Debt-Service Coverage Ratio selected.
Note Prepay Penalty checkbox in Advanced Features.

STEP 5 — REVIEW ADVANCED FEATURES

Check "Prepay Penalty" if applicable

Expand the Advanced Features section. If the DSCR product includes a prepayment penalty, check Prepay Penalty. Also review Balloon and Seasoning if relevant to your product.

Confirm Loan FICO and Amortization Term

Verify the Loan FICO is populated correctly (e.g., 751) and the Amortization Term is set (e.g., 360 months for a 30-year). These fields directly affect product eligibility and pricing.

ℹ NOTE ON "NO FICO"

Some DSCR programs are available with No FICO. If applicable, toggle the No FICO switch next to the Loan FICO field. Confirm with your wholesale lender before enabling.

STEP 6 — SAVE AND VERIFY

Save the loan file

Click Save at the bottom of the screen. After saving, re-open the loan and confirm all items in the checklist below before submitting or pricing.

PRE-SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

☑ Mortgage Type = non-QM

☑ Alternate Doc Loan checkbox = checked

☑ Doc Type = DSCR – Debt-Service Coverage Ratio

☑ Lien Position = First Lien (or second, if applicable)

☑ Loan FICO is populated (or No FICO toggled)

☑ Prepay Penalty checked if product requires it

☑ Amortization Term confirmed

⚠ MCR REPORTING — CRITICAL REMINDER

Your quarterly MCR filing depends on accurate loan-type data in the LOS. A DSCR loan logged as Conventional or with the wrong doc type will cause a reporting discrepancy. Always confirm non-QM + DSCR doc type are both set and saved before the loan is locked or submitted.

TROUBLESHOOTING

ISSUE	FIX
"Select Doc Type" is greyed out	The Alternate Doc Loan checkbox must be checked first. This unlocks the doc type dropdown.
DSCR option not visible in doc type list	Scroll to the bottom of the dropdown — DSCR sits near the end of the list, just above VOE Only. The list is long; do not stop at the Full Doc options.
Mortgage Type reverts after saving	Confirm you clicked Save (not just navigated away). If the issue persists, check that the loan status allows edits — locked loans may restrict field changes.
Refinance Program shows "Full Doc" but should be DSCR	The Refinance Program field (top of Loan Info) is separate. The Doc Type field under Alternate Doc Loan is what matters for DSCR identification.
Pricing returns no results after setup	Verify LTV, FICO, and property type are within DSCR program guidelines. Also confirm the Note Rate field is populated.
Unsure if Business Purpose Loan applies	DSCR loans on investment/rental properties are typically business purposes. Check with your compliance team. If applicable, check the Business Purpose Loan box.

✓ PRO TIP

For DSCR loans, confirming the rental income and property cash flow are reflected in the Property Info tab before pricing. ARIVE uses this data to calculate DSCR ratios when running product eligibility.

Summary — 4 Key Clicks for a DSCR Loan:

① Mortgage Type → non-QM → ② Check Alternate Doc Loan → ③ Doc Type → DSCR → ④ Save & Verify