1st Advantage MortgageFor Loveland, CO rentals, the DSCR test compares rent to the full payment. The Census medians that frame it are $1,730 rent, $479,000 value and $2,302 in yearly taxes.
Loveland by the Census numbers
Start with the two numbers every DSCR file turns on. Rent in Loveland runs a median $1,730 a month (close to the Colorado median of $1,761), and the median owner-occupied home is worth $479,000. By the simple measure of annual rent over home value, Loveland sits at 4.3%, a thin gross ratio, which tells you purchase prices are high relative to rent. Lenders do not underwrite a ratio like that, but investors use it to decide where to look first.
| Indicator | Colorado | Loveland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 33.8% | 37.8% | +12% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 0.48% | 0.48% | -0% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $2,602 | $2,302 | -12% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $539,400 | $479,000 | -11% |
| Persons per household | 2.42 | 2.26 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 4.7% | 6.2% | +33% |
| Share of homes detached | 61.4% | 64.4% | +5% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 14.1% | 15.0% | +7% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 45.7% | 39.0% | -15% |
| Workers on their own account | 11.3% | 12.4% | +9% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 52.9% | 54.3% | +3% |
| Units sitting vacant | 8.3% | 2.2% | -73% |
| Typical construction year | 1988 | 1993 | |
| Annual rent divided by value | 3.9% | 4.3% | +11% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 5,862,189 | 78,410 |
Roughly 37.8% of occupied housing in Loveland is rented, about 12% above the Colorado median of 34%. Against a median household income of $84,604 (about 11% below the Colorado median of $95,470), 54% of renters report rent at or above 30 percent of income.
Homes, buildings and vacancies in Loveland
Loveland is dominated by detached homes (64% of units), which keeps most rental income tied to house comparables and puts maintenance squarely on the owner. The median home dates to 1993, so newer construction competes with investors and warranties and modern systems can help with insurance and repairs.
Use vacancy as a reality check: 2% of all units are vacant in Loveland, and the rental vacancy rate is 2.3%.
What stands out in Loveland
At 4.3% gross, Loveland is a tight market for DSCR math, and investors often turn to interest-only structures, higher rents on renovated units or small multifamily to make the ratio clear. A newer stock in Loveland shifts the diligence toward HOA documents, leasing restrictions and builder warranties. A 38% renter share is large enough to keep units leased, so location relative to jobs and schools drives rent more than the market as a whole.
The payment side of the Loveland ratio
Real estate taxes are a line the rent has to cover. The median owner in Loveland pays $2,302 a year (about 12% below the Colorado median of $2,602), which is about 0.48% of the median home value. Set beside the median rent, the tax alone consumes about 11% of annual rent.
FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates Larimer County as relatively moderate overall for natural hazard risk, with lightning (very high), winter weather (very high) and hail (relatively high) among its leading hazards.
| Hazard in Larimer County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Wildfire exposure | Relatively High |
| Hail exposure | Relatively High |
| Winter weather exposure | Very High |
| Lightning exposure | Very High |
| Social vulnerability score | Very Low |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Moderate |
| Composite risk | Relatively Moderate |
In Larimer County, as anywhere, the premium is part of PITIA, which means a quote with the roof, age and flood zone of the actual Loveland address belongs in your file early.
What the Loveland medians allow
At the city medians a DSCR file in Loveland has $1,538 a month after taxes to cover principal, interest, insurance and dues if the ratio is 1.00, or $1,192 if the ratio is 1.25. Those two numbers show why insurance quotes and tax estimates come first.
Registration, deposits and nightly stays in Loveland
Before you underwrite a Loveland rental, confirm with city hall and Larimer County whether landlords must register, pass an inspection or hold a permit, especially for stays under 30 days, because those rules can change what income a lender will count. On lodging taxes, a Loveland host should read this first. Colorado requires a sales tax license for an owner who rents rooms or accommodations, with tax generally due on stays under 30 consecutive days, and a marketplace that collects for the owner typically covers state, local and lodging taxes, while county or city lodging filings can be separate.
For a Loveland lease, the Colorado deposit rule is 2 months' rent (since Aug 7, 2023), as set out in C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026). The return clock runs 30 days from move-out in Colorado, so Loveland landlords should keep move-in photos and repair receipts. Rent regulation: No; counties and municipalities are prohibited from enacting rent control (C.R.S. 38-12-301).
Comparing Loveland with surrounding markets
Greeley's median home value of $402,500 is the group's floor and Boulder's $1,039,500 its ceiling, while Loveland is $479,000.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 53% | $5,322 | $1,039,500 | 106,433 | $2,018 |
| Longmont | 38% | $2,940 | $572,800 | 99,406 | $1,816 |
| Greeley | 39% | $1,832 | $402,500 | 110,806 | $1,388 |
| Fort Collins | 48% | $2,875 | $577,900 | 170,229 | $1,690 |
| Loveland | 38% | $2,302 | $479,000 | 78,410 | $1,730 |
Tenants, jobs and anchors in Loveland
Self-employed workers, incorporated or not, make up 12.4% of employed residents, a group that often has irregular tax-return income and a natural fit with rent-based qualification. Around the edges, government workers are about 12% of employment, 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Loveland offers interstate access via I-25 and air service through Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport and Denver International Airport, details that affect commute times and how easily a distant investor can inspect a property.
Before you make an offer in Loveland
Ready to test a Loveland deal? Use the calculator for the ratio, then start your application or send us the scenario.
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Sources and data notes
- Loveland overview (Wikipedia)
- Text of C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026) for Loveland landlords
- State rule cited for Loveland hosts: Colorado Department of Revenue, rooms and accommodations
- 2020 to 2024 ACS data used for Loveland
- FEMA hazard ratings for Larimer County
The Loveland statistics are five-year ACS estimates (2020 to 2024), which have sampling error. RedFlagLease (CC BY 4.0) supplies the Colorado landlord-tenant notes, and the statutes are linked. Our check date is October 2026, so look for newer Loveland rules before you commit.
Pre-offer checklist
Ask the seller for twelve months of utility bills and any lease on the Loveland property, confirm who pays water, trash and lawn care, and get the insurance quote before the inspection period ends so the ratio is tested on real numbers.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
What rent number goes into a Loveland, CO DSCR calculation?
A signed lease or the appraiser's rent schedule supplies the rent, depending on the program, and $1,730 is the Census median for Loveland renters, only a benchmark.
How is the DSCR figure built for a Loveland property?
Yes, the payment includes principal, interest, taxes, insurance and association dues. At the Loveland median rent of $1,730, a 1.25 ratio allows about $1,384 in total payment, of which roughly $192 a month goes to median taxes.
How much real estate tax do Loveland homeowners pay a year?
About $2,302 a year at the median, which is 0.48% of value and about 12% below the Colorado median of $2,602. Reassessment after a purchase can move that number, so get an estimate for the actual price.
Is short-term rental income allowed for a Loveland DSCR loan?
Yes on programs built for it, once the use is lawful in Loveland. Gather twelve months of statements or a third-party projection, and have Colorado tax registration squared away.
What does Colorado law say about deposits at a Loveland rental?
The cap is stated as follows: 2 months' rent (since Aug 7, 2023). A landlord has 30 days to return the deposit. Both come from C.R.S. §§ 38-12-102.5, 38-12-103 (as amended by HB25-1249, eff. Jan 1, 2026).
How exposed is Loveland to natural hazards?
FEMA's index puts the county at relatively moderate overall. A lender cares about the premium and any flood requirement, which are address-specific in Loveland.
Can I close a Loveland DSCR loan in an LLC?
Many Loveland investors do, though no rule forces it. The loan is secured by the property either way, and the lender will check who controls the company.