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Fannie Mae Multifamily

DUS loan sizing across all 5 program tiers with debt yield, cap rate, cash-on-cash, break-even occupancy, and balloon balance at maturity.

Standard DUS:Stabilized properties, $3M+ loan. Non-recourse, 5+ units.
Max LTV80%Min DSCR1.25×Min Phys Occ85%Min Econ Occ80%

Property & Loan Terms

$175,000 per unit

Fannie Mae multifamily requires a minimum of 5 residential units.

Fannie DUS allows up to 30-year amortization. Loan is typically a balloon.

DSCR is still calculated on the fully amortizing payment per Form 4660.

Fannie requires 85% min physical occupancy for 90 days prior to closing. Small Loan tier (≤$9M) requires 90%.

Income

$1,500/unit/month

Laundry, parking, pet fees, RUBS, late fees, application fees, storage. No non-recurring items.

Fannie typically underwrites at 5% minimum. Higher for weaker markets — also accounts for collection loss + concessions.

Operating Expenses

Annual costs to run the property — before debt service and replacement reserves.

Property, liability, umbrella.

Typically 4–8% of Effective Gross Income.

Day-to-day upkeep, unit turnover costs.

Water, sewer, trash, common-area electric, gas.

Maintenance techs, leasing agents, on-site manager.

Advertising, legal, accounting, office supplies.

Landscaping, pest control, elevator, security.

Miscellaneous or non-recurring items.

Total Operating Expenses$144,000

Expense ratio: 40.7% of EGI

Fannie agency standard is $250–$300/unit/year based on the PCA. Older properties (pre-2000) often require $300–$500. NCF (the Fannie sizing input) = NOI minus reserves.

Total: $6,000/yr ($300/unit)

Lender fees, title, escrow, legal, appraisal, environmental, PCA. Fannie DUS app deposit ~$20.5K + $3K processing. Typical range 1.5–3% of loan.

Fannie Eligibility Check

Fannie Requirement
Loan-to-Value66.4%Max allowed: 80%
Debt Service Coverage1.25×Min required: 1.25×
Physical Occupancy93%Min required: 85% for 90 days
Economic Occupancy95.0%Min required: 80%
Property meets all Fannie Mae eligibility thresholds.

Loan Sizing

Fannie Requirement
Max by LTV$2,800,00080% × $3,500,000
Max by DSCR$2,323,617NCF ÷ 1.25×
Maximum Loan AmountConstrained by DSCR
$2,323,617
$13,560.00/mo (amortizing)
Down Payment$1,176,38333.6% of price
Closing Costs$58,0902.50% of loan
Total Cash to Close$1,234,473 

Income & Cash Flow

Fannie Requirement
Gross Potential Income$372,000
Less: Vacancy & Loss (5%)($18,600)
= Effective Gross Income (EGI)$353,400
Less: Total Operating Expenses($144,000)
= Net Operating Income (NOI)$209,400
Less: Replacement Reserves ($300/unit)($6,000)
= Net Cash Flow (NCF)$203,400
Less: Annual Debt Service($162,720)
= Before-Tax Cash Flow$40,680
Note: Fannie Mae sizes loans on NCF (NOI minus reserves), not just NOI. DSCR is calculated using the fully amortizing debt service regardless of any I/O period.

Investment Metrics

Investor Analysis

These are for your own investment analysis — they are not Fannie Mae underwriting requirements.

Cap Rate?Capitalization rate — unlevered return. Higher = better yield relative to price. Typical multifamily: 4–7%.5.98%NOI ÷ Price
Cash-on-Cash?Levered return on cash actually invested. Negative means the property does not cash-flow after debt service.3.30%BTCF ÷ Cash In
Debt Yield?Lender risk metric. Many agency lenders want 7–8% minimum. Lower = higher lender risk.8.75%NCF ÷ Loan
Break-Even Occ?Occupancy needed to cover all expenses + reserves + debt service. Below 85% is generally healthy.84.1%(Exp + Res + DS) ÷ GPI
GRM?Gross Rent Multiplier — quick valuation metric. Lower is potentially better value. Doesn't account for expenses.9.72×Price ÷ Gross Rent
Expense Ratio?Percentage of effective income consumed by operating expenses. Typical multifamily: 35–55%. Above 55% warrants investigation.40.7%Expenses ÷ EGI
Balloon Balance at Year 10?Because the loan term is shorter than amortization, a large balance remains at maturity. You'll refinance, sell, or pay off this amount. Standard for agency multifamily.$1,931,39483.1% of original loan remaining — refi, sell, or pay off

Below Program Minimum

The sized loan ($2,323,617) is below this program's minimum of $3,000,000. Try a smaller-loan tier (Small Loan, Green Rewards) or a higher-priced / higher-rent property.

Frequently asked

About this calculator.

What is a Fannie Mae DUS loan?

DUS = Delegated Underwriting and Servicing. The most common multifamily financing program in the country. Non-recourse (no personal guarantee), 5+ unit residential properties only, fixed and floating rates, 5–30-year terms, 30-year amortization. Underwritten by approved DUS lenders, sold to Fannie Mae after closing.

What's the difference between Standard DUS and Small Loan?

Standard DUS: $3M+ loan size, more rigorous underwriting, full property-condition assessment. Small Loan: $750K–$9M, streamlined process, no personal tax-return verification required. Same loan structure underneath — just different document load and processing tier.

How does the calculator size the loan?

Two caps run in parallel: (1) LTV cap = purchase price × max LTV for the program (typically 80%, 85% for Green Plus); (2) DSCR cap = NCF / minimum DSCR back-solved into max debt service. The lesser of the two becomes the max loan, and the result above tells you which one is binding.

Why is there a balloon balance?

DUS loans are typically 5–10-year terms with 30-year amortization. At maturity, a large balance remains because the loan didn't fully amortize over the term. You refinance, sell, or pay it off. This is standard for agency multifamily — a feature, not a bug — because the rate stays competitive over a shorter term.

What is "debt yield" and why does it matter?

Debt yield = NCF ÷ loan amount. It's the lender's "what would I yield if I had to take this property back" metric. Most agency lenders want 7%+ today, with 8%+ preferred. Higher debt yield = better deal in lender eyes, often unlocks better pricing.

Multifamily acquisition or refi

DUS quotes in 48 hours.

Send the rent roll, T-12, and offering memorandum — we\u2019ll come back with sized DUS quotes from multiple lenders. No upfront fees, no app pull required.

Prefer to talk first? Call (305) 703-9001