I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

A 10-year interest only, for example, is going to have a fixed rate for 10 years and you will not make principal payments during that period.

If his opposing principal backed out of a deal because they had received a better offer or any other reason not considered “legit” by Mr Helmsley he would NEVER do business with them again.  

I am both the principal and the agent.

I strongly believe that with time, as you build equity (thru principal pay down) and appreciation, that value will far outweigh the amount that you are “in the red" by your househack not being able to cover the entire PITI cost.And if you have a good househack, your housing costs should be lower than what you would be paying for rent

That means when we sold or refinanced the property, the investor would get their principal back plus interest.One important thing to note: I only paid interest for the time that I had the loan.

Listening to one of Brandon Turner's books and he mentions this (https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/plan-to-make-a-million)My question is how do you calculate your loan paydown for the principal and how much equity you've built up?

"UPB" stands for 'unpaid principal balance' which refers to the outstanding principal still due on the loan. 

Have any of the principals lost money in other deals? 

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).