Most investors rely on commercial real estate loans to finance the purchase of a business property or to renovate commercial property. Commercial lenders provide a variety of different loan options, but most have similar requirements for approval.
It’s important to understand the differences in fees, interest rates, and terms for commercial loans as opposed to residential or personal loans.
While each commercial lending option is slightly different, most rely on the same requirements in order to determine whether a business entity can qualify for funding.
Only profit-producing properties, such as office buildings or storefronts, are qualified real estate purchases for a commercial mortgage. Traditional lenders may approve you for a commercial loan on a primary residence only if it is also used as a rental.
Properties must be assessed by a qualified appraiser. There are three main ways that this is assessed: sales approach, cost approach, and income approach.
The sales approach compares the property to three comparative properties that were sold in the last year based on factors like number of bedrooms and bathrooms. The property’s value is moved up or down depending on these factors to develop an adjusted price.
Cost approach identifies the cost of building an identical property using this formula: cost - depreciation + land value = property value. Depreciation can include things like updating a building to improve the layout or reduced property values due to external factors.
Income approach, also known as the income capitalization approach, divides the net operating income (NOI) by the capitalization rate. There is an inverse relationship between the cap rate and the estimated value, meaning that lowering capitalization increases cost.
For example, if you have a property with an NOI of $50,000 and a cap rate of 8%, the property is valued at $625,000.
A commercial real estate lender relies on appraisals to ensure that they are not providing you with a loan higher than the actual worth of the property.
When you get a commercial real estate loan, you will need to provide proof of your personal income or your business finances through business bank statements, business tax returns, and credit reports.
Commercial mortgages require information about your debt-to-income ratio during the application process, while other loan types only need a credit score.
Whether you get a commercial mortgage or an investment-specific product like a DSCR loan, you will need to prove the debt service coverage ratio, which divides the rental income by the debt service to determine the property’s profitability.
This proves that your property will have adequate cash flow to pay its debts.
Loan to value (LTV) ratio refers to how much you are borrowing versus how much the property actually costs, and determines your down payment.
Typically, a commercial real estate lender wants a LTV of 75% or less, which would mean that you need to provide a 25% down payment. However, some will go as high as 85%.
Like other real estate transactions, you will need to pay a down payment. This is often higher for a commercial real estate loan because they are riskier for lenders. Closing costs are often higher as well. Budget for at least 25% of the purchase price to be paid upfront.
Financial institutions like commercial banks are generally the first choice for businesses needing a loan, but there are other lenders that investors can rely on as well. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and commercial loan rates can vary greatly between institutions.
In addition to residential mortgages, many banks and credit unions provide bank loans and conventional loans.
A bank loan doesn’t necessarily have to be used for commercial real estate. Many businesses may take out a bank loan when they have low cash flow or want to expand operations.
You can get short term loans for only three years or choose one with longer loan terms if you need to borrow a large sum for a real estate purchase.
Commercial conventional loans work like residential mortgages, though they are usually variable rate. You’ll make loan payments as you would with a traditional mortgage, though with a higher interest rate than a residential consumer.
Banks typically require a high credit score like 670 or more, and their processes can be very lengthy, as they are much more risk averse than other lenders. They may not be a good option if you need to close on a property within a short time frame.
An online lender can provide a larger variety of products than other commercial lenders, such as Debt Service Coverage Ratio loans.
DSCR loans rely primarily on the income-generating potential of the property rather than personal finances, making them a good choice for borrowers with unconventional income streams or who may not otherwise qualify for a loan.
Because these lenders use digital underwriting software, you can usually get a commercial real estate loan much faster through these avenues than through a traditional bank.
Though online business loan companies can be flexible, they sometimes impose penalties should you pay your loan early, so be sure you understand all the stipulations of the loan before signing anything.
Small investors often prefer a small business loan from the government, as they have low fixed-interest rates that help those with low funds expand.
However, they have a lengthy application process and strict regulations on who can apply. You must meet the standard definition for a small business or you’ll be denied.
Like with a loan from a bank or credit union, these aren’t a good option if you need to buy quickly, though they can be helpful if you’re not quite ready to purchase and want to have your funding lined up.
Getting a commercial real estate loan requires investigation into your business’s finances, your personal credit situation, and the state of the property. For any commercial loan, you’ll need these documents:
Real estate loans also require some specific information about the property in question, which includes these details:
When you apply, you’ll fill out the application with your personal and business information, then attach documentation as required. It can take several weeks to get approval depending on the type of loan you’re utilizing.
When you’re figuring out the loan process, you must understand that documentation is everything. Though not every lender will require all the documentation listed above, you should have as much available as possible. The more evidence you can provide to prove that you are a trustworthy borrower, the more likely you are to get approved.
Be sure to rehabilitate your personal and business credit before applying by improving your debt-to-income ratio, disputing anything misreported to the credit bureaus, and expanding your available credit through requesting credit limit increases.
Once you’ve lowered your DTI as much as possible, begin saving funds for a down payment. The more you can provide upfront, the more likely you are to be approved.
Like other loans, a commercial real estate loan can be used to purchase property, which is paid back over time through monthly payments. However, the requirements are higher, as are the interest rates and down payment expectations.
Many businesses rely on banks or the government to provide loans, but online lending companies have grown in popularity, given that they provide flexible terms and more loan products.
There are different factors at play for commercial loans as opposed to those for the average consumer, which includes the type of property being purchased, its profitability, and both your business’s and your personal financial status.
Lenders approve purchases based on creditworthiness, property attributes, and the property value. The approval process can be lengthy and complicated depending on who is financing your real estate.
Regardless of what lender you choose, work to improve your personal credit and your business’s financial status before applying. Keep your documentation carefully organized and prepare a dossier of all the information that your lender will require to streamline the process.
It is always better to have the documents available and not need them, as having to continually go back and forth with the lender regarding what documentation is required can greatly delay your approval.