How to Get a Commercial Real Estate Loan: What Do Lenders Consider?

How to Get a Commercial Real Estate Loan:

What Do Lenders Consider?

Purchasing commercial property to either set up a new facility–a store, office, warehouse, etc.—or to expand an existing one is often a major commitment for a small business, one that is usually financed by a commercial real estate loan.

Your business’s access to this kind of loan, which in some respects resembles a residential mortgage, depends on several factors that vary according to the loan source . The Small Business Administration (SBA) has programs that guarantee commercial real estate loans.

What Do Lenders Look For?

How to Prepare for the Application Process

Where to Get a Commercial Real Estate Loan

What Do Lenders Look For?

Lenders have three sets of requirements before granting a commercial real estate loan to your small business. These requirements pertain to your business’s finances, your personal finances, and the property’s characteristics:

Business Finances

Typically, commercial real estate loans require more scrutiny than residential mortgages, as small businesses are risky and many don’t succeed. Banks and commercial lenders will need to look over your books to verify that your business has the cash flow necessary to repay the loan.

A lender is likely to calculate your company’s debt service coverage ratio, which is defined as your annual net operating income (NOI) divided by your annual total debt service—the amount you’ll have to spend paying back principal and interest on your debt. A ratio of 1.25 or greater is a typical requirement. For example, if your business is debt-free and applies for a $100,000 commercial real estate loan, the lender will want to see that you generate a NOI of at least $125,000.

The lender will also check your business’s credit score to gauge your access to a loan and the terms–interest rate, payback period, down payment requirement–that will apply. The minimum required FICO SBSS credit score is about 140 (the minimum for an SBA pre-screen), although there are plenty of exceptions in both directions.

Your small business should be structured as a limited liability entity, such as an LLC, LP, S, or C corporation. A real estate loan to a sole proprietorship would be considered personal rather than commercial, and would put your personal wealth at risk in the case of default.

Personal Finances

Small companies are usually controlled by an owner or a few partners. Banks and commercial lenders will want to check your personal credit score and history to see if you have had financial problems in the past, such as defaults, foreclosures, tax liens, court judgments and more. A low personal credit score could harm your company's chance of approval.

Property Characteristics

The property being financed by the loan acts as collateral, and the lender attaches a lien to the property that allows seizure if you fail to repay on time. To qualify for a commercial real estate loan, your small business will usually be required to occupy at least 51% of the building. Otherwise, you should be applying for an investment property loan instead, which are appropriate for rental properties. Hard-money lenders typically base loans exclusively on property value with little reference to borrower creditworthiness.

The property can be a commercial building, a storefront, a facility like a warehouse or lab, or other commercial property. Single family residences don’t qualify, although a multi-family property might if you run your business out of it and the business occupies at least 51% of the property.

A lender will, generally, let you borrow up to a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, typically around 65% to 75%, meaning that your company must put up the remainder as a down payment. For example, if the property is appraised at $200,000 and the lender requires a 70% LTV, you’ll be expected to put down $60,000 to receive a loan of $140,000.

How to Prepare for the Application Process

The application process for a bank loan can be slow and require much documentation. At the other extreme, you might be able to secure a hard-money loan in days without producing copious financial information.

In general, banks and commercial lenders will want to see:

• Up to five years of tax returns.
• Your books, records and financial reports for up to the last five years or for the since inception, whichever is shorter. Will include off-balance-sheet financing such as leases.
• Projected cash flows for the life of the loan.
• The credit reports of the business and all owners/partners.Your state certification as a corporation or limited liability entity.
• A third-party appraisal of the property.
• A business plan that explains how the property will be used, as well as an explanation of the company’s management expertise and commitment.
• For some programs, proof of citizenship.

On the other hand, a hard-money lender will concentrate on the current and projected value of the property, with fewer requirements for other financial disclosures.

It can be harder for borrowers with poor credit or new businesses to access a commercial real estate loan, and even if available, finding one at a reasonable interest rate.

A lender might need to reduce the maximum LTV it will offer, insist on credit score improvement, and/or demand additional collateral. Some steps you can take to overcome these obstacles include:

• Applying for an SBA 504 or 7(a) loan if you meet the agency requirements.
• Securing community grants if available.
• Paying off existing debt and taking other steps to improve your credit score.
• Adding a deep-pocket partner, investor or co-signer.
• Pledging additional collateral if you have it.
• Using a loan source that has fewer obstacles, such as a hard-money or peer-to-peer (P2P) lender.
• Agreeing to pay a larger down payment and/or higher interest rate.
• Selecting a less expensive property.

Where to Get a Commercial Real Estate Loan?