5 Steps To Get A Commercial Loan - How to Get a Commercial Loan
Step 1: Identify a Property and Put it Under ContractStep 2: Prepare your Financial PackageStep 3: Submit Financial Package for a QuoteStep 4: Choose a Loan ProductStep 5: Due Diligence & ClosingMany new commercial borrowers are familiar with the process for obtaining a home loan—you find a lender or loan officer, submit income and tax documentation, present property information, and after a bit of back and forth, hopefully obtain the loan approval. However, the commercial lending process is substantially different. If you require a commercial real estate loan it is important that you have an in-depth understanding of the process. In this guide, we will review ...
How to Start Investing in Commercial Real Estate
There are many people from all walks of life that are commercial real estate investors—small business owners, corporate executives, professional service providers, entrepreneurs, and professional investors. With the right preparation and understanding, commercial real estate (CRE) is the perfect asset for an investor to earn passive income while owning an appreciating asset. However, commercial real estate is not without its risks, so it’s important that any potential investor understands what they’re getting themselves into. Here are 5 steps to follow in order to jump into the commercial real estate investment game safely:It’s important to set an affordable budget for the property (...
5 Steps to Invest in an Opportunity Zone
In order to avoid paying Uncle Sam on the profit you made on that stock portfolio, property, or other investment that would have usually triggered the capital gains tax (currently up to 20%), you can re-invest that money into an investment property in a designated Opportunity Zone in order to defer, decrease, or even eliminate it (depending on how long you hold the property). Created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017 and officially designated in 2018, Opportunity Zones are areas that have been identified as “economically distressed” and in need fresh investment money in order to breathe new life into the community. They are designed to spur economic development by providing tax benefi...
What is a Treasury Swap Rate?
The US Treasury Swaps work just like any other interest rate swap, but are pegged to the US Treasuries rather than another index (i. e. LIBOR). The Treasury contract would be an agreement between two separate parties to exchange one stream of payments (i. e. treasury bill) for another over a set period of time. The parties to a typical swap contract are 1) a business, financial institution or investor on one side and 2) an investment or commercial bank on the other side. Interest rate swaps, including treasury swaps, can be used for many disparate purposes. Businesses can convert their debt on floating interest rates to fixed interest rates or investors may speculate on the long-term interes...
What is a Treasury Rate (Yield)?
The US Treasury Yield (also referred to as the Treasury Yield Curve Rates, Constant Maturity Treasury Rates, or CMTs) are calculated by the US Department of the Treasury from the daily yield curve. These rates are essentially the return an investor would receive from the purchase of a US government debt obligation (i. e. a bill, note or bond); it is the interest rate that the government pays to the investors in order to borrow money for different lengths of time (i. e. 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months for short terms and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, and 30 years for longer terms). [Insert Current Treasury Rates Here]The treasury rate curve is plotted on an x and y axis and shows several y...
Interest Rate Swaps & How to Use Them
A bank may suggest that a borrower use an interest rate swap (IRS) in conjunction with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) instead of a traditional ARM or fixed-rate commercial real estate loan product when interest rates are low but expected to rise in the future. This hedges future interest rate risk and can have certain advantages over typical fixed rate mortgage products. Typically borrowers will choose a swap rather than a typical ARM or fixed rate portfolio loan for the following reasons:To get a lower all-in interest rate and paymentsTo protect against future interest rate increasesTo lessen or eliminate potential prepayment penalties A swap is a type of interest rate derivative (IRD) t...
Fannie Mae Apartment Loans
For those of you who are getting familiar with Fannie Mae Loans, this program offers federally guaranteed mortgages and is one of the largest multi-family loan programs in the country. There are both fixed and variable products available for all property types and are offered nationwide. Properties that fall under the Fannie Mae category are apartments, affordable housing, senior housing, student housing and manufactured housing. There are two major Fannie Mae loan programs in which the majority of products fall under. These loan products are called The Standard DUS Mortgage Product and the Small Loan Programs. The Standard DUS Mortgage Program is best used for the purchase or refinance of e...
FHA Apartment Loans
FHA stands for the Federal Housing Administration. It is a federally guaranteed mortgage program under the Government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD. FHA loans can be used for the purchase, refinance, construction or substantial rehabilitation of either multifamily or healthcare properties. There are 3 major FHA programs available for the Borrower to choose from. These 3 programs are the Multi-Family Program, Healthcare Program and Special Needs Program. Property types eligible for FHA financing are–Affordable Housing, Apartments, Hospitals and Senior Housing or Skilled Nursing Facilities. FHA’s Multi-family program has a wide array of products avail...
CMBS Commercial Loans
CMBS loans can be used for the purchase or refinance for Commercial Real Estate properties, including Hotels, Industrial, Office, Multi-family, Medical, Mixed-Use, Retail, and Self-StorageLike all the other loans we offer at CLD, this type of loan is secured by a first-position mortgage on a commercial real estate property and is particularly popular among commercial real estate investors seeking non-recourse loans. Although conduit lenders have reverted back more prudent credit decisions that mitigate risk of default, CMBS loans have more flexible underwriting guidelines than conventional or agency loans. This means that Commercial Real Estate Investors that cannot meet the more stringent c...
Conventional Commercial Loans
Commercial loans can take 2 different forms – owner-occupied mortgages and investment mortgages. When the collateral is owner-occupied, the property’s sponsor(s) use over 50% of the building’s useable square footage for their personal businesses. Any other use makes the collateral investment property. It is important to note that in order to securitize a commercial loan properly Commercial properties must be zoned appropriately. Conventional commercial loans are mortgages backed by commercial real estate that are provided by a lending institution such as banks, credit unions, savings and thrift institutions, life insurance companies, hedge funds, pension funds, private financial instit...
Bridge Loans
Bridge financing gives owners the flexibility they need to reposition and stabilize commercial real estate properties. It is important to note that Bridge loans usually call for a clear exit strategy upon the loan’s term completion. Property types that fall under the Bridge Loan Program are as follows: apartments, industrial, medical, mixed use, office, retail, as well as self-storage. Max LTV can go up to 90%. Term length ranges from 12-36 months. Amortization is interest only, self-amortizing or a combination of the two. Debt Service Coverage Ratio requirements vary widely depending on the program and can usually range from sub 1 to 1. 6 times. Bridge loans are can be recourse and non-re...
USDA Commercial Loans
USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA helps create jobs and stimulates rural economies by providing financial backing for rural businesses and properties. Its primary purpose is to create and maintain employment and improve the economic climate in rural communities. USDA Loan proceeds may be used for working capital, machinery, and equipment, real estate, and certain types of debt refinancing. This is achieved by expanding the lending capability of lenders in rural areas and helping them service quality loans that provide lasting community benefits. Properties that fall under USDA loans are as follows: apartments, hotels, industrial, medical, mixed use, office, re...
Construction Commercial Loans
Commercial Loan Direct offers conventional construction loans for commercial real estate properties, SBA-504 companion mortgages for transactions that are approved via the Small Business Administration, and FHA loans for apartment complexes construction. Property types eligible for construction financing are as follows: industrial, medical, mixed use, multifamily, office, retail, as well as self-storage. LTVs can go up to 75% through a conventional program but sometimes can go a little higher by obtaining an exception, 90% Loan to cost can be achieved through HUD’s FHA program for multifamily construction, and 90% with the SBA 504 program for owner occupied properties. Term lengths usually...
Freddie Mac Small Balance Program
The Small Balance Program is for the acquisition or refinance of small balance loans providing liquidity, stability, and certainty of execution to the affordable rental housing market nationwide. Key Benefits of the Freddie Mac Small Balance Program are as follows. Financing of small balance loans using hybrid ARM or fixed-rate mortgage products, offering partial-term and full-term interest-only, A Streamlined processes during pricing, underwriting, closing and funding as well as Competitive pricing and Streamlined loan documentsProperty types eligible are as follows:Conventional multifamily housing with five residential units or more, including conventional housing with tax abatements and S...
What is a Freddie Mac Apartment Loan?
Freddie Mac Apartment Loans The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac” or FHLMC) has multifamily mortgage products available for conventional (“market-rate”) properties, seniors housing, student housing, cooperative and targeted affordable housing. Through it’s various programs, Freddie Mac offers mortgages to experienced multifamily investors that focus on low- to median-income tenants. Like CMBS and Fannie Mae loans, these mortgages are pooled, securitized, and sold to investors. Freddie Mac loans are priced based on the corresponding treasury and a spread, which takes into account the loan amount, term, LTV, and property location. Pricing consideration...
CMBS Loan Application Process
Getting an Application If you are in agreement regarding the rate that was quoted to you by the CMBS Lender, the next step is for them to issue you an application. Typically, in order to be issued an application, the following additional items are needed: 3 years historical operating statements on the property Annual budget for the current year Copy of the franchise agreement and any proposed PIP (if hospitality) Purchase price (if purchase) Cost basis (i. e. purchase price + capital improvements) and loan balance (if refinance) Requested loan amount, including schedule of sources and uses Keep in mind that some of these items may be reviewed during the underwriting period rather than ...
How Millennials Are Changing Commercial Real Estate: Office Vacancies (Pt. 2)
The millennial attitude toward work is very different than it was for Generation X or the Baby Boomers. While being extremely savvy with technology (we are the “Facebook” generation after all), millennials work to live, not live to work. Slaving away to prove our worth and escalate up the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 company for 40-50 years until we finally retire is not the goal of our generation (no offense, parents and grandparents! ). Instead we are a generation of efficiency, technology, creativity, and experiences. While we understand the necessity of working to make money and provide a sense of accomplishment, we value our personal lives substantially more than the generati...
How Millennials Are Changing Commercial Real Estate: Crowdfunding (Pt. 1)
Many members of the so-called “millennial” generation (1982-2004) entered into the job market during one of the most difficult times in US history—the Great Recession. Loaded with student debt, no savings, big dreams, and the skills learned during internships, we had to come out of school and try to make a living when most companies were not only not hiring, but letting go some of their most seasoned employees. This difficult economic environment paired with the technological savviness of our generation has combined to make a meaningful and unique contribution to the growth of commercial real estate, which has been long overdue. One of the most interesting ways this creativity has expr...
Risk Retention: Proposed Changes & Where Lenders Go From Here (Pt. 3)
Last year, some government officials began to realize the fallout that the original structure of the Securitization Safe Harbor Rule (i. e. risk retention) would have on the commercial real estate market. Because of that, some representatives started to look for a way to soften the original regulations while still protecting the public. On March 2nd of 2016, the House Financial Service Committee proposed an amendment called the Access to CRE Capital Act (meant to ease some of the original restrictions) that is supposed to be put up for consideration in the House and Senate this year. Let’s take a look at how this bill could change the current structure. This bill aims to enable more...
How Risk Retention Affects Lenders, Borrowers, & Bond Investors (Pt. 2)
Since its inception, CMBS lending has been the go-to mortgage product for larger properties with sponsors that want non-recourse financing with high leverage, low interest rates, and lenient underwriting. However, since the market collapse in 2007 and the passage of the Dodd-Frank “Risk Retention”, things have changed. Although still more permissive than conventional or insurance products, CMBS underwriting standards have become more stringent, leverage points have been lowered, and interest rates can fluctuate greatly depending on treasury indexes and bond investor demands. Historically, one of the biggest benefits to being a CMBS lender is having the money that is loaned to the real e...
What is Risk Retention under Dodd-Frank? (Pt. 1)
Anyone who works in or around commercial real estate has probably heard the words “risk retention” at some point, however many people may not fully understand what it is or how it may affect them personally. In order to understand what risk retention is, we have to take a look at where this term actually comes from. After the market collapsed in 2007, a lot of people lost A LOT of money, including retirees that got completely wiped out from what they were supposed to be living on for the rest of their lives. Needless to say, people were very upset, and demanded that the government do something to protect them from anything like this ever happening again. That’s where the Dodd-Frank W...
What is a Fannie Mae Apartment Loan
A The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or “Fannie Mae”) mortgage is an adjustable or fixed-rate loan product available for various types of multifamily properties. The underwriting and application process is standardized and performed by Delegated Underwriting and Services (DUS) lenders. Through it’s two major programs (Small Loan Program and DUS Program), Fannie offers multifamily mortgages starting at $750, 000. Like CMBS mortgages, these loans are pooled, securitized, and sold to investors, but typically serviced by the originator. Fannie Mae loans are priced based on the corresponding treasury and a spread, which takes into account the loan amount, term, L...
Fannie Mae Apartment Loan Application Process
A Fannie Mae (“Fannie Mae” or FNMA) mortgage is a loan product for apartment buildings with 5+ units. These loans can be fixed or floating and are generally non-recourse. It is a great product for various multifamily property types, including conventional apartments, affordable housing, senior housing, student housing, cooperative housing, and manufactured housing. It can also be used for mixed-use buildings where the other commercial units make up 20% or less of the gross income. Fannie Mae loans are only available for experienced multifamily investor/managers. The following are typical loan features of a Fannie Mae mortgage, but are subject to change depending on market condi...
Freddie Mac Apartment Loan Application Process
A Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac” or FHLMC) mortgage is a non-recourse loan product for multifamily properties with 5+ units. These loans can be fixed, floating, or a hybrid of both, with interest-only periods available. It is for various multifamily property types, including conventional apartments, affordable housing (tax-exempt and taxable), seniors housing, student housing, cooperative housing, and manufactured housing. Freddie Mac loans are only available for experienced multifamily investor/managers. The Freddie Mac due diligence and closing process is very similar to the Fannie Mae and CMBS processes since all three have loans that are poo...
5 Reasons Your Commercial Mortgage Rate Could Go Up Before Closing
For both new and experienced investors, the commercial loan diligence and closing process can be stressful, and the last thing any borrower wants to think about is their interest rate increasing between submitting their loan application and closing. However, there are several factors that can lead to an interest rate change before the loan closes, which can not only affect investor returns, but potentially down payments if the change is drastic enough. The 5 most common reasons an interest rate increase can happen are the following:One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from interest rate increases is to lock the interest rate before closing. Locks (if available) can freeze the rate for...
How to Prepare a Financial Package For a Commercial Loan
*Not all Lenders or loan programs are created equal and each program has it’s own specific guidelines. This is a general list of the items you should start to prepare although additional loan information may be requested, depending on the loan program that you select:3 years of federal business tax returns, including all statements (operating statements if the previous year is not yet filed or on extension)Year-to-date business operating statementsCurrent business balance sheet, including current debt schedule3 years of personal tax returns (W-2 if last year is on extension)Personal Financial StatementFor refinance – current loan payoff including any prepay penaltyFor purchase – execut...
How to Prepare a Financial Package for a Commercial Construction Loan
Keep in mind that each Lender has it’s own specific guidelines and that commercial construction loans take quite a bit of diligence before they are approved. This is only meant to be a general list of the items you should consider preparing in advance of contacting Lenders for an investment construction loan*:Project Executive Summary, including schedule of Sources & UsesStatus of entitlements and permits (regulatory letters, if available)Resumes for Architect, General ContractorAIA bid submission, if availableFeasibility/market studyMarketing planList of all Sponsors (including spouses) with at least 10% ownership in the propertyPersonal financial statement (PFS), including a schedule of ...
What is an FHA Apartment Loan under HUD?
In addition to its healthcare and special needs programs, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) branch of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers government guarantees on various types of multifamily mortgages through its Office of Multifamily Housing Programs. These loans are available for conventional apartments, low-income housing, manufactured housing communities, cooperative housing, and seniors housing. This type of loan is only for very seasoned commercial real estate investor/owners because of the extensive paperwork, reporting, reserves, and experience requirements. * Although $1 million is technically the minimum some lenders will underwrite at,...
5 Ways Commercial Real Estate is Different Than Residential
Commercial and residential real estate differ in many ways, which is why it can sometimes be difficult for a residential investor to transition into the commercial arena without professional assistance. These are just some of the ways residential and commercial properties differ:1. Property Occupancy. Residential real estate is a single-family home or building with 4 residential units or less (i. e. duplex, triplex, 4-plex) that has individual(s) or family(ies) as tenants. A commercial property is any property that has commercial businesses as tenants or a multifamily complex with 5 or more units. Both a residential and a commercial property will be zoned accordingly with the county it i...
Why Lenders Should Stop Re Trading Borrowers
After working in both commercial real estate lending and investing for the past ten years, I can say two things with absolute certainty concerning commercial real estate loans: 1) Lenders re-trade Borrowers far more often than they should on the loan terms they put out on their initial term sheet 2) there’s almost nothing that angers a Borrower more than being re-traded (or worse having their loan denied) because an underwriting item wasn’t taken into consideration on the front end. Any experienced commercial real estate investor has probably had this happen to them at least once, if not multiple times. It can end up costing the Borrower a lot of wasted time, money, and en...
What is a CMBS Loan?
A Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS or conduit) mortgage is a fixed-rate, non-recourse loan product that uses flexible underwriting standards and larger commercial real estate properties as collateral. Several of these mortgages are pooled together, securitized into bonds, and sold to investors. However, this doesn’t affect the borrower; the loan is serviced similarly to any other loan product. The financial institution that offers the loans to borrowers will initially fund the loans with its own money at closing, then pool the loans together and securitize them (i. e. turn them into bonds). The rating agencies (i. e. Moody’s, Fitch, Kroll, S&P, DBRS, and Morningstar) then ...
5 Mistakes First-Time Commercial Real Estate Investors Make
Commercial Real Estate is unlike any other investment because it is a real asset that can be affected by not only the real estate market, but also the greater financial markets, changes in consumer habits, employment, and other seemingly unrelated factors. That is why it is one of the most complex investments to make for those that are new or unfamiliar with the industry. Here are some of the most common CRE newbie pitfalls:There are many reasons a property might be the “wrong” property for a first-time investor. Some of the most common reasons (although non-exclusive) are the following:The wrong location. Maybe the property:is too far from the buyer’s primary residence for proper ov...
FHA Apartment Loan Application Process
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Division of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers government-insured loans for multifamily properties with experienced (and patient! ) investor/owners. It also offers loans for healthcare facilities (i. e. hospitals and residential care facilities) as well as special needs facilities for the elderly or disabled. Although FHA apartment loans have longer closing times and higher fees than any other mainstream multifamily product, this is a strong go-to product for long-term investors with large loan requests because of the long fixed term and amortization, non-recourse structure, low interest rates, and high leverage point...
