Tag Archives: commercial building loans

How to Obtain a Commercial Loan Despite Bad Credit

While commercial lending rates are up, there are still many individuals and businesses that are finding it difficult to obtain the commercial loan they need. Fortunately, there are lenders that offer greater flexibility.

In 2017, small banks approved 49 percent of funding requests—quite a jump from 2008 when about 80 percent of small business owners received a rejection. That still leaves over 50 percent that are not getting approved and you may have found yourself one of these. Don’t give up on your dreams. There are other lenders that you can turn to when banks say no.

Hard money lenders are one of these options. They are usually private lenders that base their loan qualification standards on the collateral or assets of the property or business. While most banks require credit scores in the 700 range, private hard money lenders do not have these strict qualifications. They will want to know what your plan is for the business or property and what your exit strategy is. After all, this is how they will receive their capital as most offer interest-only payments for a set amount of time. These lenders offer short-term loans with terms that usually extend from 3 months to 3 years. Because they approve loans that have been declined by traditional lenders, there is usually an increase in risk and, therefore, a higher percentage rate often applies to the commercial loan.

These types of loans are helpful for young or new entrepreneurs who may not have the credit score required by traditional lenders. If you have a high-risk, high-return business strategy, a hard money lender may very well have the capital you seek. Many of these types of lenders are not risk adverse. In fact, if you can get them excited about your proposed business plan, have the necessary collateral, and some experience in your chosen segment, chances are good that you will leave with a loan. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all the required assets must come from the proposed business. Many individuals start their own business by using the collateral that has been established in their home or other investment properties.

What are Possible Exit Strategies in a Hard Money Commercial Loan?

Your exit strategy is an important part of obtaining this type of loan and one that you will want to consider before interviewing potential lenders. Here are a few of the strategies that businesses use: they sell the property or refinance with a more traditional lender after a property has been renovated or a business is showing a profit. Self-amortizing can also be considered, though it is a little risky. While most hard money lenders allow you to pay interest-only payments while you are developing your business or property, you may want to consider paying both principal and interest during the full duration of your loan so that it is paid off upon maturity. You will need to determine just how you will create this cash flow in order to be able to make the scheduled payments.

At Level 4 Funding, we offer hard money commercial loans that are quick to funding and require little paper work.

We offer three simple steps to obtaining your loan: a loan application, purchase contract and written approval, all of which can be accomplished in as little as 24 hours. Call us today to see if we may just be the lender that can make your dreams come true.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701
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About the Author:  Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

How to evaluate Commercial Real Estate Loans

There are many commercial real estate loan companies. How do you tell the good from the bad and the ugly?

Commercial real estate loan rates were ridiculously low until recently when rates started moving up. The ten-year government note has moved from 1.44% on January 1, 2018 to over 2.85% on Friday, January 9, 2018, with projections up to over 3%, 3.5% and 4% in the next 60 days. You most likely will not see current rates this low again in your lifetime. Commercial loans are at these low rates because commercial real estate loan companies are sitting on an ocean of cash, nearly $2 trillion dollars. Commercial investors still feel hesitant, however, to overextend with loans from the shock they experienced by the recession of 2008.

So just which commercial loan is best for you? A life Insurance company, a conduit, a credit union, an SBA lender, a commercial bank, a USDA Business and industries lender or even a hard money commercial lender? A life insurance company offers the most attractive commercial interest rates that are only 0.35% to 0.50% higher than the prime residential mortgage rates. Be aware, few life insurance companies will touch commercial projects smaller than $5 million. The project must be very standard and cannot be older than 20 years.

The next avenue which is available is a CMBS where commercial real estate loan rates are 50 to 65 basis points over the prime residential mortgage rate. For projects between $3 to $5 million and up, a conduit may be an appropriate choice for you. They will also finance older properties. For projects with good credit principals, banks and credit unions may be a good option. The rates run typically 0.75% to 1.50% over prime, 30 residential mortgage rates.

SBA and USDA Loans

SBA, if you qualify, should be considered first. The standard 7a SBA loan is 2.75% over prime floating. With the SBA you can quality for a 90% loan-to-value and the loan is fully amortized over 25 years. You must have a credit score of 700-plus and financials for the last several years. The USDA loan is less attractive. The loans are made through banks and guaranteed by the USDA and they are similar to SBA loans–2.75% over floating prime and fully amortized over 25 years. These properties must be located in eligible rural areas in order to qualify.

Although an effort has been made to quote current rates, this is a fluid market and, as pointed out, rates have increased since the first of the year and are fluctuating.

Once underwritten, residential mortgage companies can sell the mortgage to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The illiquidity of the commercial market, since they do not have an agency to sell their underwritten mortgages to and these types of loans are seen as higher risk, results in commercial mortgages 0.35% to 1.50% higher. Before applying, you need to get all your ducks in a row including property type, projected cash flow, age of property and projected operating expenses. For many real estate investors who require quick capital for their next project, a hard money loan is the answer. Call us at Level 4 Funding for a no-obligation quote.

Dennis Dahlberg
Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701
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About the Author:  Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage

Commercial Building Loans: Understanding the process

250px_callCenter3Commercial building loans are highly nuanced, with unique loan structures, underwriting standards and complex closing procedures. Learn about some of the challenges involved in acquiring a commercial building loan.

Most construction loans come from local or regional banks. These groups have greater knowledge of market conditions and often have a better understanding of each project potential. There are some specialty lenders, national banks and life insurance companies that offer construction loans, but in these cases borrowers may find it difficult to qualify. Construction loans are considered risky by many lenders and larger groups may be unwilling to underwrite these loans for the majority of borrowers.

Construction loans are usually issued in two parts, both to finance the cost of development and provide the borrower with a long term mortgage. The first short term part of these a construction loan pays for a projects construction and lease out phase. The longer term loan pays off the short term loan and is issued once the project reaches a specific point, either in terms of occupancy or in terms of income generated. Some construction lenders combine these two types of financing, in a form called mini-perm loans. The long term portion of these loans is given for a shorter period. This helps the lender evaluate a projects performance before the borrower can refinance to a long term mortgage.

The underwriting process for a construction loan is unique. New developments do not have a financial history for a lender to evaluate. The lenders understanding of the projects potential comes entirely from the borrowers assumptions. This means before any construction loan is approved lenders will closely scrutinize the experience of the developer, the contractors involved and the prevailing market conditions. Borrowers will need to provide detailed tax returns, financial statements, details about their outstanding debt obligations and above all a detailed pro forma. This document should detail specifically how the construction loan will be used, come with detailed cost estimates and explain any assumptions about a projects potential income. These documents will take some time for the lender to review, but if a construction is approved the lender will issue a binding commitment letter which outlines the terms of the loan in specific detail.

Even after a commercial building loan is approved, closing is a complex process.

On both sides of the agreement, both borrower and lender will likely need to rely on legal experts in order to sort through the procedures and to gather the documentation needed for a construction loan to finally close. In many cases commitment letters also come with a “closing checklist,” which details specific steps the borrower must take before any funds can be dispersed.

Further steps are needed to secure funding even after a commercial building loan closes.

Construction loans are distributed in “waves of funding.” The full loan amount is not received up front. The first wave of initial funding is meant to cover the initial costs needed to get the project off the ground. Further funds are distributed on a monthly basis to cover the regular costs of construction. However should a borrower encounter any unexpected expenses during this time they must submit a “draw request” to their lender. These costs must be approved and verified by the lender before any additional funds can be dispersed.

Navigating the process of securing a construction loan can be complex. Borrowers should seek out local banks, expect a lengthy approval process and expect further complications even after the loan closes.

Broker/RI/CEO/MLO
Level 4 Funding LLC  Private Hard Money Lender
Arizona Tel:  (623) 582-4444
Texas Tel:      (512) 516-1177
Dennis@level4funding.com NMLS 1057378 | AZMB 0923961 | MLO 1057378
22601 N 19th Ave Suite 112 | Phoenix | AZ | 85027
111 Congress Ave |Austin | Texas | 78701
clip_image002clip_image004clip_image006clip_image008
About the Author:  Dennis has been working in the real estate industry in some capacity for the last 40 years. He purchased his first property when he was just 18 years old. He quickly learned about the amazing investment opportunities provided by trust deed investing and hard money loans. His desire to help others make money in real estate investing led him to specialize in alternative funding for real estate investors who may have trouble getting a traditional bank loan. Dennis is passionate about alternative funding sources and sharing his knowledge with others to help make their dreams come true. Dennis has been married to his wonderful wife for 42 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters 5 amazing grandchildren. Dennis has been an Arizona resident for the past 40 years.

Technorati Tags: commercial loans,commercial lending,commercial mortgage