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Business Financing And Residential Mortgage Loan Comparisons
Many residential real estate investors are exploring commercial real estate and business loan alternatives as a result of the increasingly chaotic investment environment for residential financing. There are more key differences between residential real estate investment and commercial real estate investment than realized by most borrowers.
Analyzing business finance choices can produce unexpected confusion, and this is particularly true for those who have only residential investment experience. By investing some time to review this and a few other key business financing and commercial mortgage articles, investors should achieve a less confusing and more productive outcome.
There are many critical differences between residential real estate investing and commercial real estate investing. There are over 25 business financing differences, and they will not all be addressed in this business finance article.
With the increasingly chaotic investment climate for residential financing in the United States, more residential real estate investors are exploring commercial real estate and business finance opportunities. It is important for prospective commercial property owners, business owners and business investors to educate themselves about options for the business loan and commercial mortgage environment they will be facing.
Personal Guarantors for Business Opportunity Financing and Commercial Loan -
Even though a business is held under corporate ownership, a personal guarantee from the principal owners is routinely required for a commercial mortgage or business loan. This also means that credit scores of the individual business owners will be used as one of the factors to qualify for a commercial loan. Typically a personal guarantee for a commercial loan is required for owners with over a 20% ownership interest.
Down Payment Requirements for Business Financing -
To purchase a business will typically require a business loan down payment varying from 10% to 25% (more in some cases). This amount will primarily vary according to credit scores, type of business, business experience of the borrower and whether business opportunity financing is required.
Stated Income Business Finance Possibilities -
Stated income business loan options will eliminate the need for a borrower to provide personal tax returns. However the stated income business finance approach will not eliminate the need to document income for the business being purchased or refinanced. Unlike residential financing, no documentation (no doc) loans are not available for a commercial mortgage.
Commercial Mortgage and Business Opportunity Financing: Size Limitations -
It is very difficult to obtain a commercial mortgage less than $100,000. A normal maximum for a stated income business loan and SBA loan situations is $2 million. A number of other business finance programs are limited to $5 million.
Appraisals for a Commercial Mortgage or Business Opportunity Financing -
Commercial real estate appraisals are much more expensive and complex than residential appraisals and typically take several weeks to complete. Commercial mortgage and business loan value is based primarily on income rather than comparison with other properties that is so common with residential financing.
Business Financing Interest Rates -
Interest rates for a business loan are generally higher than residential financing and rates up to 13% and even higher are possible. It is feasible to obtain both fixed and variable commercial mortgage interest rates. Business opportunity financing typically has interest rates 1-3% higher than a comparable commercial real estate loan situation.
Other Important Business Finance Differences -
As noted previously, there are too many differences between residential financing and business finance situations to describe adequately in one article. There are several separate articles discussing issues such as recall requirements, SBA loan options, special purpose commercial property situations and business opportunity loans.