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A commercial mortgage is a form of mortgage offered to business owners who want to purchase commercial real estate, such as an office, retail space or factory. They work in a similar way to residential mortgages in that you borrow money that is secured against the property itself, offering an ideal solution if you are looking to expand your business or investment property portfolio.
The down payment required for a commercial mortgage depends on many variables, but usually falls between 20% and 50% of the cost of the property. The portion of the purchase price that you borrow is referred to as the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. For example, if you are providing 30% of the purchase price and borrowing the rest, you will have a LTV of 70%.
Here are some of the factors that will influence your maximum LTV as well as other aspects of your mortgage, such as the loan term and interest rate:
The down payment and other terms and conditions of your commercial mortgage are often negotiable, and there are many variables to take into account. For example, you may even be able to qualify for a commercial mortgage with a 100% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, meaning zero down payment, if you are able to provide sufficient additional security, such as assets or other properties.
Commercial mortgage interest rates are generally higher than residential rates. They can vary from just a couple of percentage points higher to much higher than that – it really comes down to the amount of risk the lenders sees in your specific business and property.
If you take out a commercial mortgage at a high interest rate today, it may be possible to find better refinancing rates down the road as market conditions change or your creditworthiness improves.
There may also be flexibility in how you structure your commercial mortgage, as you may generally choose terms of 5, 15, 20 and 30 years, and amortize your payments over periods just as long or even longer. Ideally, you will find a combination of interest rate, loan term and amortization period that makes your monthly payments manageable.
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Use our easy commercial mortgage calculator to understand your monthly repayments, the total mortgage amount and how much you interest you will pay throughout the term of your loan.
Simply add the loan amount, the interest rate, the arrangement fee, and the term of the loan and away you go!
This calculator is intended for illustration purposes only and exact payment terms should be agreed with a lender before taking out a loan.
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If you already have a residential mortgage, you might assume that acquiring a commercial mortgage will follow the same process. Although there are many similarities, there may also be a number of differences, including:
You might be wondering how a mixed-use property would be treated – such as a retail storefront with apartments upstairs where you could potentially live. In general, you should expect the mortgage process to be like that of any other commercial property because lenders consider the overall complexity and risk profile to be similar.
A commercial second mortgage can be a good way to access the equity within a commercial property.
For example, imagine a business has owned a commercial building for several years and has paid off a considerable portion of their first commercial mortgage. Imagine also that the building has appreciated in value since it was originally purchased. There is now a considerable amount of equity in the property.
Now say the business needs an injection of cash in order to finance its growth. One option would be to apply for a commercial second mortgage where a lender agrees to loan the business some portion of the available equity in the building. In exchange, the second mortgage holder will have a claim against the property if the business fails to make the mortgage payments. Note, however, that this lender will be second in line behind the first mortgage holder in the event of a default.
Applying for a commercial mortgage is a little more work than applying for a residential mortgage.
The first requirement is to have a profitable business. Lenders will want to see that your business has enough excess monthly cash flow to cover the mortgage payment. If you can show a proven track record of paying a comparable amount of rent, you may be well on your way to qualifying for a commercial mortgage and becoming a new property owner.
Another requirement is to have a good property in mind. Lenders will review the property itself – including its age, condition and resale potential – as well as its suitability for your business. Keep in mind that commercial properties can come with lots of extra bills such as higher property tax, utility and maintenance costs, plus the cost of the move itself.
Before you actually bid on a property, it’s wise to have your financial statements, business plan and details of the property ready to share with the lender. They might set out specific conditions for the financing, such as obtaining environmental and building condition assessments, an appraisal and a title search. Although you might be ready to close on a new building in 30 days, be prepared for the financing process to take longer than that.
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Not exactly. If you already own a residential property, you could potentially take out a home equity line of credit or residential mortgage and use the proceeds to purchase a commercial property. But if you are purchasing a commercial property and pledging it as security to a lender, you will generally need to go through a commercial mortgage lending process.
Term lengths can vary and generally include 5, 15, 20, 25 and 30 year commercial mortgages.
100% LTV commercial mortgages exist, but they are rare. In general, 80% LTV is the maximum for commercial mortgages. Having said that, commercial mortgages are generally negotiable. If you have an exceptionally strong business and a very low-risk property, it is possible that a lender will consider a higher LTV. You may also qualify for a 100% LTV commercial mortgage if you are able to provide additional collateral, such as your home or other valuable assets.
Commercial interest-only mortgages are not common in Canada. There are some programs that might enable an interest-only mortgage in specific circumstances, such as in the case of an owner-occupied commercial building with considerable equity in the building. In the vast majority of cases, commercial mortgages will have payments consisting of both interest and principal.
In commercial real estate, a mortgage broker is an important ally. This is because the process can be much more complex than residential real estate. There can be many nuances to your business, the property you’d like to purchase, and the terms and conditions of the mortgage itself. A good mortgage broker can help you identify the right potential lenders, prepare a solid application, deal with questions, negotiate a better deal, and get the financing in place in time to successfully close your transaction.
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Yes, it is possible to get a commercial mortgage with bad credit. This is because lenders will primarily consider the profitability and stability of the business rather than the business owner. Having said that, a personal credit check is still likely to be part of the process, and a poor credit score will have consequences. For example, you may need to consider using an alternative lender rather than a major bank, and you may pay a higher interest rate and be required to make a larger down payment.
Written by
Alastair is South African and has a depth of experience in small business financing and strategy. He has led the launch and development of several successful ventures related to fintech, biotech and agriculture. Alastair studied economics and finance at the University of Cape Town, and then went on to complete his Masters at the University of Edinburgh.
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