Typically, you will need to secure a loan for financing commercial real estate deals due to the size of the deal and type of property. While this probably makes sense, what you may not consider is where to look for this financing. Most if not all investors would probably consider going to large banks because of their overall size and assets. But read on to see why this might not be your best option and where you should probably be looking instead.
Obtaining Bank Loans:
It is preferable to deal with small, rather than large, banks. Big banks have more money, but not necessarily for you. Also, it’s easier to get lost in a big bank, because those employees may get promoted to a different location or a different department suddenly, your contact may no longer be there when you need them most, like in the middle of a deal.
A small bank that has their charter as a community bank is a better bet. A community bank is formed under what is called the Community Banking Act (CBA). It usually furnishes a certificate of need, just like a hospital would do to get into the community. Their certificate indicates the particular niche of the market on which they are focused. Also, one of the great benefits of a small bank is the loan approval process. They usually don’t have to wait for a committee to meet to discuss your loan. They see each other every day and make decisions quickly, since there are only two or three persons on the loan committee.
And how about this for a twist you may not have considered before. When you find a local bank with whom you enjoy a thriving relationship, consider trying to make them your tenants. Imagine having the community bank that you use for most of your accounts being downstairs in the lobby of your building. You could go down when your representative is not busy, or even visit with one of the officers to see what they think about a particular deal you’re considering. Certainly, this would give you an edge over your competition if there is such a thing when dealing with banks. But surely it couldn't hurt to have such a relationship.
Here is another source for financing commercial real estate deals you may not have considered before.
Finance Company Loans:
Finance companies are capable of doing things that conventional banks can not do due to government regulations or the internal workings of the institution itself. The first thing a person thinks of when this type of company is mentioned, is usually Household Finance or Family Finance. And while these are certainly finance companies, they aren’t the ones you need to be contacting. The types of finance companies you want to contact are the ones with vast real estate financial dealings. Below are three of the larger companies that do this type of business, but you could certainly find others with all of the resources available to us today to locate information.
Some Finance Company Suggestions:
• GE Capital
• Westinghouse
• Ford Credit
So in summary, I hope this provides you with some valuable information perhaps you had not considered prior. By opening your eyes to some additional resources for financing commercial real estate deals, it may be an area you will want to consider for your investing portfolio moving forward.
