🏢 Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate Loans from $100K to $10M+ — Owner-Occupied or Investment

From purchase to refinance to bridge financing — we match small business owners and investors with the right commercial real estate lender. 25+ years of commercial lending experience across the team.

30–60 days
Typical close for purchase
680+
Credit score ideal
$100K – $10M+
Commercial real estate loan range — purchase, refinance & bridge
25+
Years commercial lending
40+
CRE lender relationships
4
CRE loan structures
1.20x+
DSCR target for approvals

Four commercial real estate structures. Matched to your deal.

Commercial real estate financing isn't one-size-fits-all. Your property type, use, and borrower profile determine which structure and lender fits best. We figure that out so you don't have to guess.

Owner-Occupied
$100K – $10M+

Owner-Occupied CRE Purchase

When you buy a building to run your business in it — office, warehouse, retail, light industrial. SBA 504 is the gold standard for owner-occupied deals with its below-market fixed rates and lower equity requirements. Conventional and CMBS are alternatives for larger deals.

10–25% down typical SBA 504 available Long-term fixed rates
Investment
$250K – $5M+

Investment Property Financing

Multi-tenant office, retail strip centers, apartment buildings, industrial flex space — investment properties are underwritten on income, not owner financials. Expect 25–40% down, tighter DSCR requirements (1.25x+), and more documentation than owner-occupied deals.

Income-driven underwriting 25–40% equity required DSCR 1.20x minimum
Refinance
$100K – $10M+

Commercial Real Estate Refinance

Refinance your existing commercial property to lower your rate, extend the term, access equity, or stabilize debt that's coming due. Owner-occupied properties may qualify for SBA 504 refinancing which often results in significant payment reduction. Investment properties can be refied to improve cash flow or cash out.

Rate and term improvements Cash-out options available 30–45 day closings typical
Bridge
$250K – $10M+

Bridge Financing

Short-term financing (6–36 months) for situations that need to close fast or require more flexibility than conventional loans allow. Buy a value-add property, fund a renovation, or bridge to long-term financing. Bridge loans carry higher rates but close in days to weeks, not months.

Fast close (10–21 days) Flexible underwriting Higher rates, short terms

What lenders actually look at.

Commercial real estate underwriting focuses on the property's income and your ability to service debt. Here's what matters most — and how to put your deal in the best position.

  • 📊 DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio): The ratio of your property's net operating income to annual debt service. Lenders want to see 1.20x–1.25x minimum. Higher DSCR means better rate and terms. For investment properties, this is the primary underwriting metric.
  • 📈 LTV (Loan-to-Value): The loan amount divided by the property value. Conventional CRE typically caps out at 65–75% LTV. SBA 504 allows up to 90% for owner-occupied. Investment properties usually sit at 65% LTV. Lower LTV = better terms.
  • 💰 Equity / down payment: The bigger the down payment, the better the deal. For owner-occupied SBA 504, 10–15% is often enough. Investment properties typically require 25–40% equity at closing. Bridge loans can go as low as 20% down in some cases.
  • 📅 Time in business: Most CRE lenders want 2+ years in business for owner-occupied deals. Investment property borrowers typically need 2+ years of ownership history or track record. Bridge lenders are more flexible on this.
  • 💳 Personal credit score: 680+ for best terms. 650–679 with compensating factors (strong DSCR, lots of equity). Below 650 is challenging for conventional but bridge and some SBA programs have more flexibility.
  • 🏢 Property condition & type: Lenders underwrite the property itself — its condition, age, location, and income-producing potential. Special-purpose properties (gas stations, auto body shops) are harder to finance than standard commercial use types.

Not sure which structure fits your deal?

Tell us about your property and what you're trying to accomplish — purchase, refinance, cash-out — and we'll give you a clear recommendation. Every conversation is free and carries no obligation.

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Who This Is For

Deal types we close CRE financing for.

Commercial real estate finance is specialized — the same lender doesn't do a dental office and a 50-unit apartment building. We match your deal type to the right capital source.

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Dental & Medical Practices

Owner-occupied practice purchase, buildout, and expansion for healthcare providers.

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Retail & Restaurants

Purchase or refi of retail storefronts, restaurant locations, and strip centers.

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Light Industrial & Flex

Warehouse, light manufacturing, and flex space for owner-operators and investors.

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Office & Mixed-Use

Professional office buildings, medical office, and mixed-use with ground-floor retail.

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Multi-Family Investors

Small-to-mid apartment buildings, 5–50 units. Conventional and bridge options.

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Auto-Related Businesses

Auto dealerships, repair shops, and car washes — special-purpose CRE financing.

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Hospitality & Lodging

Small hotels, motels, and select-service properties. SBA and conventional options.

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Business Acquisition

CRE bundled with business acquisition. SBA 504 for owner-occupied business purchase.

Why structuring your CRE deal right matters more than you think.

01

The right structure determines your payment

SBA 504 fixed rates vs. conventional floating vs. bridge — the structure you choose can mean a difference of hundreds or thousands per month on the same property. We find the structure that minimizes your payment and maximizes your flexibility.

02

DSCR and LTV work together

A deal with low DSCR but strong equity may need a different lender than one with high DSCR but lower equity. We know which lenders weight which factors and match accordingly. Most borrowers who go direct to a bank submit to one lender and take whatever they offer.

03

Small properties get deprioritized

Banks love $5M+ deals and deprioritize anything under $2M. But small commercial properties ($250K–$1.5M) are exactly where SBA 504 and community banks shine. If your deal is in that range, going direct to a big bank means waiting in line behind larger deals.

04

Equity access is a strategic tool

Refinancing investment properties to access equity is one of the most common ways successful commercial real estate investors fund their next deal. We identify when cash-out refinancing makes sense and structure it to maximize what you pull out.

Common questions about commercial real estate loans.

Most commercial real estate loans close in 30–60 days for purchase transactions and 30–45 days for refinances. Bridge loans can close faster — in 10–21 days when documentation is ready. The biggest variable is your documentation package. Having financials, title, and environmental reports ready at application dramatically compresses the timeline.
Conventional commercial mortgages typically require 25–35% down. SBA 504 loans for owner-occupied commercial real estate often require 10–15% down for established businesses. Bridge loans and CMBS loans typically run 25–30%. Investment properties tend to require more equity — 25–40% — due to higher risk profiles.
Yes — mixed-use properties (retail on ground floor with residential above, or light industrial with office space) are common. Most lenders have specific criteria for the ratio of commercial to residential space, and will underwrite based on the commercial component. SBA 504 has specific rules about the residential percentage. We find the right lender for your specific mix.
Most commercial lenders want a personal credit score of 680 or above. For investment properties, some lenders go to 650 with strong cash flow and equity. Owner-occupied deals with SBA backing have more flexibility. Below 650, options narrow but debt service coverage ratio and LTV become more important — strong cash flow can offset credit weakness.
DSCR — Debt Service Coverage Ratio — measures your property's net operating income against its annual debt service. The formula is NOI / annual debt service. Most lenders want a DSCR of 1.20x–1.25x minimum. A DSCR above 1.25x tells lenders the property generates enough income to comfortably cover its debt. For owner-occupied properties, personal income and business revenue are also factored in.
Bridge loans are short-term financing (6–36 months) used to cover gaps — buying a property before long-term financing is arranged, renovating and stabilizing a value-add property, or accessing equity in a timing-sensitive situation. They carry higher interest rates and fees but close faster and have more flexible underwriting. Conventional CRE loans offer lower rates but longer timelines and stricter requirements.
Yes — commercial property refinancing is one of the most common ways small business owners access equity. If your property has appreciated, your income has grown, or rates have dropped since your original loan, refinancing at better terms or pulling out equity can significantly improve your position. Current owner-occupied properties can qualify for SBA 504 refinancing, which often results in substantial monthly payment reductions.
Most bank commercial lending departments have high minimum loan amounts and slow processing. Small properties (under $2M) often get deprioritized. LeadCove works with community banks, credit unions, SBA-approved lenders, CMBS shops, and private lenders — matching your property type, deal size, and borrower profile to the right capital source. We structure the deal for the best terms, not just approval.

Tell us about your commercial property.

Under 3 minutes. We'll follow up within one business day with a match or a straight answer on fit.

Commercial Real Estate Loans by Industry

Industries with the highest CRE and SBA 504 loan volume — find your industry's financing guide.

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Restaurants — $500K
Restaurant real estate & SBA 504
🏥
Medical — $1M
Medical office & practice real estate
🏭
Manufacturing — $1M
Industrial facilities & SBA 504
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Construction — $500K
Contractor facilities & storage
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Business Acquisition — $2M
Acquisition with real estate included
All Industries & Amounts
View the full funding hub

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