Catching the Commercial Real Estate Wave with the Right Financing

In the event you haven’t noticed, commercial real estate is slowly starting to rebound. Dwindling vacancy rates and a predicted shortage of affordable dwellings is driving up values of multi-family properties. Moreover, office and retail markets primarily in major metropolitan areas show extreme promise as businesses expand. The resurgence in the commercial sector has not gone unnoticed by those fortunate enough to own commercial assets. Owners are beginning to exploit the rebound in demand.

In stark contrast to the austere lending climate in the residential arena, a small but growing number of commercial banks have taken note of commercial real estate’s new-found stability and are willing to loosen their purse strings. The bad news, however, is that traditional underwriting and terms for permanent debt financing often don’t offer the commercial borrower sufficient senior debt proceeds. Fortunately, other forms of financing are available. In addition to traditional “permanent debt financing, other options include bridge loans, hard money loans, mezzanine financing and joint venture financing

The challenge is twofold --- structuring financing to maximize the investment’s ROI, and gaining access to a full range of capital sources comfortable with the risk associated with commercial investments. Institutional funds, insurance companies, private pension funds, and REITs are returning to the market. Investors may not be able to tap all of the available resources alone. Commercial mortgage brokers can work with investors to not only craft a strong borrowing strategy, but also act as a conduit to the array of funding channels available.

Smart commercial brokers understand the relationship between the investor’s investment goals and the need to structure a financing solution that meets those goals within the parameters of a property’s cash flow and attributes. They recognize that every commercial property is as unique as its investor, and should look for a financing solution unique to the deal.

But the primary advantage of a broker in today’s booming commercial market is timely execution. They know how to tap the sources of funding that’s appropriate for any given investor. Loans for assets that are properly underwritten transactions with strong sponsorship are getting done today at extremely attractive rates, and today’s best deals in commercial real estate move too quickly and won’t wait for a protracted financing process.

It’s in the investor’s best interest to find a partner that’s able to not only package a loan that meets the needs of all parties concerned, but find a partner that can do so quickly.

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The Peak Corporate Network entities provide unparalleled access to conventional debt financing, joint venture equity, mezzanine financing, bridge financing and structured debt for the commercial real estate market as well as knowledge and expertise (including access to off-market properties) in both local and national markets.

With headquarters in Woodland Hills, California, in addition to commercial real estate solutions, including 1031 Exchange services, the Peak Corporate Network entities offer residential real estate services, escrow services, asset management and disposition, residential and commercial loan workouts, loan servicing, foreclosure services, REO solutions and more. For additional information, please visit www.peakcorp.com