Commercial Loan Difficulties Business Financing Options

By: Stephen A. Bush

It is not unusual to find that business lenders and business loan brokers are not as forward-looking about commercial financing difficulties as most borrowers would expect, and I have published another article about commercial lenders to bypass. The focus here is on some of the typical commercial loan difficulties often overlooked by commercial lenders and borrowers.

Unexpected business financing possibilities can result in severe complications with a business loan, and business borrowers should be prepared for these commercial financing circumstances. There are many potential business loan obstacles to be evaded with commercial financing. Business financing problems with a typical commercial loan are more numerous and serious than most business borrowers would think.

Some of these difficulties might be unavoidable, but in most cases these business financing challenges can be successfully overcome. By being aware of these common commercial loan obstacles, borrowers and their advisors will be properly positioned to take timely and appropriate corrective action.

(1) Avoidable Commercial Mortgage Scenario Number 1: Asset sourcing/seasoning and ownership seasoning. This potential business financing obstacle will not apply to all commercial borrowers. If it is applicable, borrowers need a lender without sourcing-seasoning limitations.

Some commercial lenders will require borrowers to document the source of the down payment for a purchase (sourcing). Commercial lenders will also frequently require that business financing down payment funds be substantiated, most commonly for 1-12 months (seasoning). Seasoning of ownership is based on the minimum time a commercial property must be owned before refinancing can occur.

(2) Difficult Business Financing Situation Number 2: A borrower wants to use a substantial amount of subordinated debt (a seller second or other secondary financing) to reduce the amount of cash needed to purchase a commercial property.

Many commercial loan programs will not permit a seller second. With business financing through less restrictive commercial lenders, a borrower will be able to employ a seller second and reduce their down payment needs.

(3) Proactive Commercial Loan Example Number 3: Business financing that needs a long-term commercial loan. Is long-term financing really possible for a business loan? Some lenders will only offer 5 years before commercial real estate financing will expire with a balloon payment due.

If you think that describes short-term commercial loan terms rather than long-term, you will be pleased to discover the lenders that will provide 30-year business financing. A long-term business loan will frequently be the factor that creates a successful commercial investment scenario because a new commercial mortgage will not be needed for many years and monthly payments will be substantially decreased.

(4) Proactive Commercial Loan Example Number 4: Business financing recall terms. Business loan recall conditions will often allow the commercial lender to force the borrower to repay their loan before the normal loan expiration. This possibility is not relevant to business borrowers if their commercial loan does not contain such recall terms.

Traditional lenders frequently put recall clauses in their business financing provisions. The conditions which can trigger recalls differ and include regular evaluation of credit history and financials by the commercial lender. If required levels of credit standards and income cannot be confirmed, the lender will enforce the recall provisions by requiring an early and immediate payoff of the business loan.

Contingency Plans for a Commercial Loan Recall: When confronted with a commercial mortgage recall notification, borrowers will have little recourse other than to seek refinancing. When considering alternative sources of business financing, prudent borrowers will eliminate potential lenders that impose similar recall provisions in new financing.

To avoid a potentially disastrous recall scenario, commercial borrowers would be wise to consider only commercial loans which do not have recall terms. For commercial borrowers who have recall provisions in their business financing agreement, it will be equally wise to consider refinancing their business loan before a recall occurs so that refinancing is accomplished according to the commercial borrower's timetable.

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Article Source: http://yourfinance.co.za