Commercial Loan Problems - Business Financing Choices

Commercial lenders and commercial loan brokers are not as proactive about business financing problems as they could be. Because of this tendency, I have published a separate commercial loan article about business financing lenders to avoid. The focus of this article is on the equally important business loan problems often ignored by commercial borrowers and lenders alike.

Unexpected circumstances can create chaos with business financing, and commercial borrowers should be prepared in advance for these commercial loan possibilities. There are a number of business financing problems to be avoided with a commercial loan. Difficulties with a typical business loan are probably more common than most commercial borrowers realize.

A few of these business financing problems will be unavoidable, but in most cases these commercial loan challenges can be met successfully. Business borrowers and their advisors will be better prepared to take appropriate and timely corrective action by properly anticipating these recurring commercial financing difficulties.

(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.

Commercial mortgage lenders will often not permit subordinated debt. With a business loan from more flexible lenders, a business borrower will not encounter restrictions on the use of subordinate financing and will decrease the down payment required.

(3) Avoidable Commercial Mortgage Scenario Number 3: A business loan scenario that requires long-term business financing. How long is a long-term commercial loan? Business lenders often consider 3 years as the maximum period before a balloon payment will be due for a commercial mortgage.

For those of you who feel that is a short-term business loan, you should restrict your options to commercial lenders that routinely offer a period of 30 years for a commercial loan. Long-term business financing will help facilitate a profitable commercial property investment because monthly commercial mortgage payments will be reduced, monthly cash flow will improve and new commercial financing will not be an issue for many years.

(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.

Business lenders regularly include recall clauses in their business loan agreements. The provisions which will prompt a recall will vary and typically include annual business lender monitoring of financial statements, tax returns and credit history. Without agreed income, tax returns and credit standards, the lender can choose to require the borrower to pay off the commercial loan within a very short period of time.

Business Financing Recall Contingency Plans: With a commercial loan recall, borrowers will need to refinance with a lender quickly. Prudent borrowers will exclude lenders that require recall agreements when evaluating business loan refinancing options.

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.

Copyright 2005-2007 AEX Commercial Financing Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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