Commercial Real Estate Loans for California Investors

Commercial properties don’t fit neatly into a bank’s checklist. Mixed-use buildings, self-storage, hospitality, care homes and cannabis-related properties are often turned away or stuck in months of underwriting. Private lenders look at the property, its income and your equity, and they can move on your timeline.

Seth Swenson Mortgage Capital arranges commercial real estate loans from $500,000 to $20 million, with short-term bridge financing and long-term loans for purchases, refinances and cash-out.

Talk to Seth: (415) 860-7384

Loan Terms at a Glance

Rates and terms are subject to change and depend on the property, borrower and lender approval. Loans are for business purposes only.

Property Types We Finance

• Office buildings
• Retail centers and storefronts
• Industrial and warehouse properties
• Mixed-use buildings
• Self-storage facilities
• Hospitality, including hotels and motels
• Residential care homes
• Cannabis-related properties
• Apartment buildings with 5 or more units (see also our Multifamily Loans)

Two Ways to Qualify

Equity-based bridge loans

If the property has vacancies, is being repositioned or simply doesn’t produce enough income yet, a 1 to 2 year bridge loan can be qualified on the property’s equity alone, with no minimum debt service coverage ratio. It’s the fastest path to closing and gives you time to stabilize the property before refinancing.

Income-based long-term loans

For properties with steady income, long-term programs qualify on the property’s net operating income, with a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of 1.0 or higher. Choose a 5- or 10-year term with 25 to 30 year amortization, or interest-only to maximize cash flow.

Example: How the Numbers Work

Say you’re buying a $2,500,000 retail building that produces $175,000 a year in net operating income.

• Loan at 70% LTV: $1,750,000
• Down payment: $750,000
• Annual loan payments: about $140,000
• DSCR: $175,000 ÷ $140,000 = 1.25

The building’s income covers its payments with room to spare, so it qualifies for long-term financing. If the income were lower, an equity-based bridge loan could still get the deal closed.

Figures are illustrative only. Actual payments depend on the rate, loan structure, operating expenses and lender approval.

Estimate your numbers with our Loan Calculator →

Who This Loan Is For

• Investors buying or refinancing office, retail, industrial or mixed-use properties
• Owners of specialty properties such as self-storage, hospitality, care homes and cannabis-related real estate
• Owners who want to pull cash out of a commercial property
• Buyers who need to close faster than a bank can, or whose property doesn’t fit bank guidelines
• Business owners buying their own building, where lender programs allow

Why Work with Seth Swenson Mortgage Capital

Seth has worked in private money lending since 2003, including more than 25 years living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a licensed California broker with access to over 50 private lenders, he knows which lenders specialize in which property types, so a care home or cannabis-related property goes to a lender that actually wants it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of commercial property do you finance?

Office, retail, industrial and warehouse, mixed-use, self-storage, hospitality, residential care homes, cannabis-related properties and apartment buildings with 5 or more units.

Do you finance cannabis-related properties?

Yes. Many banks won’t lend on them, but Seth works with private lenders who do. Terms depend on the property and its use.

What if the property doesn’t have enough income yet?

An equity-based bridge loan has no minimum DSCR and is qualified on the property’s equity. Once the property is stabilized, you can refinance into a long-term income-based loan.

Can I buy a building for my own business?

Owner-user purchases may be allowed, depending on the lender and property. Talk to Seth about your situation.

Can I take cash out of a commercial property?

Yes. Cash-out refinances are available up to 60% of the property’s value.

Do I need to close in an LLC?

Yes. Commercial loans require the property to be held in an LLC or similar business entity.

What are the loan limits?

Loans range from $1,000,000 to $30,000,000. For ground-up projects, see our New Construction Loans.

Ready to Finance Your Property?

Call Seth at (415) 860-7384 or send a message with the property type, address, purchase price or current value, and current income. He’ll tell you quickly which program fits.