Monday, August 25, 2014

Commercial Construction Loans: Financing The Dream

By Tom G. Honeycutt


Securing finance to build a new structure or business complex is a process associated with large sums of money and considerable professional projections. Also, the property price itself is not the only cost involved, as there are the concomitant fees, commissions and administrative charges. Then there is also the fact that property finance transactions are generally long term in nature, perhaps twenty years in duration. However, in cases where the structure has not yet come into existence, the commercial construction loans that are used are more sophisticated than a mere contract of sale.

One of the most important issues is that a commercial property is intended to generate income. This means that the credit provider (which is usually a bank) needs to assess whether the expected income is commensurate with the amount of credit granted. Market research also needs to determine whether the property's desired use represents a satisfactory revenue potential.

Once it has been determined that the project makes sense financially, the loan contract's terms and timetable are drawn up, with input from both parties. A loan financing a building operation has more parts to it than an ordinary real estate loan because the financed structure does not exist yet. The contract's initial phase merely covers the building of the structure. Once the structure is finished, the rest of the agreement covers the property's entire purchase price. The contract's two sections are joined by what is termed a "mini-perm" agreement.

In approving the agreement, the lender needs to assess the building contractor's history, capabilities and industry reputation. There also needs to be a verification of the contract price in relation to other similar projects, and this may require a detailed analysis of how the borrower or contractor intends to spend the available money.

In the absence of a standing structure, the lender also requires exhaustive technical information on the project, such as building specifications, the duration of the work, materials to be used, and all pertinent details that may be of use in approving the loan application.

It is sometimes extremely hard to gain approval from a bank or other institution for credit. Project initiators should therefore put together an informative business strategy which is substantiated by market research and data. If the project is seen as incompatible with prevailing market conditions the entire loan application may be rejected by bank analysts for that reason.

A new construction project is always an exciting prospect and is a stimulant for growth in the local economy. The professional processing and finalization of financing arrangements makes the project leadership's job easier and saves time for both parties.




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