How to Get an Apartment Building Loan
There are many types of investments that you can make but one of the most lucrative for the long-term is owning real estate. Of course, the type of real estate that you can Fown may differ, with many of them offering options for making a return on your investment. One of the options that you may find to be most beneficial, however, is owning an apartment building. It doesn’t matter if it is a few apartments or if it is a high-rise, it provides the opportunity to make money on a month by month basis. The first step in the process, however, is financing the property.
There are some significant differences between an apartment building loan and a loan that you make it for an individual home. A number of factors need to be considered when getting the loan, including where you’re going to find the financing and how you are going to make sure that the financing goes through properly. In addition, you need to consider every aspect of the loan, from the terms and fees to the rates and the structure. Keeping all of these things in mind can help to ensure that you see the greatest amount of success possible.
Before you begin doing any type of research, it’s important to consider the different types of apartment loans that may be available. Here are a few for your consideration.
- Apartment loans backed by the government
You can get a loan from a government-backed entity, such as the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Those types of loan programs may be able to provide anywhere from $750,000 up to $6 million or more. FHA loans tend to be the highest loan to value ratio for those who are investing in apartment properties. The other options may be available, however, and should be considered if you plan on going this direction.
- Bank balance sheet options
Traditional banks may also be considered for getting a loan to finance an apartment building. This type of building financing is not always backed by the federal government but they are managed by the lending company themselves. This type of option may be considered for investors that are not living in the same community as the apartment complex. If you don’t qualify for a government-backed loan, you may want to consider one of these loan types.
- Short-term financing
Yet another option, although it is not as common as the other options are short-term financing loans. The reason why these are not typically considered is that apartment buildings tend to be more of a long-term investment. There may be reasons, however, why you may want to consider some type of short-term financing. For example, if you are trying to invest to fix it up and flip it quickly, then this may be a consideration so that you can get in and out as quickly as possible.
Taking a Look at the Lenders
When looking for any type of an apartment building loan, it is important to do your research so that you can find the right lender for your needs. When you really get down to it, you are purchasing a multi-family property so it is going to be a commercial loan. Consider the rate carefully when looking for the loan. If you have the backing and are able to shop the rates, you may be able to find something that is very attractive.
Before you begin to look at the lenders, it’s important to understand how strong of a borrower you are. You have to have very strong credit in order to get this type of commercial loan and you need to be in a position to repay the loan as well. Additionally, you should consider the property that you plan on purchasing carefully because the building has to be able to cover the loan as a form of collateral. The only other option is if you are able to put up some other type of collateral, but the loan can get a little messy when that is considered.
The rate that you pay for any type of apartment complex loan is going to vary from one lender to another. In fact, the majority of them are not going to have set rates but they are going to take a look at the deal and how strong it is before they make the determination of the rate they charge.
Filling out the Loan Application
An appointment needs to be established so that you can speak with a loan officer. This should happen after you have decided which lender you are going to consider for the loan. They will provide you all of the details that you need for the financing so that you can make a wise decision when it comes to getting the loan and actually signing on the dotted line.
You are not going to be able to come to the table unless you have all of the paperwork ready to establish your credibility. Financials are going to have to be available for you personally and perhaps the business that you are associated with for a minimum of three years. If you plan on owning and operating an apartment complex, they will take a close look at all of the financial information that is provided to determine if you are able to qualify for the loan or not.
It is important to establish a good relationship with the loan officer when you get to this part of the equation. Don’t simply gloss over this option is if it is a standard procedure. There are going to be some procedures associated with it but you also want to have the loan officer in your corner and doing all that they can to ensure that you get the best deal possible. The deal that you get may differ from one loan officer to another to a certain extent, so make sure that you choose wisely and establish that relationship.
After you have verified the fact that you are creditworthy and can take care of the loan, then you will qualify for it. At that point, a commitment letter will be sent to you outlining the specific terms of the loan and the closing conditions. It will be necessary, in most cases, for some type of title insurance to be obtained and research will need to be done to ensure that there are no liens or judgments against the apartment building that is being purchased or against you and the business that you are associated with.
An appraisal will be obtained to verify that the property value is sufficient to cover the loan and an environmental study will be done to ensure that no hazardous issues are on the property or could cause problems with the future of the property. If there are any problems that come up during this process, it could result in a delay of the loan or perhaps even stop the loan from occurring.
Getting to the End of the Apartment Building Loan
There is one more big step that needs to be taken before you are actually able to sign on the dotted line and become an owner of the apartment building. The closing date needs to be established and you will have to pay all fees and sign the loan documents at that point. This would include the mortgage, the promissory note and the assessment of rents and leases. Everything is going to be outlined when you are sitting at the table, so don’t simply rush through this part and sign the papers on the dotted line.
Not all loan officers are going to be present during the time that you have your closing for your apartment building loan. In fact, many loan officers don’t even take part in this part of the process. We discussed how important it was to ensure that you have a good working relationship with the loan officer, and this is where it would really come through. They will understand much of what is going on so it is a good idea to have them at the table with you. In addition, you may also want to have legal counsel since you are making such a large purchase for an apartment building.
Getting a loan for an apartment building is not a small process, and it takes a considerable amount of work. It may take quite some time between the point where you actually decide which property you are going to purchase and when you are able to take possession of it. During that time, any issues that take place could derail the process, slow it down or perhaps even kill it in more extreme cases. It is important for you to stick with the process through the entire time that it is being worked. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to own an apartment building and have an investment that will work for you for many years to come.
