Office Building
Loans


Article Overview

Assets America® provides office building loans and office building financing for a variety of property types, starting with Class A and Class B urban and suburban office buildings, low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise. Properties include single-tenant and multi-tenant office buildings as well as owner-occupied (owner-user) office buildings. We also arrange commercial office building loans for mixed-use buildings, office parks, industrial research and development parks, and professional/medical offices.

In this article, we cover:

  • Reasons for Obtaining Office Building Mortgages
  • Potential Loan Sources
  • Customizable Financing Structures
  • Common Terms and Rates
  • Medical Office Building Financing
  • Glossary of Office Building Mortgage Terminology
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Helpful Online Resources
  • Excellent Related Articles
  • How Assets America Can Help

Video: Office Building Construction Documentary

Reasons for Obtaining Office Building Loans

The American economy’s rebound following the events of 2008 has led to increasing demand for office space, and therefore for office building financing.

  • Expanding Requirements for Work Space: A critical stage in the growth of many companies is the decision to own and occupy their own office building. Accordingly, we invite growing businesses to turn to Assets America for office building purchases and office building loans. This includes office building construction loans and office building acquisition loans, for both tenants and owner-occupied office products. We work to ensure the availability of short-term and long-term capital on the best possible terms. Assets America also refinances existing office buildings that require upgrades or rehabilitation.
  • Commercial Use: We also provide investment office building loans for companies looking to build or acquire tenant-occupied office buildings, as well as office condo properties and fix and flip office buildings. We do this for primary and secondary market locations. Office buildings in strategic locations are a reliable source of lease income to investors. In some cases, a company will build or acquire an office building, take some of the space for its own use and lease out the rest. In addition, investors often seek mixed-use office buildings that combine office space with retail and/or residential space.

How Assets America® Can Help

If you are interested in arranging financing for high-rise office building loans, medical office building loans or any of the myriad of office building mortgages we offer, then we urge you to contact Assets America® for an in-depth discussion. Finally, we are confident that we can obtain excellent terms on office building financing that fits your requirements like a glove, no matter how detailed and complex your request. Please call our offices today at (206) 622-3000, or simply fill out the below form for a prompt response!

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Office Building Loans provide capital for mixed use buildings

Office Building Loan Sources

The Small Business Administration offers SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loan programs for commercial real estate loans, including office building loans. SBA loans typically have the lowest costs, with relatively small down payments and fixed interest rates. SBA 7a typically guarantees bank loans up to 90%, while the 504 program combines 50% bank and 50% government sourcing.

Traditional office building loans are available from regional and national banks if the borrower has excellent credit. Private lenders, including private investment funds, credit union syndicates, life insurers and CMBS offer more flexible terms, easier access and less paperwork, albeit at higher interest rates. They are often the source of bridge loans, which can be used in lieu of hard-to-access construction loans to develop or rehab an office building.

Urban buildings with excellent mortgage rates and terms

Customized Office Building Mortgages

Assets America® can customize our office building loans to meet a wide range of deal structures of starting at a minimum loan amount of $20 million. Recourse and non-recourse loans are available, with a variety of prepayment terms, including:

  • Yield Maintenance: This is a prepayment premium allowing investors to receive the same yield as they would have had the borrower not prepaid the loan.
  • Step-Down Prepayment Penalty: A prepayment penalty that steps-down (decreases) over time.
  • Defeasance: The substitution of another cash-flowing asset, such as T-Bonds, for the original loan collateral, i.e. the office building.
  • No Prepayment Penalty: There are office building loans that have no prepayment penalty as well.

Non-Specific Details for Office Building Financing

Although each office building project is unique, all share a number of characteristics that help define the risks and rewards for both office building lenders and developers. The following are the ones that are fundamental to the evaluation of a request for office building financing.

  • Loan to Value Ratio (LTV): 70% to 85% for construction office building loans, and up to 95% on acquisition office building loans.
  • Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR): 1.25x or higher, depending on the property’s physical condition, age, tenant mix and comparable properties.
  • Term: Construction office building loans up to 18 months and office building loans up to 3 years on bridge loans, 3 years on office building mini-perm loans, and 5 to 30 years on office building loans for permanent financing.
  • Amortization: Up to 30 years on office building take-out loans (permanent loans). Construction, acquisition, refinancing and bridge loans are interest-only. These short-term loans are then replaced by mini-perm loans and take-out loans after the rent roll is stabilized between 90% to 95% or hopefully higher.
  • Leases: The owner (the landlord and the borrower) of the subject property prefers triple-net (NNN) leasing. In NNN leasing, the lessee (the tenant) is responsible for property taxes, insurance and maintenance. The resulting rental rates can be lower, which in turn spurs higher occupancy rates.

A beautiful plaza of mixed-use buildings with office building mortgages

Medical Office Building Loans

A special class of office real estate is the medical office building (see below picture). These buildings can be either stand-alone or part of an office medical park. Medical office buildings might contain a variety of offices for physicians, specialists, labs and clinics. Medical office building projects are highly desirable, as they usually feature high occupancy rates and long-term leases. Nonetheless, the need for new medical office buildings continues to rise because of population shifts, increasing population and of course, obsolescence of older office buildings.

Unique Features

Medical office building loans have some unique and special features. For example, the DSCR typically starts at 1.20, slightly lower than regular office buildings. Another feature of medical office building loans is that we can loan up 90% loan to value, higher than many regular office building loans. The slightly relaxed financing requirements for medical office building loans reflects the stability of that market segment. They have high occupancy rates, and tenants often remain loyal for decades. The advent of the Affordable Care Act also created more demand from insured individuals for medical care. In turn, this has translated into a higher level of medical office building construction. However, it seems that legislators may eventually remove the ACA from existence.

The Surprise Medical Plaza, funded by a medical office building loan

Common Layouts

Frequently, developers cluster medical office buildings inside medical parks. Typically, these medical parks have a hospital, emergency room or acute-care facility at their center. Medical office building construction must suit the needs of medical practices. Often, this includes a preference for high energy efficiency, modern and attractive layouts, and provisions for the latest technology. Frequently, a single major lab services the entire medical park and handles the lab requirements of multiple practices. This saves resources and most importantly, it can save substantial money.

Similarities Between Office Building Loans & MPC Loans

Office medical park loans resemble master-planned communities loans, in that construction loan facilities are revolving sources of funds that pay for the construction of a building and then paid off by mini-perm loans. Typically, construction loans are interest-only loans. The mini-perm payoff then replenishes the construction funding for the next set of buildings. Eventually, the mini-perm loans are taken out by the permanent financing with amortization periods of up to 30 years.

Office Building Loans from Assets America®

Many of our customers turn to us for commercial mortgage bridge loans to finance the construction or rehabilitation of office buildings. While commercial mortgage bridge loans have higher interest rates than construction loans from banks, they are much easier to access. Don’t fear if your credit profile doesn’t meet bank requirements. We can arrange an interest-only, commercial bridge loan for up to 18 months or longer. We can then arrange mini-perm loans for up to three years. Subsequently, a take-out loan (a permanent loan) can run up to 30 years. However, most borrowers pay down takeout loans much faster.

Glass skyscrapers at evening with beautiful reflections

Glossary of Office Building Loan Terms

TermDefinition
BREEAMAn acronym for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for infrastructure
Class A BuildingsSubdivided between Class A+ and Class A buildings, these properties benefit from high-quality builds, great location, excellent management, and typically feature high-quality tenants
Class B BuildingsProperties that are a bit older, but retain a good location and professional management
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS)A type of security backed by mortgages on commercial properties, rather than residential real estate
Coworking SpaceShared office space among different businesses and/or individual freelancers
FitwelAn infrastructure rating system for commercial interiors based on the principles of operating well-designed buildings for the well-being of humans
Gross effective rentRent due according to a lease, including all incentives
Gross face rent

Rent due according to a lease, not including all incentives
T-BondAn abridged version of Treasury Bond, which is a fixed-interest debt security from the United States government
WELL Building StandardA certification from The International WELL Building Institute, the oldest provider of such rating systems worldwide

Frequently Asked Questions – Coworking & Office Building Loans

  • What is coworking?

    Co-working is the shared use of office space, in some cases replete with amenities, that allows diverse parties to work synergistically in a hassle-free work environment. Individual freelancers seeking an out-of-home office also use co-working spaces

  • What are some benefits of leasing coworking spaces?

    Co-working spaces tend to be highly valuable, per square foot, and fetch leasing payments to match.

  • What are some drawbacks of coworking spaces?

    For office building owners, the primary drawbacks include short leases (typically a year) and the need to provide numerous amenities. Often coworking spaces require active, hands-on management to ensure everything remains up to speed for those using the space.

  • What sort of amenities do coworking spaces include?

    Basic amenities include desks, coffee & snack options, conference rooms, printers, mail service, and reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi. Beyond that, coworking spaces may include private booths for phone calls, a break area, diverse seating options, natural light, outdoor space, and 24/7 availability. Many coworking spaces provide an innovative and enticing list of luxury amenities.

  • What about events?

    Often coworking spaces double as event venues for networking and small conferences.

  • What do freelancers and businesses expect?

    Typically, clients prefer coworking spaces for their location, flexibility, scalability (ability to lease more or less space), and ability to take care of all the minor day-to-day concerns, like fresh coffee.

  • Do coworking spaces have a future?

    The widespread opinion is yes. As the business world moves increasingly toward location-independence, especially given the rising tide of freelancers, coworking spaces should continue to play an increasing role for office buildings.

Online Resources for Office Building Financing

Related Articles for Office Building Mortgages

 

 

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Testimonials

Eric D.
Pleasure to work with and extremely knowledgeable

Ronny was a pleasure to work with and is extremely knowledgeable. His hard work was never ending until the job was done. They handled a complex lease and guided us through entire process, including the paperwork. Not to mention a below market lease rate and more than all the features we needed in a site. We later used Assets America for a unique equipment financing deal where once again Ronny and team exceeded our expectations and our timeline. Thank you to Assets America for your highly professional service!

exp MFGroup
Great experience with Assets America

Great experience with Assets America. Fast turn around. Had a lender in place in 30 minutes looking to do the deal. Totally amazing. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for financing. Ronny is fantastic. Give them a call if the deal makes sense they can get it funded. Referring all our clients.

William P.
Assets America guided us every step of the way

Assets America guided us every step of the way in finding and leasing our large industrial building with attached offices. They handled all of the complex lease negotiations and contractual paperwork. Ultimately, we received exactly the space we needed along with a lower than market per square foot pricing, lease length and end of term options we requested. In addition to the real estate lease, Assets America utilized their decades-long financial expertise to negotiate fantastic rates and terms on our large and very unique multimillion dollar equipment purchase/lease. We were thankful for how promptly and consistently they kept us informed and up to date on each step of our journey. They were always available to answer each and every one of our questions. Overall, they provided my team with a fantastic and highly professional service!

Bob B.
The company is very capable, I would recommend Assets America

Assets America was responsible for arranging financing for two of my multi million dollar commercial projects. At the time of financing, it was extremely difficult to obtain bank financing for commercial real estate. Not only was Assets America successful, they were able to obtain an interest rate lower than going rates. The company is very capable, I would recommend Assets America to any company requiring commercial financing.

Ricardo L.
Assets America was incredibly helpful and professional

Assets America was incredibly helpful and professional in assisting us in purchasing our property. It was great to have such knowledgeable and super-experienced, licensed pros in our corner, pros upon which we could fully rely. They helped and successfully guided us to beat out 9 other competing offers! They were excellent at communicating with us at all times and they were extremely responsive. Having them on our team meant that we could always receive truthful, timely and accurate answers to our questions. We would most definitely utilize their services again and again for all of our real estate needs.

HMG R&D
Assets America is a great company to work with

Assets America is a great company to work with. No hassles. Recommend them to everyone. Professional, fast response time and definitely gets the job done.

DAC Team
Great experience

Ronny at Assets America has been invaluable to us and definitely is tops in his field. Great experience. Would refer them to all our business associates.

MF Group
We were very pleased with Assets America’s expertise

We were very pleased with Assets America’s expertise and prompt response to our inquiry. They were very straight forward with us and helped a great deal. We referred them to all our business associates.

Manny C.
Worked with this company for decades

I’ve worked with this company for decades. They are reputable, knowledgeable, and ethical with proven results. I highly recommend them to anyone needing commercial financing.

David B.
Top-notch professional

Ronny was incredibly adept and responsive – top-notch professional who arranged impressive term sheets.

Monte M.
Assets America helped us survive a very difficult time

Assets America helped us survive a very difficult time and we most definitely give them 5 stars!

Brent G.
Gave me direction to go

Ronny was very friendly and though we were unable to make something happen at the moment he gave me some direction to go.

Allan E.
Highly recommend them for any type of commercial financing

My business partner and I were looking to purchase a retail shopping center in southern California.  We sought out the services of Ronny, CFO of Assets America.  Ronny found us several commercial properties which met our desired needs.  We chose the property we liked best, and Ronny went to work. He negotiated very aggressively on our behalf. We came to terms with the Seller, entered into a purchase agreement and opened escrow.  Additionally, we needed 80 percent financing on our multimillion-dollar purchase.  Assets America also handled the commercial loan for us.  They were our One-Stop-Shop. They obtained fantastic, low, fixed rate insurance money for us.  So, Assets America handled both the sale and the loan for us and successfully closed our escrow within the time frame stated in the purchase agreement.  Ronny did and performed exactly as he said he would. Ronny and his company are true professionals.  In this day and age, it’s especially rare and wonderful to work with a person who actually does what he says he will do.  We recommend them to anyone needing any type of commercial real estate transaction and we further highly recommend them for any type of commercial financing.  They were diligent and forthright on both accounts and brought our deal to a successful closing.

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