Questions owners ask before they refinance.
Straight answers on how we work, what it costs, and how long it takes.
About CommercialRefi
Are you a lender or a broker?
We are a broker. We do not lend our own money. We underwrite your property, choose the lenders that fit it, negotiate the terms, and manage the loan through closing on your behalf.
What do you finance?
Refinancing of commercial real estate is our focus. We also arrange acquisition loans for new purchases, and construction loans. We handle every major property type: multifamily, MixedUse, industrial, retail, office, self-storage, data centers, hospitality, healthcare, and owner-occupied business real estate.
Why use a broker instead of going to my bank?
Your bank can offer its own loan programmes and nothing else. Most owners arrange a commercial loan once every several years; we work on them every day and come from real estate investment banking. We know which lenders want your property type right now, how each will size the loan, and which terms can be moved. One lender gives you one answer. A run process gives you a comparison.
Where do you work?
Our team has secured financing in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the European Union, and the Middle East.
Do you arrange home mortgages?
No. We do not broker or provide financing for single-family homes or for residential properties with fewer than five units. Apartment buildings of five units and up are commercial property and are the centre of our work.
Can you help with financing for a business rather than a building?
Our focus is commercial real estate. On select transactions we can also help with financing to acquire or refinance a business. Tell us about it and we will say plainly whether it is something we can take on.
Fees and costs
How are you paid?
Our fee is set out in a written agreement before we approach any lender.
Do you charge anything upfront?
No. There are no upfront fees.
What other costs come with a refinance?
Lenders and third parties charge their own costs: the appraisal, environmental and property condition reports, title insurance, legal fees, and any lender origination or processing fees. We lay these out for each lender's offer so you can compare the full cost and not only the rate.
Will I owe a penalty for paying off my current loan?
Possibly. Many fixed-rate commercial loans carry yield maintenance or defeasance. Our prepayment calculator gives you an estimate, and we read your loan documents as part of the first analysis.
Timing and process
How long does a refinance take?
Most commercial loans close 30 to 90 days after your first inquiry. Smaller properties move faster, usually 25 to 45 days. The process timeline shows each step.
What do I get within 48 hours?
An answer on whether the loan is feasible: whether it can be done, at roughly what size, and on what kind of terms. It is our assessment based on what you send us, not a lender's commitment.
What slows a closing down?
Late paperwork, more than anything else. Rent rolls, operating statements, and leases that arrive in pieces cost weeks. The document checklist shows what to gather first.
Who orders the appraisal?
The lender does. Do not order one yourself before you have a lender; almost no lender will accept an appraisal commissioned by the borrower.
What if the appraisal comes in lower than expected?
On a refinance, the loan amount adjusts. You take out less cash, or keep a little more equity in the property, and the loan still closes. That flexibility is one reason a refinance is more forgiving than a purchase.
How much can I borrow?
Lenders size a loan by the lower of two limits: a share of appraised value, and the amount your net operating income can cover at their required DSCR. The pro forma calculator gives you a first estimate.