Office buildings are a huge part of the community fabric. They create jobs, promote more business to come into the area and generate revenue for the entire community through their businesses. Office buildings, specifically ones with multiple tenants or very strong credit rated tenants, can be eligible for extremely favorable terms.
Property ownership of an office building can transfer many times over several decades, with new investors coming in and reworking the building, its tenants and its general look. Of course, the investment process for office buildings varies from that of other property types. Office buildings are often driven through the location, management skill and quality of their tenants.
Financing for an office building depends on a number of different considerations that go beyond the ability of the borrower to pay back the loan. Some things that have to be considered are the loan to value and debt coverage ratio. Typically, excluding SBA financing, an office building will need a loan to cover 80-90 percent of the purchase price, with the investor putting a 10-20 percent down payment on the building. Also, the debt coverage ratio should not be less than 1.2, which would require the borrower to generate a net cash flow that is 120 percent of the debt service amount.
Other factors need to be looked at with an office building commercial loan, including how many tenants have come into the building and left in the past ten or so years, and how many tenants are currently in a lease agreement, at that moment. If most of the tenants are in their fourth year of a ten year lease, then it is possible, after looking at rollover and renewal scenarios, that the debt coverage ratio will not be enough for the borrower to pay off.
Location for the office building should be considered, as well as its design and workmanship. Physical factors, such as these, will affect whether businesses move into the area, and into that building. Commercial lenders will look at the market-wide statistics of the building, including whether or not there is a high vacancy rate in the community, economic vitality of the area and the development activity.
For a good quality office building, the typical interest rate varies between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent over a ten year term with a 25-30 year amortization period. Since office buildings are so dependent on the market, local economy, location and other characteristics, it can be difficult for a borrower to secure a commercial loan in softer markets. If there is a high vacancy in the building, then financing most likely will not be approved. However, on that note, if the building has a good history of constant tenants, and is in a good location, then there is a good chance the loan will be approved by the commercial lender.
Any borrower should have an excellent business plan before approaching a lender. Understanding the market and viability of the area the office building is in will help determine if a loan is approved or not. Be sure to do the research before approaching a lender.
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