1st Nationwide Mortgage

Commercial Real Estate Loans | Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, Office, Retail, Industrial

Commercial real estate financing for investors: 5+ unit multi-family, mixed-use, office, retail, industrial, and self-storage. No state licensing delay — available nationwide.

Commercial Real Estate Loans for Investors

Commercial real estate loans finance income-producing properties that fall outside the 1–4 unit residential category — 5+ unit multi-family, mixed-use buildings, office, retail, industrial, and self-storage facilities. Whether you’re scaling a portfolio of small apartment buildings, buying your first mixed-use property, or acquiring a retail center, we originate across the full commercial spectrum.

Like DSCR, these loans qualify on the property’s cash flow — not personal income documentation. And because commercial real estate lending doesn’t require state-by-state NMLS broker licensing, we can originate across the country with no licensing delay.

Check Commercial Loan Eligibility Talk to a Commercial Specialist — (833) 350-9185

Commercial Products

ProductProperty TypeTypical UseLearn More
Multi-Family (5+)Apartment buildings, 5 units and upCash-flowing rental portfolios
Mixed-UseResidential + commercial comboStorefront with apartments above
OfficeOffice buildings, medical officeProfessional / medical tenants
RetailShopping centers, strip malls, single-tenant NNNRetail investors
IndustrialWarehouse, light industrial, flex spaceIndustrial investors
Self-StorageSelf-storage facilitiesStorage operators and passive investors

How Commercial Real Estate Loans Work

The core qualification is the same as DSCR: Net Operating Income (NOI) divided by annual debt service. Commercial lenders also look at:

  • Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) — typically 1.20–1.30 minimum on commercial (higher than the 1.00 common on residential DSCR)
  • Loan-to-Value (LTV) — typically 65–75% depending on property type and tenant quality
  • Debt Yield — annual NOI divided by loan amount; institutional lenders often want 8–10% minimum
  • Tenant quality / lease term — national credit tenant on a 15-year NNN is priced very differently from month-to-month local tenants
  • Sponsor experience — commercial lenders want to see you’ve operated similar assets before (newer investors pair with experienced partners)

For simpler 5–8 unit multi-family, our NONI program and DSCR program can often underwrite more like residential — faster close, lower docs. For true commercial (office, retail, industrial), we route to commercial-specific lenders with proper commercial underwriting.


Typical Commercial Loan Terms

FeatureTypical Range
Loan amounts$500,000 – $10,000,000+ (larger on request)
LTV65–75% (higher for multi-family, lower for special-purpose)
DSCR minimum1.20–1.30
Term5, 7, or 10-year fixed with 25-30 year amortization; balloon at term
Amortization25 or 30 years typical
PrepaymentStep-down, yield maintenance, or defeasance (varies by program)
RecourseFull recourse, limited recourse, or non-recourse available
VestingLLC strongly preferred; single-asset SPV common
Reserves6–12 months operating + capex reserves
EnvironmentalPhase I ESA often required

Rates and terms vary significantly by property type, sponsor quality, and loan size. A quick call gets you a realistic quote on your specific scenario.


Who Uses Commercial Loans

  • Multi-family investors scaling from 4-unit to 5+ apartment buildings
  • Mixed-use buyers acquiring storefront + residential combos in walkable neighborhoods
  • Professional office buyers (medical practices, law firms owning their space)
  • Retail investors buying strip centers, NNN-leased single-tenant, or urban retail
  • Industrial investors in warehouse, last-mile logistics, flex/office-warehouse
  • Self-storage operators buying existing facilities or new construction takeouts
  • 1031 exchange buyers moving up from smaller residential into larger commercial

If the property produces income and you’re treating it as a business investment, a commercial loan is likely the right tool.


Nationwide Commercial Lending — No Licensing Delay

Commercial real estate loans don’t require state-by-state broker NMLS licensing, which means we can originate across the country without waiting for license approvals. If your deal is in any U.S. state, we can quote and close.

This is a real advantage for investors whose deals are time-sensitive. Residential mortgages require state licensing that creates delays in any state we’re not already licensed in. Commercial doesn’t have that limitation.


Commercial vs DSCR vs NONI

FeatureCommercialStandard DSCRNONI
Property types5+ unit, mixed-use, office, retail, industrial, self-storage1–4 unit residential investment1–4 unit residential investment
Loan amounts$500K – $10M+Up to $1.5MUp to $3.5M
DSCR minimum1.20–1.301.001.00
LTV65–75%Up to 80%Up to 85%
Term5/7/10 with balloon30-year fixed30-year fixed
DocumentationFull commercial underwriting (NOI, rent roll, tenant estoppels, Phase I)Minimal — rent + PITIAMinimal — rent + PITIA
Close time45–75 days typical21–30 days21–30 days
State licensingNot requiredRequired in some statesRequired in some states
Best for5+ unit, commercial use, larger loans1–4 unit residential rentalsHigh-balance residential investor

Quick guide:

  • 1–4 unit residential rental? Start with DSCR or NONI .
  • 5+ units or commercial use? Commercial loan (this page).
  • Short-term bridge needed? See hard money .

Start Your Commercial Loan Quote

Check Commercial Loan Eligibility Talk to a Commercial Specialist — (833) 350-9185

Frequently Asked Questions

A commercial real estate loan finances income-producing property that isn’t 1–4 unit residential. This includes 5+ unit apartment buildings, mixed-use (residential over retail), pure office, retail, industrial, warehouse, self-storage, and special-purpose properties like medical office or hotel. The underwriting focuses on the property’s net operating income and tenant quality rather than personal income.
On most programs, no. Commercial loans primarily underwrite the property’s cash flow — Net Operating Income divided by debt service. Lenders do review sponsor financials and experience, but the loan doesn’t require W-2s or personal tax returns the way a residential loan does. LLC vesting is standard.
25–35% is typical. Multi-family tends toward 25–30%; single-tenant retail, office, and special-purpose often require 30–35%. Very strong sponsors with stabilized cash flow sometimes qualify for 80% LTV; new or recovering assets may require 40% down.
45–75 days is typical, compared to 21–30 days on residential DSCR. Commercial requires more due diligence — Phase I environmental, property condition report, rent roll verification, tenant estoppels, and often a lender-ordered appraisal with income-capitalization methodology. Institutional-quality sponsors and stabilized properties close faster than complex or value-add deals.
Both are available depending on loan size, property type, and sponsor. Loans under roughly $1M are typically full-recourse or limited-recourse. Larger institutional-quality loans (agency multi-family, CMBS) can be non-recourse with standard bad-boy carve-outs.
Yes — LLC vesting is not just allowed, it’s preferred for commercial. Single-asset LLCs (one property per LLC) are standard practice to isolate liability and simplify financing. Operating agreements, EIN, and formation documents are required at closing.
All U.S. states. Commercial real estate loans do not require state-by-state NMLS broker licensing, which means we don’t have the state-count limitations that apply to our residential mortgage products. If the property is anywhere in the U.S., we can quote.
DSCR is a specific residential investment product for 1–4 unit rentals with minimal documentation. Commercial covers 5+ unit, mixed-use, and all pure-commercial property types, with more extensive underwriting (NOI analysis, tenant quality, environmental reports). DSCR closes faster and requires fewer docs; commercial offers more flexibility for complex properties and larger loans.

  • DSCR Loans — 1–4 unit residential rental loans, no tax returns, minimal docs
  • NONI Investment Loans — Premium DSCR tier up to $3.5M with no ownership seasoning on cash-out
  • Hard Money Loans — Short-term bridge for fix-and-flip or quick-close deals
  • Rehab Loans — Purchase + renovation financing for value-add projects
  • Bank Statement Loans — Self-employed residential mortgage with deposit-based qualification

1st Nationwide Mortgage, NMLS 1281. Commercial real estate loans subject to sponsor qualification, property underwriting, and lender approval. Terms, LTV, and DSCR minimums vary by property type and loan amount. Not all applicants or properties will qualify.

Ready to Get Started?

Talk to a licensed loan officer about your options — no obligation.