Small business owners in the real estate industry can perform a number of different functions, from buying and flipping property to managing rental properties to acting as a realtor. No matter what your business does, there may be business loans your real estate company can access to start and grow your business. 

Learn how to fund a real estate business, the differences between the types of loans, and which one could work best for your business.

How Do I Fund My Real Estate Business?

The way you decide to finance your real estate business depends on what you need to fund and how much funding your business needs. Small business loans provide a variety of loan types and loan amounts to many kinds of business owners. The best business loan a real estate agent can take out, for example, may be for funding a new office or operating expenses. On the other hand, if you’re a new business, you could decide to finance your real estate business startup costs, while house flippers might want to pay for new property.

Real estate borrowers typically apply for one or more of these types of financing:

• SBA loans
• Permanent loans       
• Bridge loans
• Hard money loans
• Business lines of credit
• Term loans
• Business credit cards

When choosing between lenders for your real estate business, you’ll want to check loan terms, interest rates and other fees, prepayment penalties, and the lender’s credibility.

Can You Get an SBA Loan To Start a Real Estate Business?

Yes, you can get a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to launch a real estate business for up to $5 million. With SBA loans, the federal government partners with lenders that offer small business loans and covers a portion of them if the borrower can’t. To qualify for SBA-guaranteed loans, your real estate business must: 

• Operate for a profit
• Be located inside the United States or its territories
• Be able to invest owner equity
• Not be a real estate investment firm that holds onto the properties as investments

SBA commercial real estate loans have a notoriously challenging application process and higher requirements than some other lenders, like a high credit score. However, the SBA may have lower interest rates and better terms than other lenders. 

One way to increase your chances of getting an SBA loan is to build up your business credit. Read Nav’s guide from experts on how to establish business credit for more.

Can You Use a Business Loan To Buy a House?

Many small business owners are able to use a traditional business loan to purchase a house intended for business use or other commercial property. If the property will be used for business more than half the time, you can use a business loan to fund the purchase. However, this isn’t an option for sole proprietors — you must be an LLC, limited partnership, S-Corp, or C-Corp to use a business loan for real estate. Before applying for a loan program, check to see what a qualifying borrower looks like to make sure you match up.

What’s the Difference Between an SBA 504 and 7(a) Loan?

There are several distinct differences between these two types of loans from the SBA that might affect your eligibility. 

SBA 504 loans

SBA 504 loans are designed for a specific borrower: small business owners looking to buy or replace real estate, machinery, or equipment to use in their business. With these loans, an SBA lender will partner with a certified development company (CDC) to offer you funding.

Specific projects may be eligible to borrow up to $5.5 million. You’ll need to put 10% down and pay it back within 10, 20, or 25 years, depending on the terms. One benefit of a 504 loan is that you’ll get a fixed interest rate for at least the CDC portion of the loan. You may also be able to have a lower down payment with a 504 loan than you might need for a commercial real estate loan. 

SBA 7(a) loans

The SBA (7a) loan is more common than the SBA 504 loan because it’s more flexible in terms of how you can use it — borrowers can use this funding toward many business expenses including real estate purchases. How much of the loan is guaranteed by the SBA depends on the loan and its terms. Loan terms are up to 25 years for real estate and up to 10 years for equipment, working capital, or inventory. The interest rates vary based on the market but tend to be lower than some other lenders.

Other Sources of Real Estate Business Financing

If an SBA loan is out of reach, there are other financing options that may be available to your real estate business to assist with launching or expanding your business. Here are some of the best options. 

Other commercial real estate loans

A commercial real estate loan can come in many forms, like a short-term bridge loan or a hard money loan. These loans target businesses looking to purchase real estate so they could work if you’re flipping houses or buying rental properties. Be sure to check the terms, fees, and interest rates of each option before applying. 

Term loans

A term loan requires the borrower to pay back the lump sum (plus interest) within a certain term, or period of time, but can be used on most business expenses. Short-term loans have a smaller window for repayment while intermediate- or long-term loans offer more flexibility. This option can be a traditional bank loan or from an alternative lender that offers various interest rates.

Business lines of credit

A business line of credit is a flexible funding solution for small businesses. Like a credit card, you only pay interest on what you use. A line of credit is basically a pool of money that you can draw from as needed and pay back over time. Interest rates depend on the lender, the amount you borrow, and how long your term is.

Small business credit cards

Although it may not seem like an obvious funding solution, business credit cards can provide assistance with working capital and cash flow to real estate businesses. However, the interest rates are usually higher with credit cards than other types of funding, so be careful how much you borrow on them. Find the best business credit card options for your business by using Nav.