Category Archives: Closings

Texas Borrowers Move from Bridge Loan to Permanent Financing

Our Texas borrowers came to us last year, needing a bridge loan. We accomplished that.

Then we turned our attention to sourcing permanent, affordable financing. And now we accomplished that!

Looking back over the whole process reminds us of all of the challenges that can occur between origination and closing.

The First Goal: Secure Emergency Bridge Loan Financing.

Our clients had their eyes on an upper moderate hotel in South Texas. They had chosen their lender. But this story almost didn’t have a happy ending. Their lender dropped the loan in the middle of underwriting!

Lender dropout is a real problem and it is becoming more common in the current economic climate. And even more upsetting, the seller was adamant about the timeline: no extensions!

The buyers came to us in a bit of a crisis. They needed a loan fast!

Rick Patel and Krishan Patel worked closely with the client partnership group. First GRP Capital recommended a restructuring of the loan. As a result, traditional lenders would be more willing to finance it. But, being realistic, our team recommended a bridge loan. Bridge financing is a short term loan, designed to bridge the gap between undertaking financing and finding a permanent financing product. Bridge loans can be the perfect solution when the loan absolutely has to close, but the clients need more time to get everything right.

The Second Project: Permanent Financing

Once the bridge loan was in place, it was imperative to find permanent financing for our clients. Bridge loans are expensive. As a result, they are a stop-gap, temporary measure.

Ultimately, with some more time, we were able to secure a permanent loan for our clients. In the meantime, they even sustained some hurricane damage. This still did not stop the closing. However, it was a bit delayed while insurance companies reevaluated the situation.

The moral of the story is that hard work and patience and strong financial advice do win out in the end.

Bridge Loan Basics:

• Short-term financing that has to stay short-term. Bridge lenders are interested in short-term financing only. They want to know that clients have an exit strategy to obtain permanent financing.

• Premium comes with a price. Bridge lending has a built in cost, usually a higher interest rate. This is another inducement to find permanent financing quickly.

• Be prepared for careful underwriting: Bridge loans are a somewhat riskier product for the lender, so lenders will work to protect themselves. They will conduct their own underwriting and it will be quite similar to a conventional lender’s underwriting protocol. Bridge lenders want to ensure that your loan will be able to be funded elsewhere pretty quickly. So they will look at your loan structure, your cash positions and your debt coverage before offering even this emergency financing.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Texas Buyers Needed Bridge Loan

Our clients had their eyes on an upper moderate hotel in South Texas. They had chosen their lender.

But this story almost didn’t have a happy ending. Their lender dropped the loan in the middle of underwriting!

Lender dropout is a real problem and it is becoming more common in the current economic climate. And even more upsetting, the seller was adamant about the timeline: no extensions!

The buyers came to us in a bit of a crisis. They needed a loan fast!

Rick Patel and Krishan Patel worked closely with the client partnership group. First GRP Capital recommended a restructuring of the loan. As a result, traditional lenders would be more willing to finance it. But, being realistic, they recommended a bridge loan. Bridge financing is a short term loan, designed to bridge the gap between undertaking financing and finding a permanent financing product. Bridge loans can be the perfect solution when the loan absolutely has to close, but the clients need more time to get everything right.

With a lot of work, this story had a happy ending. Our clients are the owners of a new hotel. They have short-term financing and are working with GRP Capital now to finalize their long-term financing needs.

Bridge Loan Basics:

• Short-term financing that has to stay short-term. Bridge lenders are interested in short-term financing only. They want to know that clients have an exit strategy to obtain permanent financing.

• Premium comes with a price. Bridge lending has a built in cost, usually a higher interest rate. This is another inducement to find permanent financing quickly.

• Be prepared for careful underwriting: Bridge loans are a somewhat riskier product for the lender, so lenders will work to protect themselves. They will conduct their own underwriting and it will be quite similar to a conventional lender’s underwriting protocol. Bridge lenders want to ensure that your loan will be able to be funded elsewhere pretty quickly. So they will look at your loan structure, your cash positions and your debt coverage before offering even this emergency financing.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

First Time Owner Buys Florida Hotel

Our client was ready to be a first time owner of a hotel.

He had already successfully owned and operated several fast casual restaurants. Now he was ready for the challenge and the potential opportunity of a Florida hotel.

Our client had been looking for properties in the west coast of Florida for a while. He knows that market well and it is close to where he lives. He was keeping his eye on several hotels that were rumored to be going on the market. When they became available, with our advice, he made a competitive bid which was accepted. Now, he just had to close by the seller’s timeframe.

A first time owner needs a little more attention. Rick Patel and Krishan Patel worked closely with the client, along with Keren Alpert, our loan processor. We advised him on setting up his corporation. We recommended that he bring in an experienced minor partner, at least at the beginning. We also were a resource in engaging legal counsel and insurance.

The partnership group coalesced and the loan closed. Our client told us, “Thank your team for all the help during the process”. His hotel is ready for the Florida high season.

Tips for First Time Owners:

• Stay within your budget. Just because you are ready to take on this new challenge, don’t feel pressured to spend more than you are able to. As exciting as new ownership is, affordable ownership is your goal.

• Engage your attorney and accountant. First time owners are wise to assemble a team of professionals in addition to utilizing your GRP team. Do not try to save money by serving as your own attorney or accountant. Accountants needs to be on board to provide monthly updated financial reports for any businesses you own. Lawyers can help you in negotiating with the seller (and their lawyer), as well as prepare and review documents and make any necessary changes to agreements.

• Start working on obtaining insurance right away! Obtaining insurance is not super fast for new properties, especially in certain coastal areas. Particularly if you require flood insurance, begin that process as soon as your PSA (purchase sale agreement) is signed. Sometimes you may also need life insurance either because you are a key employee, or because of a collateral shortfall. It can take weeks to obtain the life insurance policy and assignment, so begin that process right away as well.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

California Hardware Store Has New Owners

Our clients saw a hardware store for sale and were ready for a hardware store loan.

We were ready to make it work.

This was a brand new venture for our client partners. It was our job at GRP Capital to make the case for their past successes and their solid business plan.

An independent hardware store can be a competitive, challenging business. But in this smallish California town, the local hardware store was a gathering place for all things hardware and a variety of rentals. Our clients knew the area well as they already ran a successful independent hotel nearby.

Our clients worked closely with the sellers, retaining the management team and key employees. This will ensure continuity, something the lender looked at favorably. The lender was sufficiently confident in our clients’ business plans to offer an affordable loan. Ultimately, both the lender and the client were optimistic about the hardware store loan and the business’ chances for success.

Do You Want to Expand into New Business Ventures?

• Become a student in the new business. Just because you have been a customer of a business does not make you an expert. If you want to be a business owner, become an expert. Do your reading, talk with business owners, attend a local conference or even audit a class on the business at a local college.

• Managing What you Have and What You Are Starting : We If you already have a successful business in another arena, how will you maintain your current obligations? Part of your business plan needs to include maintaining your current businesses. Lenders will want to see continuity in revenue stream and solid post-closing liquidity.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Client-Focused Gets the Loan Closed

What does it mean to be client-focused?

At GRP Capital, client-focused means understanding the specific needs and wishes of our clients. Every loan is different and every borrower is unique. We find out from our clients what the most critical aspects of their loans are and try to match them up with the best fit for their needs. We never try to shoehorn a square peg into a round hole!

Our Carolina clients worked closely with Senior Associate Ryan Dumas in order to purchase a new hotel, using the proceeds from a recent sale. The clients came to us after parting ways from a previous lender, who could not honor the terms the borrowers had signed up for.

Ryan said, “We always work as a team to help our our clients and this was no exception. The borrowers had a busy schedule including travel and so did the seller. But we stayed on top of lots of details. First, we collaborated on the personal financial statement with the buyers, to make sure it was accurate and showed good post-closing liquidity. Then our team helped make sure the PIP was accurate and had a realistic budget. Later we also worked very closely with franchise, insurance providers and lenders, all of whom had their own processes and their own requirements. And just to make things more complex, the borrowing group had several minor partners.”

What Does Client-Focused Mean?

• Know our client’s business. We take the time to know our borrowers. Before we try to match them with a lender, we know the strengths of their business plan, possible roadblocks to funding and their strengths as borrowers.

• Think Two Steps Ahead We plan your loan process from the time you make an inquiry to us until you sign your loan documents and get funded. We set a target date and determine what aspects of your loan could take the most time. Whether it is an old gas station that used to be on the corner of your property, a previous insurance claim or a couple of dings on a credit report, we are prepared.

• Quick and responsive communication We are known for our speedy response time. Our loan processors always return emails and phone calls quickly. Taking on a new loan is stressful, so we want fast, clear communication all the time. And even if our clients don’t know it, we have regular meetings about your loan twice a week to make sure we are making adequate progress.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Florida Medical Office Loan

GRP Capital is proud to announce the closing of a new Florida medical office loan. Working closely with our Business Associate, Cesar Hernandez, our Florida client is now the owner of her medical office facility.

Previously, our clients were renting their spacious office. Now, however, they were ready to take over ownership, giving them greater control over current and future expenses. The search to find a medical office loan was underway.

Cesar noted, “My client and her team are excellent business owners and trusted professionals in their field. In addition, they really wanted to own their current space, which they had spent a lot of time to customize to their specific needs. Ownership of the property will give them stability, credibility and be the springboard for further business growth.”

Although the clients were very efficient and professional, financing a medical office loan was new territory for them. The GRP Capital team worked in conjunction with the client and the lender. Cesar mentioned, “Keren, our loan processor, really tries to do the work so that our clients can focus on running their business. This is a huge value-add for me and my clients.”

New to commercial real estate? Here are some tips:

• Find out if there is an existing survey! When you are ready to purchase a property, ask the current owner for a recent survey. If one doesn’t exist, this could delay the loan process. We recommend current surveys for all new purchases.

• What can you afford? If you are moving from renting to owning, determine what the true costs of ownership will be. Be sure to include not just debt service (paying your principal and interest), but also insurance, maintenance, utilities and ownership association fees, if applicable.

• Nail down insurance costs: Insurance costs are increasing in many markets. Call your trusted agent to obtain a quote for comprehensive coverage as quickly as you can. It’s important to make sure that insurance is affordable. If you don’t have an agent, ask the seller if they have been satisfied with their insurance coverage and contact their agent.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Florida Hotel Closes with SBA 504

Our Florida client was able to purchase a new Gulf Coast hotel, taking advantage of an SBA 504 loan.

As experienced multi-family owners, our clients had their eyes on a South Florida property.

However, the lending space has changed recently for hospitality loans. Consequently, lenders and borrowers are interested in the guaranty that the SBA loans provide. The benefit of an SBA 504 loan is that it is fixed interest and competitively priced.

GRP Capital President Rick Patel and the whole team worked closely on this loan. He noted, “The SBA 504 loan process is a little more rigorous. Sometimes this can scare clients. But our team worked closely with all of the various personnel to get this loan closed. I want everybody to consider SBA financing when it is appropriate. We know we have the systems in place to make the detailed underwriting much easier for our clients so they can take advantage of the SBA products.”

Fast FAQ’s on SBA 504 loans:

• What’s a CDC? A CDC is a Certified Development Company. These are community-based partners who underwrite the loan and create the package. They are the first step in getting a loan closed. Most importantly, they know their way around the SBA and the best paths to secure SBA approval.

• Tell me the difference between the SBA 504 and the SBA 7a: The 7a loan is typically (although not always) for smaller loans and for businesses that might have more trouble obtaining conventional financing. Currently SBA 504 loans hold fixed rate loan structures, while many SBA 7a loans are structured with a variable rate. Both loan products can be used for purchases and construction, while 504 loans may have restrictions regarding refinanced debt.

• Is the equity requirement affordable in an SBA 504 loan? Typically, yes, but every project is different. In the case of this closing, the equity contribution met the budgetary needs of the borrowers.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Lighthouse for beach hotel but it's SA

Beach Resort Multi-Family Refinance

Senior Associate Ryan Dumas is pleased to announce the refinance of a multi-family loan at a popular beach resort town.

Our clients, who owned a very rare property on a vacation destination island, had specific asks for their multi-family refinance.

First, the loan needed to be affordable with better rates than their current note.

Second, they were looking to pull some cash out, which narrowed the interest of multi-family lenders.

Third, we needed to find financing with a lender that was somewhat flexible. Many multi-family lenders have hard and fast rules: insisting on 12 month leases or even 90 days at 90% occupancy. This lender understood the special nature of this property. They particularly understood the very high demand for housing in a resort community.

Ryan Dumas stated, “I’m thrilled that we closed this loan for our clients. Rates were all over the map before we closed this loan. Sourcing a non-agency loan was the key to this loan’s success. Our clients were able to connect with an understanding lender. The result: a higher loan with greater cashout.”

Looking for Multi-Family Financing?

• Get your paperwork ready. Lenders will request rent rolls, copies of leases and financials. Keep your files up to date and in good format (where the numbers from the various reports are congruent with each other.)

• Discuss options with our team: Many lenders want to finance multi-family projects. As a result, there are different types of loans that might be applicable for your project. We can explain the benefits of non-Agency loans, Fannie and Freddie backed loans, conventional loans, SBA Loans (for smaller properties) and even USDA loans for projects outside of metro areas.

• Keep up your occupancy: If you are seeking a refinance, lenders wants to see a healthy occupancy rate. If you are purchasing an underperforming property, the lenders need a strong, clear business plan to rehab and turn around the business.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

outside of apartment complex

Indiana Multi-Family Refinance

Senior Associate Ryan Dumas is pleased to announce the refinance of a multi-family loan in Indiana.

Our clients, experienced multi-family owners, needed to refinance an existing loan. They were looking for stable financing at competitive prices.

Ryan worked hard with the clients, who were extremely motivated. Fortunately, the clients had also engaged a fantastic on-site manager. She worked closely with the GRP Capital team to provide up to the minute financials and rent rolls, so the loan could close as quickly as possible.

Our clients were extremely pleased with the process. As busy entreprenuers, they particularly liked how GRP Capital breaks down the lender checklists into bite-size to-do lists. The client told our loan processor, “Thank you so much for this email with a simple list”, remarking that other lists from previous lenders can be overwhelming at times. The team also shepherded the clients through the Environmental Site Assessment (which was not done for the original acquisition loan) as well as a necessary survey. As an added bonus, the clients were vacationing near our office during their scheduled closing date, so they were able to pop right in and sign their documents while we notarized. We loved meeting them and their adorable children.

Ryan Dumas stated, “I’m thrilled that we closed this loan for our clients. They are wonderful businesspeople. I’m particularly impressed with how they turned around this property. They own a lovely multi-family product with a very good reputation in a location that needed this type of housing. Our team worked very hard with them, and we hope to help them find more properties in the future.”

Looking for Multi-Family Financing?

• Get your paperwork ready. Lenders will request rent rolls, copies of leases and financials. Keep your files up to date and in good format (where the numbers from the various reports are congruent with each other.)

• Discuss options with our team: Many lenders want to finance multi-family projects. As a result, there are different types of loans that might be applicable for your project. We can explain the benefits of Fannie and Freddie backed loans, conventional loans, SBA Loans (for smaller properties) and even USDA loans for projects outside of metro areas.

• Keep up your occupancy: If you are seeking a refinance, lenders wants to see a healthy occupancy rate. If you are purchasing an underperforming property, the lenders need a strong, clear business plan to rehab and turn around the business.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.

Michigan Hotel Loan Closes

Dominating the market with a new Michigan hotel loan.

That’s what our clients are now doing. Previously they owned another hotel at different price points not too far from this Michigan location. Now the purchase of this new property means they really are dominating the local market. Ultimately, they can now target different customer bases through their marketing and their differentiated rate structures.

This is the third loan closing Senior Associate Ryan Dumas has accomplished for this partnership group. Ryan worked closely with the younger partners, who are next generation hoteliers. To do so, Ryan, along with our management team, provided expert guidance. As a result, this Michigan hotel loan closed with favorable terms. Ryan said, “These clients are experts in running their hotels. However they needed our expertise in loans, especially moving from non-traditional to traditional financing. They have reliable, steady financing now, and they can focus on operational challenges.”

Clearly these clients turn to Ryan and to GRP Capital for their financing needs or for expert business consulting.

Advantages to owning multiple properties in one market:

• You already know the local market. Adding a second property in the geographic area you know means you don’t have to research new markets. Most likely, you already know the demand generators. You also know the typical customer breakdown (corporate, group, leisure, etc.)

• Different Products for Different Customers Offering two different hotel flags means that customers have choices. In addition, marketing can often go further if customers are utilizing franchise loyalty programs. And you can emphasize different aspects of each property to reach a variety of customers.

• Staffing synergy: Staffing can be a challenge. Therefore, multiple properties allow for fuller employment. And management-wise, you do not have to duplicate efforts in terms of supplies, payroll and accounting.

Our GRP Capital team specializes in finding the right lender for each project. We save our clients time and money, as we research the best choices for their funding sources. Our experience allows our clients to find funding that is project-appropriate and will allow for sufficient cash flow. Whether you are looking to refinance or purchase, we would love to discuss your business plans with you. If you are considering becoming a first-time (or second or third time!) buyer, we can assist you.