Tag Archives: low appraised value

Florida Gas Station Loan Closes

Senior Associate Ryan Dumas is pleased to announce the closing of a loan for a gas station in central Florida. The loan funded at 86% LTV (loan to value), including inventory costs. These were very favorable terms, and we are proud of this high leverage loan. In addition, the interest rates were extremely competitive.

This loan closed, despite two hurricanes coming through the area. Fortunately, neither one materially affected the gas station.

Ryan had this to say about the deal, “We had a great team collaborating on this deal. My client was working with an experienced gas station broker and also a very responsive attorney. We were able to quickly get the documents needed from the sellers and the buyer. Therefore, our lender was motivated, too. As a result, the lender quickly approved and scheduled the closing. I hope we can work with lots of these guys again, as they are bright, experienced business people.”

How to Set Yourself Up for a Quick Closing

• Organized Documents: Sellers and buyers need to have their vital documents in tip-top shape. If you think a business loan is coming down the pike, gather your materials. Create your own personal financial statement. Organize documents about businesses you own, like tax returns and financials. Contact your accountant and get up-to-date financials on all your businesses, even if it is not your practice to receive monthly financials.

•Engage Professionals: Consult with an attorney and your accountant before making business decisions. Call our GRP Capital Team before you even sign a PSA. Ask your advisers, “Can I afford this? What is a reasonable price? Do you think the timing is good now?”

• Get insurance in place now: The commercial property insurance marketplace is very volatile right now. Start the process of finding insurance immediately and figure out if you can afford the costs. As soon as you can, obtain insurance certificates. Insurance issues are one of the prime reasons for delayed closing. Waiting to purchase insurance until the last minute usually backfires.

•Be Flexible: If a quick closing is a priority, be ready to pivot. If an appraisal comes in short, buyers and sellers may have to renegotiate. Sometimes we have to tweak the structure of the loan, especially for SBA approval.

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, purchase or engage in construction, 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.

Gulf Coast of Florida

Useful Advice for Gulf Coast Hotel Purchase

Working closely with the GRP Capital Team, our recurring client purchased a new Gulf Coast hotel.

This purchase did have a few roadblocks, which sometimes happens!

The buyers put down hard money when they signed a Purchase Sale Agreement (PSA). However, during the underwriting process, the appraised value came up short.

Rick Patel, GRP President, stated, “Lenders and appraisers are cautious right now, especially in the hospitality arena. It can be tricky to negotiate with a seller when an appraised value is below their expectations. They can have a fixed idea of what they think their property is worth. In this instance, we worked closely with the borrowers and the broker to bring the PSA in line with the market value. This had to be done in order to close the loan. Getting to closing required tact and finesse.”

Advice for When Appraisals Come in Low

• Prevention first! GRP Capital works closely with borrowers to make sure the loan is appraised to show the full value. This sometimes means working with accountants to recategorize expenses. It also means combing financials to find addbacks. Addbacks are current costs will not be borne by the new buyer. Finally, we work closely with the appraisers to make sure they have a clear picture of the revenue potential of the property.

•Renegotiate Purchase Price: Ultimately, lenders will not loan money which exceeds the value of the property. It is also unrealistic, costly and time consuming to try to find another lender and hope that they will raise the appraised value. So, once a buyer has received a lower appraised value, they need to return to the seller to discuss the issue. Hopefully, the seller will be reasonable. It’s critical that the seller understands that a new buyer is not going to repair this problem. Indeed, a new purchase price is the only fix.

• Make Sound Business Decisions: A lower appraised value should cause the buyer to consider the project in a new light. Why have market values come up short? Can the buyer manage the property more profitably or will they face the same issues as the seller? And if the seller refuses to budge on price, a strong business owner has to know when to walk away.

More Information on the Appraisal Process

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, purchase or engage in construction, 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.