Full Doc
Generally supported by current financial statements, tax returns, notices of assessment, BAS and business bank statements.
Full Doc applications often provide access to the broadest range of lenders and pricing options.
Commercial Property Finance
Commercial property finance structured around your business.
Buying business premises, investing in commercial property or refinancing an existing facility? I compare options across major banks and specialist commercial lenders, structure the finance properly and manage your application through to settlement.
20+Commercial lenders compared
1Broker managing your deal
4Full Doc, Lease Doc, Alt Doc and SMSF pathways
End to endSupport through to settlement
What I can help with
Finance for buying, investing or refinancing commercial property
Commercial property lending is different from a standard home loan. Lenders assess the property, the loan purpose, your business position, lease arrangements, income and proposed structure.
- Purchasing premises for your own business
- Buying a tenanted commercial investment property
- Refinancing an existing commercial property loan
- Releasing equity for business or investment purposes
- Purchasing through a self-managed super fund
- Low-doc and alternative-documentation applications
Commercial property options
Find the right structure for your property purchase
How commercial lending is assessed
More than the property value matters
Commercial lenders assess each application differently. The right option can depend on the complete transaction, not one figure in isolation.
I assess the full scenario before recommending a lender, rather than relying on the headline interest rate alone.
The property type, location and intended use
Whether the property will be owner-occupied or leased
Your deposit or available equity
Business income, cash flow and trading history
The strength and remaining term of any lease
The borrower and ownership structure
The loan purpose and proposed repayment strategy
The financial documents available
Your credit history and existing commitments
Property types
Commercial property finance across a range of sectors
Depending on the lender, location, property and proposed use, finance may be available for:
Offices and professional suites
Warehouses and industrial units
Factories and workshops
Retail shops and commercial tenancies
Medical and allied health premises
Childcare and specialised commercial properties
Agricultural and rural commercial property
Mixed-use properties
Commercial land and development sites
Owner-operated business premises
Specialised properties can attract different deposit, valuation and lending requirements, so lender selection matters.
Loan structure
Commercial finance should fit the deal, not just the property
I consider the total structure, repayment impact, fees and future flexibility before recommending an option.
- Principal and interest or interest-only repayments
- Variable, fixed or split interest rates
- Loan terms matched to the property and business strategy
- Finance secured by the commercial property alone or with additional security
- Equity contributions from cash or another property
- Separate facilities for the property purchase, GST, costs or business funding
- Options for individuals, companies, trusts and self-managed super funds
Documentation options
Different applications require different ways of verifying income
Commercial lenders may assess income using different documentation pathways. The terminology and requirements vary between lenders, but the main options include:
Lease Doc
Typically used for commercial investment property where the lender places greater reliance on the property's rental income, lease terms and tenant profile.
The lender may require less evidence of the borrower's personal or business income, although eligibility depends on the property, lease and overall transaction.
Alt Doc
Designed for self-employed borrowers who can demonstrate income through alternative evidence rather than a complete set of current financial statements.
Supporting evidence may include an accountant's letter, BAS, business bank statements, interim financial statements or other evidence of business income.
I assess which documentation pathway suits the application and which lenders are likely to accept the available evidence.
Deposit and equity
How much deposit do you need for commercial property?
The required contribution depends on the property, location, loan purpose, borrower strength and lender policy.
Commercial purchases can also involve GST, stamp duty, valuation costs, legal fees and lender charges. These costs may need to be funded separately from the property deposit.
Your contribution may come from:
- Cash savings
- Equity in residential or commercial property
- Equity held within a business or investment structure
- Sale proceeds from another property
- A combination of cash and additional security
I work with your accountant, conveyancer and other professional advisers to help structure the transaction properly and support the best overall outcome.
I calculate the complete funding position before an application is submitted so you understand the required contribution, total borrowing and likely cash needed at settlement.
Comparing commercial loans
The lowest rate is not always the best structure
Commercial lenders can vary significantly in how they assess the same transaction.
I compare the complete lending structure so you can make an informed decision based on the total cost, flexibility and suitability of the facility.
Interest rate and repayment type
Loan term and amortisation period
Establishment, valuation and legal fees
Annual reviews and ongoing charges
Deposit and security requirements
Early repayment costs
Financial reporting requirements
Settlement timeframes
Flexibility for future borrowing or property changes
Whether the lender understands the property and industry
The process01 02 03 04 05
From initial review through to settlement
Understand the transaction
I review the property, purchase price, loan purpose, borrower structure, available contribution and business position.
Assess the available pathways
I determine whether the application is best suited to Full Doc, Lease Doc or Alt Doc assessment, then identify lenders that fit the scenario.
Structure and compare options
I compare lending limits, rates, fees, security requirements, loan terms and documentation requirements.
Coordinate the application
I prepare and submit the application, work with the lender and coordinate information from your accountant, conveyancer, valuer and other advisers where required.
Manage approval and settlement
I track the application, respond to lender conditions and keep you informed through to settlement.
Why Freedom Financing
One broker managing the full transaction
Commercial property finance often involves more parties, documentation and lender conditions than a standard residential loan.
- Comparing options across more than 20 commercial lenders
- Identifying lenders suited to the property, borrower and documentation available
- Structuring the loan around the wider transaction
- Explaining the rates, fees, terms and conditions in plain English
- Coordinating with your accountant, conveyancer and other advisers
- Managing lender questions, conditions and valuation requirements
- Keeping you informed from the initial review through to settlement
You deal directly with the broker managing your application, rather than being passed between different departments.
Frequently asked questions
Commercial property finance questions
Borrowing capacity depends on the property, loan purpose, available deposit or equity, business income, lease arrangements and lender policy. I assess the complete transaction before providing an indicative funding position.
Commercial property deposits are generally higher than residential property deposits, but requirements vary considerably between lenders and property types. Additional residential or commercial property may sometimes be used as supporting security.
Potentially. Alt Doc and Lease Doc options may be available depending on the borrower, property, lease and supporting evidence available.
In some circumstances, equity in residential property can be used to help fund the deposit, purchase costs or part of the commercial loan. The risks and structure should be considered carefully before using additional security.
An SMSF may be able to purchase eligible commercial property and lease it to a related business, subject to superannuation, lending and legal requirements. You should obtain independent financial, accounting and legal advice before proceeding.
Timeframes depend on the lender, valuation, property, application complexity and documents available. Commercial transactions should be reviewed early, particularly where the contract includes finance or settlement deadlines.
Not usually. Commercial facilities may have different loan terms, fees, review requirements, repayment structures and early repayment conditions. These vary between lenders and should be compared as part of the complete lending structure.
Talk through your property plans
Get clarity before you commit
Whether you are buying business premises, investing in commercial property, refinancing or exploring your borrowing position, an early conversation can help identify the right structure and avoid unnecessary delays.
I'll review your goals, available contribution, property details and documentation, then explain the available pathways in plain English.