Owner-Occupied Commercial Property Finance

Finance your own business premises with the right commercial structure.

Buying an office, warehouse, workshop, retail premises or industrial property for your business? I compare commercial lenders, assess the available documentation pathways and structure the finance around the property, business and wider transaction.

See what lenders assess
What I can help with

Commercial property finance for your own business

Owner-occupied commercial property finance can help business owners purchase or refinance premises used by their own operations.

  • Buying your first business premises
  • Moving from leased premises into your own property
  • Purchasing a larger site to support growth
  • Refinancing an existing commercial property loan
  • Releasing equity for business purposes
  • Purchasing through a company, trust or other business structure
  • Structuring the property finance alongside fitout, equipment or working capital needs
How lenders assess the deal

The property and the business both matter

For an owner-occupied commercial property, lenders usually assess both the strength of the property and the business that will occupy it. I review the full transaction before recommending a lender or structure.

The property type, location and intended use
The business's trading history and cash flow
The borrower and ownership structure
The available deposit or equity
The proposed loan amount and repayment term
The financial documents available
Existing business and personal commitments
Whether additional security is required
The business's ability to meet repayments over time
Documentation pathways

The available documents help determine the lender pathway

Commercial lenders can verify income in different ways. The right pathway depends on the business, property and supporting evidence available.

Full Doc

Supported by current financial statements, tax returns, BAS, notices of assessment and other standard income evidence.

Alt Doc

May use alternative evidence such as an accountant's letter, BAS, business bank statements or interim financial information.

Other commercial pathways

Some lenders assess strong transactions using specialised commercial policies. Eligibility depends on the property, business and complete application.

For a detailed comparison of Full Doc, Lease Doc and Alt Doc options, see the commercial property finance guide.

Why Freedom Financing

One broker managing the full transaction

Owner-occupied commercial purchases often involve the lender, accountant, conveyancer, valuer and other advisers. I help keep the finance process coordinated and moving.

  • Access to more than 20 commercial lenders
  • Lenders matched to the property, business and available documents
  • Commercial structures explained in plain English
  • Coordination with your accountant, conveyancer and other advisers
  • One broker managing the application from initial review through to settlement
Frequently asked questions

Owner-occupied commercial property finance questions

The required contribution depends on the property, location, business strength, documentation and lender policy. Cash, available equity or additional security may form part of the funding structure. Purchase costs such as stamp duty, GST, valuations, legal fees and lender charges also need to be considered.

Potentially. Residential property equity may be used to support the deposit, costs or part of the commercial facility. The risks, tax position and security structure should be reviewed carefully with your broker and professional advisers before proceeding.

Commercial property can often be purchased through an individual, company, trust or other structure. The appropriate ownership structure should be confirmed with your accountant and legal advisers before contracts are signed.

Yes. Refinancing may be considered to reduce costs, change the loan term, improve flexibility, release equity or restructure existing business debt. The benefit should be assessed against refinancing costs and any early repayment conditions.

Timeframes vary by lender, valuation, property type, documentation and application complexity. Starting early is important, particularly when a contract includes finance approval or settlement deadlines.
Talk through your property plans

Get clarity before signing a contract

I can review the proposed property, available contribution, business position and documentation, then explain the likely finance pathways.