• How to Purchase Commercial Real Estate------Part 2-----Lists of Qualifications & Conditions for the 504 Loan Program

    Lenders examine 5 attributes of borrowers when making financing decisions. These are referred to as the 5 “C’s”:

    • Collateral

    • Cash Flow (capacity to repay)

    • Credit Analysis

    • Character

    • Capital



    Eligible Borrowers:

    • For-profit, non-publicly traded businesses.

    • Tangible business net worth (including affiliates) not to exceed $8.5 million.

    • Average net income of the business not to exceed $3 million over the previous two years.

    • Personal liquidity of each principal/guarantor not to exceed the total project costs of the proposed 504 loan.

    • Ownership must be comprised of 51% U.S. citizens or resident aliens (Legal Permanent Residents).

    Ineligible Borrowers:

    • Non-profits (except sheltered workshops).

    • Passive holders of real estate and/or personal property.

    • Lending institutions (mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders are eligible).

    • Life insurance companies (however, franchised agents are eligible).

    • Businesses located in a foreign country or owned by aliens.

    • Businesses selling products/services through a pyramid plan.

    • Illegal businesses.

    • Gambling concerns.

    • Businesses which restrict patronage.

    • Government owned entities (excluding Native American Tribes).

    • Businesses engaged in promoting religion.

    • Consumer and marketing cooperatives (producer cooperatives are eligible).

    • Businesses engaged in loan packaging.

    • Businesses owned by persons of poor character.

    • Businesses providing prurient sexual material.

    • Businesses that have previously defaulted on a Federal loan.

    • Businesses engaged in political or lobbying activities.

    • Speculative businesses.


    If your business didn’t appear on the Eligible or Ineligible list, please call Braudis Pegram at 718-471-0691 to discuss.


    Ineligible Use of Funds:

    • Refinancing (unless debt has been in place for less than 9 months).

    • Working capital.

    • Inventory.

    • Rolling stock.

    • Business “good will” (common in business acquisition financing).