Commercial property loans Australian investors and owners can count on

Lenders usually cap commercial loans at a lower loan-to-value ratio than home loans, so you generally need a larger deposit. The exact amount depends on the property type, location, lease quality, your financial strength and whether you apply full-doc or low-doc. Some buyers use equity in a home or other property as additional security. We assess your scenario and give you a realistic deposit figure before you make an offer.

WALE stands for weighted average lease expiry. It measures how long, on average, a property's leases have left to run, weighted by rent or floor area. A longer WALE tells lenders the rental income is more secure, which can help with approval and pricing. A short WALE or vacant space can make a property harder to finance. We review the leases with you and explain how lenders are likely to view them.

Commercial property loans usually carry an application or establishment fee, commonly around $500 to $5,000 depending on the loan size, a valuation fee of roughly $1,000 to $5,000, and legal or documentation fees of about $2,000 to $5,000. Stamp duty and your own legal costs also apply to the purchase. A broker fee may apply to some deals, and we disclose everything upfront in writing.

Yes. Low-doc commercial loans are designed for self-employed borrowers whose financial statements are not up to date or do not reflect current income. Lenders may accept BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's declaration instead. The trade-off is usually a lower maximum LVR and a higher rate than a full-doc loan. We compare low-doc lenders and explain what each will accept.

A self-managed super fund can borrow to buy commercial property through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement, and in some cases can lease it to a business related to the members at market rent. Strict superannuation rules apply, and lenders offering these loans have their own requirements. Before proceeding, get advice from a licensed financial adviser and an SMSF specialist accountant. We can then help source the finance.

Owning your premises can give you control over the space, protection from rent increases and potential capital growth. It also ties up capital, adds maintenance and outgoings, and makes relocating harder. Many owners buy through a separate entity and lease the property back to the business. The right structure depends on tax and asset protection factors, so involve your accountant. We assess how the finance would work.