Preparation is key when investing in commercial property

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"The first thing to understand is how a commercial bond differs from a residential one, and there are four main aspects to consider in this: term, lending rates, bond size and fees," says Jason Gregoriades, a member of the Rawson Property Group's Commercial Business Development team.

As a commercial property is considered an income-generating asset, banks expect the loans to be paid off much faster than residential mortgages. "The maximum loan term is typically ten years, with rare exceptions extending to 12 or 15, which is a far cry from the normal residential mortgage term of 20 years."

The resulting higher monthly repayments isn't the only expense to consider, as commercial bond lending rates can be up to 2% higher than residential lending rates. In addition to this, banks also require a far greater deposit from commercial purchasers than they do from residential buyers, and seldom grant bonds over 65%-70% of the total purchase price.

Initiation fees

They also charge far higher initiation fees for commercial applications. Commercial property transactions often attract a minimum initiation fee of 1% + VAT of the loan provided by the bank, while residential transactions are generally currently capped at R 5,700.

"In light of the additional expenses of a commercial bond, it's important that potential purchasers are properly prepared, financially, and have taken all the costs into account during their profitability assessment on the property in question," says Gregoriades.

An income and expense analysis of the property is a vital component of the submission. "This type of analysis is known as a tenant or rental schedule, and should list the details of any existing tenants, as well as the income and expenses generated by the property." The bank uses this information to determine whether the net income of the property will cover the proposed bond instalments.

FICA details

Along with the tenant schedule, you'll also need to supply the bank with FICA details for all parties involved in the purchase. That includes the name and registration number of the legal entity (or individual) in whose name the property will be registered, as well as the personal details, ID documents and proof of residence of any directors, members and shareholders thereof.

"The applicant will also need to supply the financial details for any additional income sources like salaries, other businesses, or investments," says Gregoriades. "These serve as proof that you will have the ability to continue servicing your loan should something go wrong with the original property."

"A strong application shows a healthy financial history for both the property and the applicant," says Gregoriades. As such, he cautions against first time purchasers attempting to buy untenanted properties, as it can be extremely difficult to prove financial potential without any kind of track record.

Bonded property

Gregoriades also advises approaching the bank with whom the property is already bonded, if possible, as they will be familiar with the property and its financial performance and may well wish to keep it on their books. "You can give them the opportunity to gain a client and retain a profitable investment. It's a fairly safe bet for them, which is what banks are about, after all."

If the property is not already bonded, or if you're unsure of your likelihood of success with the bank that currently holds the mortgage, Gregoriades suggests approaching your own bank as the next best option. If, however, you're in the position to apply to both, feel free to play them off of one-another to get the best offer.

Commercial property can be an excellent investment, despite the somewhat complicated process of securing a loan. Gregoriades does, however, stress the fact that preparation is the key to success.