Not sure where to start?
Which financing fits your deal?
Seven quick questions, no account needed. You get a shortlist in plain English; we confirm it with you on a call.
Your shortlist
Options that usually fit
A starting point, not advice or an offer. Lenders decide eligibility and terms. Tell us about your deal and we will confirm the right path in one call.
Side by side
All the options, easiest to hardest to get
Typical ranges as of October 2026; every lender and deal differs. Leverage is how much of the cost or value you can borrow.
| Option | Best for | Leverage | Term | Rate | Personal guarantee? | Time to close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Seller financing The seller lends you part of the price. Simple, but only if the seller agrees. | Purchases where the seller is willing to carry part of the price. | Usually 5 to 20% of the price, alongside a bank loan | Negotiated, often 5 to 10 years | Negotiated | Negotiated | As fast as the purchase |
| 2 Bank or credit union loan The standard loan. Familiar and fair if the property already earns well. You personally guarantee it. | Properties that already make money, with 25%+ down and some experience. | 60 to 75% of value (hotels often 50 to 65%) | 5 to 10 years, paid over 20 to 25 | Fixed or floating, a benchmark plus a margin | Usually yes | 45 to 75 days |
| 3 SBA 7(a) loan The smallest down payment for owner-operators. More paperwork and an SBA fee. All owners must be U.S. citizens. | Owners who will run the hotel or business, with as little as 10% down. | Up to 90% of cost (at least 10% down; hotel lenders often want 15 to 20%) | Up to 25 years for real estate | Usually prime + 1.50 to 2.75%, variable; hotels often prime + 1.00 to 1.50% | Yes, every 20%+ owner | 60 to 90 days |
| 4 SBA 504 loan A bank loan plus a long fixed-rate SBA loan for owner-occupied buildings. All owners must be U.S. citizens. | Buying or constructing the building your own business uses, including a hotel you run. | Up to 90% (hotels 85%, new hotels 80%) | 10, 20 or 25 years fixed on the SBA part | SBA part fixed at 6.97% for 25 years (Oct 2026) | Yes | 60 to 120 days |
| 5 Bridge loan Short, fast and expensive. Use it to buy or fix the property, then refinance into cheaper debt. | Properties that need work or tenants first, or deals that must close fast. | 65 to 75% of cost (some up to 80%) | 1 to 3 years, interest-only | About SOFR + 3 to 6%, plus 1 to 2 points | Often limited | 2 to 6 weeks (private) |
| 6 Agency loan (apartments only) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs for apartments. Low rates, no personal guarantee, but the property must be full. | Stabilized apartment buildings of about $1 million and up. | Up to 80% of value | 5 to 30 years | Fixed or floating, among the lowest | Usually no | 45 to 75 days |
| 7 CMBS or life company loan Institutional long-term loans. Low rates and no guarantee, but the rules are strict and paying off early is expensive. Usually $2 million and up. | Larger, stable properties where you want a long fixed rate and no personal guarantee. | CMBS 60 to 70%; life companies 50 to 65% | 5 to 10 years, paid over 25 to 30 | Fixed, a Treasury yield plus a margin | Usually no, apart from carve-outs | 45 to 90 days |
| 8 Construction loan Money released in stages as you build. You need a budget, a contractor, permits and enough of your own cash. | Ground-up projects and gut renovations, paid out as work is done. | 50 to 65% of cost (35 to 50% equity) | 2 to 3 years, interest-only | Floating: banks about SOFR + 2.75 to 3.75%; private lenders higher | Yes, plus completion guarantees | 60 to 120 days |
| 9 C-PACE Very useful when the project qualifies. Repaid on the property tax bill; your mortgage lender must agree. | Energy and resilience upgrades, including much of a hotel PIP, where the county has a program. | 10 to 30% of project cost | 20 to 30 years, fixed | Fixed, over the 10-year Treasury | No | 60 to 120 days |
| 10 Mezzanine or preferred equity Expensive money behind the main loan so you put in less cash. Usually used last, to fill a gap. | Larger deals (about $5 million+) where the main loan leaves a gap. | Mezzanine to 75 to 85% combined; preferred equity to 85 to 90% | Matches the main loan | About 10 to 15% or more | Usually no | 4 to 8 weeks |
| 11 Joint venture equity Usually the hardest money to raise. A partner invests with you and shares the profits and decisions. | Projects bigger than your own cash, when you have a track record. | Not a loan: the partner puts in 80 to 95% of the equity | Life of the deal | Shared profits | Not a loan | 2 to 6 months |