Common Uses for CMBS Warehouse Loans

Whether you’re an individual investor or work for a large real estate developer or private equity fund, CMBS loans can come in handy. In particular, borrowers use CMBS warehouse loans to:

• Buy a new warehouse: If you want to purchase a new warehouse property as an investment, but don’t want to deal with strict credit and income verification requirements, a conduit loan could be a great fit for your needs.

• Rate or term refinancing: If you have a high-interest commercial mortgage, and you want to refinance into a loan with a lower interest rate, you might be able to do so with a CMBS loan. Or, if you have a loan with an upcoming balloon payment (even another CMBS loan), you may want to refinance it in order to extend the term for another 5, 7, or 10 years.

• Get a CMBS cash-out refinance: Unlike many bank loans, conduit loans don’t have many cash-out restrictions— which means you can use them to pull a significant amount of equity out of a property. This money can be used for a variety of purposes, including remodeling the property, investing into a different business, or even purchasing a brand new investment property for you or your company’s portfolio.

CMBS Loan Property Types

Industrial and warehouse property types that often utilize CMBS loans include:



• Traditional warehouses: With U.S. e-commerce sales reaching well over $300 billion a year, the demand for warehouse space is at an all time high, and CMBS loans are a great way to finance them.

• Light industrial properties: Packaging centers, buildings designed for light-manufacturing, as well as food production facilities are also in high demand, and can easily be financed with conduit loans.

• Mixed-use industrial properties: Mixed-use industrial properties, which typically combine warehouse space, light industrial or manufacturing areas, R&D spaces, and traditional office space, are quickly gaining ground, especially for companies that want to integrate production and management functions to increase efficiency and innovation. Just like traditional warehouses and light industrial properties, mixed-use industrial buildings are also fantastic candidates for conduit loans.

CMBS Loan Terms for Industrial Warehouse Properties

Standard CMBS loan terms for warehouses and light industrial properties typically include:

• Loan Size: $2 million minimum, no maximum

• Loan Terms: 5-10 year fixed-rate terms with amortizations of 25-30 years

• Eligible Properties:

• Leverage: 80% maximum LTV/1.25-1.35x DSCR

• Pricing: Typically based on LTV and DSCR, rate buydowns are sometimes available

• Assumability: CMBS office building loans are typically fully assumable, though a fee may apply

• Prepayment Penalties: Defeasance or yield maintenance

• Recourse: Typically non-recourse with standard bad-boy carveouts

• Appraisals: Required, to be paid for by the borrower

• Rate locks: Available at commitment, 30-day rate locks may also be available with lender approval

• Occupancy requirements:

  • If property is under a credit tenant lease, or has a major anchor tenant, their lease should extend beyond the term of the CMBS loan

  • If the property has multiple smaller tenants, their lease expirations should be staggered as to reduce risk for the lender

Get a Free Warehouse Property Loan Quote Today

In this article:
1. Common Uses for CMBS Warehouse Loans
2. CMBS Loan Property Types
3. CMBS Loan Terms for Industrial Warehouse Properties
4. Get a Free Warehouse Property Loan Quote Today
5. Get Financing